Gorsedh Kernow (Cornish Gorsedd) is a non-political
Cornish organisation, based in Cornwall,
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...
, which exists to maintain the national
Celt
The Celts (, see pronunciation for different usages) or Celtic peoples () are. "CELTS location: Greater Europe time period: Second millennium B.C.E. to present ancestry: Celtic a collection of Indo-European peoples. "The Celts, an ancient ...
ic spirit of Cornwall. It is based on the Welsh-based
Gorsedd, which was founded by
Iolo Morganwg
Edward Williams, better known by his bardic name Iolo Morganwg (; 10 March 1747 – 18 December 1826), was a Welsh antiquarian, poet and collector.Jones, Mary (2004)"Edward Williams/Iolo Morganwg/Iolo Morgannwg" From ''Jones' Celtic Encyclopedi ...
in 1792.
History
The Gorsedh Kernow (
Gorsedd of Cornwall) was set up in 1928 at
Boscawen-Un
Boscawen-Ûn () is a Bronze Age stone circle close to St Buryan in Cornwall, UK. It consists of nineteen upright stones in an ellipse with another, leaning, middle stone just south of the centre. There is a west-facing gap in the circle, which ...
by
Henry Jenner
Henry Jenner (8 August 1848 – 8 May 1934) was a British scholar of the Celtic languages, a Cornish cultural activist, and the chief originator of the Cornish language revival.
Jenner was born at St Columb Major on 8 August 1848. He was th ...
, one of the early proponents of
Cornish language
Cornish (Standard Written Form: or ) , is a Southwestern Brittonic language, Southwestern Brittonic language of the Celtic language family. It is a List of revived languages, revived language, having become Extinct language, extinct as a livin ...
revival, who took the
bardic name
A bardic name (, ) is a pseudonym used in Wales, Cornwall, or Brittany by poets and other artists, especially those involved in the eisteddfod movement.
The Welsh term bardd ("poet") originally referred to the Welsh poets of the Middle Ages, who m ...
"Gwas Myghal", meaning "servant of
Michael
Michael may refer to:
People
* Michael (given name), a given name
* Michael (surname), including a list of people with the surname Michael
Given name "Michael"
* Michael (archangel), ''first'' of God's archangels in the Jewish, Christian an ...
". He and twelve others (including
Kitty Lee Jenner
Kitty Lee Jenner (12 September 185321 October 1936) was an English artist, bard and writer who helped to set up the Cornish Gorsedh. She grew up in Cornwall and studied art in London. She later became an author, publishing six novels under the ...
) were initiated by the Archdruid of
Wales
Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the Wales–England border, east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the ...
. It has been held every year since, except during
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
. 1,000 people have been Cornish bards, including Dame
Alida Brittain
Dame Alida Luisa Brittain (''née'' Harvey; 12 June 1883''1939 England and Wales Register'' – 5 January 1943) was a British harpist. She was the wife of politician and journalist Sir Harry Brittain.
The only daughter of businessman Sir Rober ...
,
Ken George
Kenneth John George is a British oceanographer, poet, and linguist. He is noted as being the originator of Kernewek Kemmyn, an orthography for the revived Cornish language which he claims is more faithful to Middle Cornish phonology than its precu ...
,
R. Morton Nance, and
Peter Berresford Ellis
Peter Berresford Ellis (born 10 March 1943) is a British historian, literary biographer, and novelist who has published over 98 books to date either under his own name or his pseudonyms Peter Tremayne and Peter MacAlan. He has also published 100 ...
.
After 1939 the Council of the Gorsedd of Cornwall approved additional regalia, and asked
Francis Cargeeg
Francis Bertram Cargeeg (14 September 1893 – 25 March 1981) known also as Tan Dyvarow ("Undying Fire" in Cornish) was a Cornish coppersmith.
Early life
Francis Cargeeg was born in Carnsew, Hayle, Cornwall, England, UK. He was the second young ...
to design and execute new regalia for the Grand Bard, the Deputy Grand Bard and the Secretary, and two headpieces for the Marshal's staves. Over time, and up to 1970, additional pieces were added, including
plastrons for past Grand Bards, also produced by
Francis Cargeeg
Francis Bertram Cargeeg (14 September 1893 – 25 March 1981) known also as Tan Dyvarow ("Undying Fire" in Cornish) was a Cornish coppersmith.
Early life
Francis Cargeeg was born in Carnsew, Hayle, Cornwall, England, UK. He was the second young ...
. More metalwork was carried out for the Gorsedh by John Turner and by Cyril Orchard.
The Gorsedh Kernow has now opened up to all forms of revived
Cornish language
Cornish (Standard Written Form: or ) , is a Southwestern Brittonic language, Southwestern Brittonic language of the Celtic language family. It is a List of revived languages, revived language, having become Extinct language, extinct as a livin ...
