2025 Dedh Cans
De Yow, degves mis Ebrel
Thursday, 10th April
Thursday, 10th April
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A Window to the Past
Our Cornish place names are not just curiosities, they tell us about ancient farming practices, e.g. transhumance (seasonal movement of livestock between a winter home farm and a summer shieling). We find hav summer and gwav winter (sometimes mangled) in names.
Two places near Callington retain traces of Old Cornish spelling (d rather than s).
“shieling, summer grazing” HAMMETT (Hamet 1086) and HAMPT (Havet 1338); both Havod (OC)
“summer fallow (ironic name)” The AVARACK; Havrek
“headland by summer fallow land” Little PENHAVER POINT; Penn Havar
“crag at a shieling” CARNEWAS (Carneues 1306, Canhewas 1748); Carn Havos
“downs of summer fallow” GOONHAVERN (Goenhavar 1290); Goon Havar
“summer farms, shielings” HALVOSSO (Hafossowe 1532); Havosow
“shieling/summer farm stream” HEWAS WATER; Dowr Havos
There are over a dozen “home farms”, some associated with manors, with the name HENDRA; modern spelling hendre, from hen old and tre farm, farmstead.
In addition, some have extra tags, which build up a picture; e.g.
“waterless home farm” HENDERSICK (Hendresuk 1314) Hendresegh/Hendresygh
“home farm by a rush-bed” HENDRABURNICK (Hendrebrunnek 1296) Hendrebronnek
“home farm at a little wall/bank” HENDRAVOSSAN (Hendrefosen 1479) Hendrefosyn
Our Cornish place names are not just curiosities, they tell us about ancient farming practices, e.g. transhumance (seasonal movement of livestock between a winter home farm and a summer shieling). We find hav summer and gwav winter (sometimes mangled) in names.
Two places near Callington retain traces of Old Cornish spelling (d rather than s).
“shieling, summer grazing” HAMMETT (Hamet 1086) and HAMPT (Havet 1338); both Havod (OC)
“summer fallow (ironic name)” The AVARACK; Havrek
“headland by summer fallow land” Little PENHAVER POINT; Penn Havar
“crag at a shieling” CARNEWAS (Carneues 1306, Canhewas 1748); Carn Havos
“downs of summer fallow” GOONHAVERN (Goenhavar 1290); Goon Havar
“summer farms, shielings” HALVOSSO (Hafossowe 1532); Havosow
“shieling/summer farm stream” HEWAS WATER; Dowr Havos
There are over a dozen “home farms”, some associated with manors, with the name HENDRA; modern spelling hendre, from hen old and tre farm, farmstead.
In addition, some have extra tags, which build up a picture; e.g.
“waterless home farm” HENDERSICK (Hendresuk 1314) Hendresegh/Hendresygh
“home farm by a rush-bed” HENDRABURNICK (Hendrebrunnek 1296) Hendrebronnek
“home farm at a little wall/bank” HENDRAVOSSAN (Hendrefosen 1479) Hendrefosyn
None of the home farms mentions gwav, so where are the winter dwellings?
“winter farm” GWAVAS (in Grade, Paul and Sithney); Gwavos
“winter farm” TREWOOFE (Trewoyf 1302, Trewofe 1668); Trewav
“water at Gwavas” GWAVAS LAKE (Dowr Gwavas c1680) Dowr Gwavos (part of the sea, off Newlyn, in Mount’s Bay)
Only one place, presumably not involved in the practice of transhumance, refers to the spring season gwenton, and two to autumn kidnyav;
“farm of everlasting spring” TRENGWAINTON (Trethigwaynton 1319); Tredhigwaynton
“autumn dwelling” KERNEWAS (Kynyavos 1513) Kynyavos
"autumn farm headland" NAVAX POINT: (Knavocks 1582); Penn Kynyavos
“winter farm” TREWOOFE (Trewoyf 1302, Trewofe 1668); Trewav
“water at Gwavas” GWAVAS LAKE (Dowr Gwavas c1680) Dowr Gwavos (part of the sea, off Newlyn, in Mount’s Bay)
Only one place, presumably not involved in the practice of transhumance, refers to the spring season gwenton, and two to autumn kidnyav;
“farm of everlasting spring” TRENGWAINTON (Trethigwaynton 1319); Tredhigwaynton
“autumn dwelling” KERNEWAS (Kynyavos 1513) Kynyavos
"autumn farm headland" NAVAX POINT: (Knavocks 1582); Penn Kynyavos
