St Winnow

Cornwall Information & Accommodation Guide

St Winnow, in Cornish Sen Gwynnow, is a parish and church town on the east bank of the River Fowey between Lostwithiel and Cornwall's south coast.

Its name is believed to derive from Saint Winnoc or Saint Winwaloe.

St Winnow was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as San Winnuc.


Parish Church of St Winnow

The church was originally Norman, built in the 12th century and probably cruciform but today's building is mostly from the 15th century. Traces of the Norman stonework can still be seen on the north side.

It comprises a chancel, nave, south aisle, and north transept. The arcade consists of six four-centred arches.

The transept arch was rebuilt during the 13th century. Around 1465 the south wall was demolished and the south aisle, arcade and roofs were built.

The chancel was restored by J. D. Sedding between 1873 and 1874.

The west tower, added in the 15th century, is of standard Cornish Perpendicular style with three stages, battlements and pinnacles.

The granite font is carved with angels bearing shields and dates from the 14th century.

Its rood screen dates from the 16th century and is carved with leaves and flowers.

The church has good stained glass windows in the chancel and south aisle which date from around 1500.

There are carved bench ends of various dates from 1485 to 1630.

The pulpit is of c.1600 and richly carved. The monuments include one in slate to William Sawle, d. 1651.

There are a south porch and a priest's door.

Monuments in the north-west part of the churchyard to the Vivian family.

The original religious site here likely dates from the 7th century when St Winnoc probably built an oratory here.

The church stands on the east bank of the River Fowey adjacent to a quay at the furthest navigable point of the river.



St Nectan's Chapel

Two miles from the church is St Nectan's chapel ( St Nighton's chapel), a chapel of ease which dates from the 13th century with additions in the 15th and 19th centuries.

It consists of a chancel, nave and north and south aisles, and at the south-west corner is one stage of an old buttressed tower with a wooden bell cote, containing one bell. Its tower lost its upper stages during the Civil War (1644).

Six bells are believed to have been melted down during the war. One pinnacle was removed years ago to Boconnoc, and another serves as a gate post on the steps to the entrance to the churchyard.

The original structure was much smaller and consisted of what is now the south aisle.

The chapel has a south porch and a vestry door. The chapel is surrounded by a burial ground.



Crosses in the Parish of St Winnow

There are several crosses in St Winnow parish. One found in 1903 at Higher Coombe has since been erected at St Nectan's chapel. Another, originally from Lanlivery, was brought here in 1846 ,now forms part of 'The Monument' on Druids Hill which commemorates those who lost their lives in the Battle of Braddock Down in 1643. A third cross known as Waterlake Cross stands in a private garden near Respryn. It was first recorded by Arthur Langdon in 1896.



Wildlife

The Redlake Meadows & Hoggs Moor, a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) is in the parish.



Other villages in the parish are Bridgend, part of Lerryn, Polscoe, and Respryn.

At Respryn is a medieval stone bridge over the River Fowey. The present bridge was built in the 15th century and replaced one from 1300.



Miscellanea


Between 1644-45 ninety people from the parish died of the plague including four Civil War soldiers.

In the 19th century, the Cornwall Railway built a temporary station at Respryn while they waited to acquire the site for Bodmin Road. The line opened on 4 May 1859.

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