St Germans

Cornwall Information & Accommodation Guide

St Germans is a village and parish situated on the River Tiddy in the south eastern corner of Cornwall

The parish church of St Germans is dedicated to St Germanus and has an important history having been used as the cathedral of Cornwall from AD 931 in Saxon times, when King Athelstan established it, until Truro Cathedral was built in the 19th century.

At the time of the Domesday Book of 1086, the Manor of St Germans Church fell within the Hundred of Rillaton and was owned by the Bishop of Exeter and the Canons. It was already important enough to be able to hold markets and fairs.

A Priory of Augustinian canons was established here in the late 12th century and much of this building, consecrated in 1261, still remains as a wonderful testament to the Norman architecture of ther period. The west doorway is the finest example of Norman architecture in Cornwall and one of the finest in the U.K.

In the 16th century John Eliot bought the priory and it became part of the Port Eliot estate.

St Germans village contains six picturesque 16th century almhouses.

The old Rotten Borough of St Germans used to send two members to the House of Parliament until the Reform Bill of 1832.

A holy well dedicated to St Anne is located at Hessenford in the parish.

Two stone crosses stand within the parish, a latin wayside cross at Carracawn and the Triffle Cross, another latin wayside cross which is built into a hedge on the B3247 road between Crafthole and Downderry.


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Location:
IntoCornwall Area Map Looe and South East Cornwall

Road directions to St Germans

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