Gorseth Kernow

Gorseth Kernow is a non-political Cornish organisation, which exists to maintain the national Celtic spirit of the county of Cornwall in the United Kingdom.

The Gorseth Kernow (Gorsedd of Cornwall) was set up in 1928 at Boscawen-un by Henry Jenner, one of the early proponents of Cornish language revival, who took the name "Gwas Myghal", meaning "servant of Michael". He and twelve others were initiated by the Archdruid of Wales. It has been held every year since, except during World War II. 1,000 people have been Cornish bards, including Ken George, R. Morton Nance ("Mordon") and Peter Berresford Ellis. [ [http://www.gorsethkernow.org.uk/english/archives/newbards/bardlist.htm List of new Cornish bards / bardic names] ]

The Gorseth Kernow has now opened up to all forms of revived Cornish and states its aim as "to maintain the national Celtic spirit of Cornwall". As such it supports the revival of the Cornish language. The Gorseth also encourages the study of the arts and history. It has been held annually since and has become an important institution in Cornwall's cultural and civic life. Its competitions attract many applicants and the "open Gorseth" is attended by many Cornish people. There is also extensive coverage on local media.

An important part of the open Gorseth is the awarding of bardships to individuals for meritorious work for Cornish culture. Thus the Gorseth acts in many ways as a form of "honours system". Bardships are awarded for study in the language, services to Cornish music, encouraging the arts (especially amongst children) amongst other things. Initiate Bards are given Bardic names by the Grand Bard who welcomes them into the College of Bards. These names are in Cornish and will often refer somehow to the reason for their bardship. Other Bardic names refer to the Bard's personal of family name, or describe the Bard themselves,

The three major Gorseths in Britain are recorded in an ancient Welsh triad as being held at Moel Merw and Bryn Gwyddon in Wales and Boscawen-Un in Cornwall (ref: Craig Weatherhill). After domination of the Brythonic Celts by the Saxons the Bardic tradition fell into disuse and despite attempts at revival over the centuries lost all its prestige.

The next open Gorseth will be held in September 2008 in Looe which this year coincides with the Dehwelans Kernow festival.

History

The first ceremony took place at Boscawen-Un (stone circle) in 1928. It was inaugurated in 1928 by Arch Druid Pedrog of Wales at the request of a small group of Cornish scholars including Henry Jenner and Robert Morton Nance on the pattern of the Welsh Gorsedd. Henry Jenner was the first Grand Bard.

The following people were the first bards of Gorseth Kernow at Boscawen-Un

*Michael Ambrose Cardew, (Myghal An Pry)
*Charles G. Henderson, (Map Hendra)
*William Benjamin Tregoning Hooper, (Bras Y Golon)
*James Dryden Hosken, (Caner Helles)
*Kenneth Hamilton Jenkin, (Lef Stenoryon)
*Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch, (Marghak Cough)
*Edgar Algernon Rees, (Carer Losow)
*George Sloggett, (Gwas Petrock)
*Rev. Thomas Taylor, (Gwas Ust)
*Herbert Thomas, (Barth Colonnek)
*James Thomas, (Tas Cambron)
*John Coulson Tregarthen, (Mylgarer)

Morton Nance was to become the second Grand Bard in 1934. He said, "One generation has set Cornish on its feet. It is now for another to make it walk." Although the early Gorseth used the Unified form, the Gorseth is now open to all forms of the revived Cornish tongue.

List of Cornish bards and venues since 1899

1899 Wales

*John Hobson Matthews (Mab Cernyw)
*Reginald Reynolds (Gwas Piran)
*Hettie Tangye Reynolds (Merch Eia)

1903 Brittany

*Henry Jenner (Gwas Myghal)

1904 Wales

*Katherine Lee Jenner (Morvoren)
*L C Duncombe Jewell (Bardd Glas)

1928 Wales

*Albert Marwood Bluett (Gwryghonen Vew)
*Revd James Sims Carah (Gwas Crowan)
*Revd Canon Gilbert Hunter Doble (Gwas Gwendron)
*Robert Morton Nance (Mordon)
*Annie Pool (Myrgh Piala)
*Trelawney Roberts (Gonader A Bell)
*Joseph Hambley Rowe (Tolzethan)
*William Charles David Watson (Tirvab)

