St Breward

Cornwall Information & Accommodation Guide

St Breward village and parish stand high on Bodmin Moor. Its name derives from the patron of its church, St Branwalader. The church, situated at 700ft, is believed to be the highest church in Cornwall.

The parish is one of the largest in Cornwall, extending to over 9000 acres.

Famous for its more recent clay and granite quarrying, St Breward has a long history and contains numerous sites of archaeological interest - including Garrow Tor with its round house settlements (Location: Map Reference SX 145785 via Emblance Downs); the stone circles on King Arthur's Downs (Location: Map Reference SX 135775); the earthwork enclosure known as King Arthur's Hall (Location: Map Reference SX 130777 on King Arthur's Downs); and Leaze and Stannon stone circles (Location: Map References SX 137773 and SX 125799).

In the small hamlet of Chapel is a holy well thought to be dedicated to St James. In the 15th century chapels to St Michael and St James existed in the parish.

Brown Willy (Brunwenely - believed to derive from the Cornish for swallows hill) and Roughtor are located within the parish. The Fowey River rises at Fowey venton on the eastern slopes of Brown Willy.

For several hundred years St Breward was also known by the alternative name of Simonsward. The manor of Hamatethy is mentioned in the Domesday book, valued at 30 shillings.

The latest adaptation of Poldark uses the parish of St Breward as one of its filming locations. This and other locations for Poldark in Cornwall

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Location:
Situated on Bodmin Moor. IntoCornwall Area Map Bodmin Moor Area

Road directions to St Breward

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