Gorseth Kernow Totally Explained

Everything about Gorseth Kernow totally explained

Gorseth Kernow is a Cornish organization, 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 by Henry Jenner in 1928 at Boscawen-un, 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, excepting during WWII. A thousand people have been Cornish bards, including Ken George, R. Morton Nance ("Mordon") and Peter Berresford Ellis.
   The Gorseth Kernow has now been 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. The Gorseth is a non-political organisation. 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.

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 Castledore, 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-Further Information

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