Venues in Cornwall since 1928

*1928 Boscawen-Un
*1929 Karnbre / Carn Brea
*1930 The Hurlers
*1931 Pensans / Penzance
*1932 The Merry Maidens, St Buryan
*1933 Roche Rock
*1934 Padderbury Top, Menheniot
*1935 Pensans / Penzance
*1936 Kelly Round, Wadebridge / Pons War Wlan
*1937 Boscawen-Un
*1938 Trippet Stones, Bodmin
*1939 Chylason, Carbis Bay, (Grand Bard's house)
*1940-1945 RIC (Truro Museum)
*1946 Perran Round, Perranzabuloe
*1947 Lanstefan / Launceston
*1948 Carwyen, Cambron
*1949 Mount Charles Menhyr
*1950 Boscawen-Un
*1951 Padstow / Lodenek
*1952 Trethevy, St Cleer
*1953 Trencrom, Lelant
*1954 Castle Dore, Golant
*1955 The Merry Maidens, St Buryan
*1956 Castle Cannyck, Bodmin
*1957 Predannack Cross, Mullion
*1958 Perran Round, Perranzabuloe
*1959 Kelliwik, Callington
*1960 Cambron / Camborne
*1961 Bude Castle
*1962 Barrowfield, Newquay
*1963 Giant's Rock, Zennor
*1964 Tintagel
*1965 Goodern, Kea
*1966 Porthya / St Ives
*1967 Essa / Saltash
*1968 Lanust / St Just in Penwith
*1969 Lyskerrys / Liskeard
*1970 Perran Round, Perranzabuloe
*1971 The Merry Maidens, St Buryan
*1972 Launceston Castle / Dunheved
*1973 Mount Charles Menhyr
*1974 Glasney, Pennrynn / Penryn
*1975 Bude Castle
*1976 Heyl / Hayle
*1977 Nine Maidens, St Columb Major
*1978 Boscawen-Un
*1979 Bosvenegh / Bodmin
*1980 Essa / Saltash
*1981 Nance, Illogan
*1982 Lanust / St Just in Penwith
*1983 St Kew
*1984 Kelliwik / Callington
*1985 Perran Round, Perranzabuloe
*1986 The Merry Maidens, St Buryan
*1987 Anthony House, Torpoint
*1988 Poldhu, Mullion
*1989 Lostwydhyel / Lostwithiel
*1990 Marhasvean / Marazion
*1991 Roche Rock
*1992 Perran Round, Perranzabuloe
*1993 Bude Castle
*1994 Cambron / Camborne
*1995 Marhasvean / Marazion
*1996 Lyskerrys / Liskeard
*1997 Bosvenegh / Bodmin
*1998 Lanust / St Just in Penwith
*1999 Heyl / Hayle
*2000 Aberfal / Falmouth
*2001 Sen Colom / St Columb
*Gwaynten/Spring 2002 Castel Pendynas, Aberfal / Pendennis, Falmouth
*Autumn 2002 Pensilva,
*2003 Lannstefan / Launceston
*2004 Truru / Truro
*2005 Ponswad / Wadebridge
*2006 Resruth / Redruth
*2007 Pensans / Penzance
*2008 Logh / Looe

List of Grand Bards of the Gorseth Kernow since 1928

* Gwas Myhal (Henry Jenner) 1928-1934
* Mordon (Robert Morton Nance) 1934-1959
* Talek (E.G. Retallack Hooper) 1959-1964
* Gunwyn (George Pawley White) 1964-1970
* Trevanyon (Denis Trevanion) 1970-1976
* Map Dyvroeth (Richard Jenkin) 1976-1982
* Den Toll (Hugh Miners) 1982-1985
* Map Dyvroeth (Richard Jenkin) 1985-1988
* Gwas Constantyn (Dr John Chesterfield) 1988-1991
* Caradok (Jori Ansell) 1991-1994
* Cummow (Revd Brian Coombes) 1994-1997
* Bryallen (Anne Trevenen Jenkin) 1997-2000
* Jowan an Cleth (John Bolitho) 2000-2003
* Tewennow (Rod Lyon) 2003-2006
* Gwenenen (Vanessa Beeman) 2006-

ee also

*
*List of topics related to Cornwall

External links

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0qhX6ttFOw Video of the Penzance 2007 Gorseth Kernow parade and ceremony]
* [http://www.gorsethkernow.org.uk/ Official website]
* [http://cornovia.org.uk/htexts/gorseth01.html Rol Byrth Gorseth Kernow, 1947]
* [http://www.celticleague.org/history_9-03b.html Cornish Gorseth Diamond Jubilee]
* [http://www.gorsethkernow.org.uk/english/gallery/grandbards/gallbard.htm List of Grand Bards]
* [http://kw.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gorsedh_Kernow Gorsedh Kernow]
* [http://kw.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Kernow Kernow]

References

* cite book
last = Weatherhill
first = Craig
authorlink = Craig Weatherhill
title = Cornish Place Names & Language
publisher = Sigma Leisure
date = 1995
id = ISBN 1-85058-462-1

* cite book
last = Jenkin
first = John Chirgwin
authorlink = Jon Jenkin
title = BYRTH GORSETH KERNOW 1928-2007: Bards of the Gorseth of Cornwall
publisher = Gorseth Kernow
date = 2007
id = ISBN 1-903668-01-6