At MAWGAN, a romantic village three miles north-west from St. Columb, is _Lanherne_, formerly the residence of the Arundels; but remarkable as being the abode of several Carmelite Nuns from Antwerp, and the only nunnery now existing in this county. It is a very antient building, and contains a neat _Chapel_ adorned with a few good paintings, brought hither at the time the nuns emigrated to this country. The east front of the house being the principal, displays much of its original character, but the whole is an interesting pile of building. It is now the property of Lord Arundel, of Wardour Castle, who takes great pleasure in affording an asylum, and attending to these unprotected women: “Oft the musing passer by At the Mansion casts his eye, Griev’d for the devoted host, There to social freedom lost.” The nuns are very strict and regular in their devotions, and employ their leisure time in the manufacture of fancy articles, which are disposed of to those persons who visit the place. Although this indulgence is allowed, the nuns are seldom seen, except at a funeral, when the whole of them attend the corpse, to the end of the lawn in front of the house. The _Church_ of Mawgan almost adjoins Lanherne, and is a very antient fabric, containing a great variety of curious brass monumental inscriptions, but several of them have been defaced. The carving of the screen which separates the chancel, is a fine piece of workmanship. In the church-yard stands a very curious and antient _Gothic Cross_, on the east side of which is a niche containing the Crucifixion, sculptured in pretty high relief. In the niche on the west side, is carved a subject, taken no doubt from some legend, consisting of the figures of a king and queen; the latter in the dress of the fourteenth century, kneeling on one side before a desk. On the other side, is a large bolt with a serpent coiled round it, which seems to be biting the face of the king, whilst an angel holds its tail.[32] The whole is in tolerable fine preservation, but for whom, or for what purpose it was erected, has never been ascertained. _Carnanton_, in this parish, the seat of James Willyams, Esq., is a neat and commodious building, but almost surrounded by trees. An earthen vessel was lately found near this house, containing near 700 silver English coins of different reigns, in fine preservation.