A Guide to the Mount's Bay and the Land's End: Comprehending the topography, botany, agriculture, fisheries, antiquities, mining, mineralogy and geology of West CornwallParis, John Ayrton
History
A Guide to the Mount's Bay and the Land's End: Comprehending the topography, botany, agriculture, fisheries, antiquities, mining, mineralogy and geology of West Cornwall
Paris, John Ayrton
Cornwall (England : County) -- Guidebooks
But let us return.----About two miles north-east of the Logan rock, and
in the high road to Penzance, stands the town of SAINT BURYAN, which
though now only a group of wretched cottages was once a place of very
considerable note, and the seat of a College of Augustine Canons; the
latter was founded by Athelstan after his return from the conquest of
the Scilly Islands, A.D. 930. The remains of the College were wantonly
demolished by one Shrubshall, Governor of Pendennis Castle, during the
usurpation of Cromwell.
The Church tower stands on the highest point in this part of the
country, being 467 feet above the level of the sea; it consequently
forms a very conspicuous object, and is so exposed to the rains from
the Atlantic, that the stones carry a deceptive face of freshness with
them which lends an aspect of newness to the whole building. From the
top of the tower the prospect is of a very extensive kind, commanding
the whole range of the surrounding country, and an immense surface of
sea. In clear weather the Scilly Islands may be easily distinguished in
the horizon, especially with a setting sun, when they appear to project
from the brilliant ground of the western sky like figures embossed on
burnished gold.
Both from the history and appearance of this edifice the antiquary will
enter it with sensations of awe and veneration, but he will find with
regret that the ancient Roodloft has been lately removed, from an idea
that it deadened the voice of the preacher, and that the parishioners
have also converted the original forms into modern pews, a change which
has cruelly violated the venerable uniformity of the interior. There is
a singular monument in the church, in the shape of a coffin, having an
inscription around the border in very rude characters, and now partly
obliterated; it is in Norman French, and has been thus translated.
CLARICE
The wife of Geffrei de Bollait lies here
God of her soul have mercy
They who pray for her soul shall have
Ten days Pardon.
On the middle of the stone is represented a Cross fleury, standing on
four steps; the monument is said to have been found many years ago by
the sexton, while sinking a grave.
Opposite the great door in the church-yard stands a very ancient Cross,
on one side of which are five balls, and, on the other, a rude figure
intended to represent the crucified Saviour. We here present our
readers with a sketch of this singular monument.
[Illustration: _Buryan Church-yard._]
Another Cross stands in the road, and faces the entrance into the
church-yard, of which also we have introduced a delineation.
[Illustration: _Buryan._]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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