CORNWALL by Arthur L. Salmon

Description

A satisfactory guide-book must not be exclusively architectural, or historic, or legendary, or scientific ; it must aim at being all. In Cornwall such breadth of treatment is particularly needed. Cornwall is like no other English county. Its nearest resemblance in England will be found in Devon ; parts of Ireland are equally or more similar. But there are features in Cornwall not to be found elsewhere.

One special point is the hagiology. In most counties it is enough to say of a church that it is dedicated to St. Paul or to St. James ; in Cornwall it is not enough to say that a church is dedicated to St. Sennen, or St. Feock, or St. Gwinear. Readers will want to know who these saints were. The names sound strangely unfamiliar. Even when we meet a dedication to St. Paul, we must be careful not to conclude hastily that the great Apostle of the Gentiles is referred to. Cornish dedications are entirely Celtic.

A fine book packed with information relating to Cornwall.