, and states its aim as "to maintain the national
Celt
The Celts (, see pronunciation for different usages) or Celtic peoples () are. "CELTS location: Greater Europe time period: Second millennium B.C.E. to present ancestry: Celtic a collection of Indo-European peoples. "The Celts, an ancient ...
ic spirit of Cornwall". The Gorsedh 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 Gorsedh" is attended by many Cornish people. There is also extensive coverage on local media.
An important part of the open Gorsedh is the awarding of bardships to individuals for meritorious work for Cornish culture. Thus the Gorsedh 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 name
A bardic name (, ) is a pseudonym used in Wales, Cornwall, or Brittany by poets and other artists, especially those involved in the eisteddfod movement.
The Welsh term bardd ("poet") originally referred to the Welsh poets of the Middle Ages, who m ...
s 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 name
A bardic name (, ) is a pseudonym used in Wales, Cornwall, or Brittany by poets and other artists, especially those involved in the eisteddfod movement.
The Welsh term bardd ("poet") originally referred to the Welsh poets of the Middle Ages, who m ...
s refer to the Bard's personal or family name, or describe the Bards themselves,
The three major Gorsedhs in Britain are recorded in an ancient Welsh triad as being held at Moel Merw and Bryn Gwyddon in Wales and
Boscawen-Un
Boscawen-Ûn () is a Bronze Age stone circle close to St Buryan in Cornwall, UK. It consists of nineteen upright stones in an ellipse with another, leaning, middle stone just south of the centre. There is a west-facing gap in the circle, which ...
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 Gorsedh for 2008 was held in September 2008 in
Looe
Looe (; kw, Logh, ) is a coastal town and civil parish in south-east Cornwall, England, with a population of 5,280 at the 2011 census.
Looe is west of Plymouth and south of Liskeard, divided in two by the River Looe, East Looe ( kw, links= ...
which coincided with the Dehwelans Kernow festival. The 2009 Gorsedh began on 18 April at
Saltash
Saltash (Cornish: Essa) is a town and civil parish in south Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It had a population of 16,184 in 2011 census. Saltash faces the city of Plymouth over the River Tamar and is popularly known as "the Gateway to Corn ...
.
The first bards of Gorsedh Kernow at Boscawen-Un
* Michael Ambrose Cardew (Myghal An Pry)
*
Charles G. Henderson
Charles Gordon Henderson (11 July 1900 – 24 September 1933) was a historian and antiquarian of Cornwall.
Biography
His father, Major J. S. Henderson, was half Scottish and half of the Irish family of Newenham: his mother was a Carus-Wilson f ...
(Map Hendra)
* William Benjamin Tregoning Hooper (Bras y Golon)
* James Dryden Hosken (Caner Helles)
*
Kenneth Hamilton Jenkin
Alfred Kenneth Hamilton Jenkin (29 October 1900 – 20 August 1980) was a British historian with a particular interest in Cornish mining, publishing ''The Cornish Miner'', now a classic, in 1927.
Birth and education
He was born in Redruth on 2 ...
(Lef Stenoryon)
*
Arthur Quiller-Couch
Sir Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch (; 21 November 186312 May 1944) was a British writer who published using the pseudonym Q. Although a prolific novelist, he is remembered mainly for the monumental publication '' The Oxford Book of English Verse 1 ...
(Marghak Cough)
* Edgar Algernon Rees (Carer Losow)
* George Sloggett (Gwas Petrock)
*
Thomas Taylor (Gwas Ust)
* Herbert Thomas (Barth Colonnek)
* James Thomas (Tas Cambron)
*
John Coulson Tregarthen
John Coulson Tregarthen (9 September 1854 – 17 February 1933) was a British field naturalist and author, described as "the best loved Cornishman of his time".
Tregarthen was born in Penzance, Cornwall, the son of James Tregarthen of St Mary's, ...
(Mylgarer)
Morton Nance became 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 Gorsedh used the
Unified form, in June 2009, members voted overwhelmingly to adopt the new
Standard Written Form as their standard.
Gorsedh adopts SWF – Cornish Language Partnership
/ref>
Lists of Cornish bards and venues
1899 – 1928
;1899, Wales
* John Hobson Matthews
John Hobson Matthews (1858–1914) was a Roman Catholic historian, archivist and solicitor.
Biography
John Hobson Matthews was born in Croydon in 1858, to Emma Hobson from Great Grimsby and his father from St. Ives. He attended schools in Blac ...
(Mab Cernyw)
* Reginald Reynolds (Gwas Piran)
* Hettie Tangye Reynolds (Merch Eia)
;1903, Brittany
* Henry Jenner
Henry Jenner (8 August 1848 – 8 May 1934) was a British scholar of the Celtic languages, a Cornish cultural activist, and the chief originator of the Cornish language revival.
Jenner was born at St Columb Major on 8 August 1848. He was th ...
(Gwas Myghal)
;1904, Wales
* Kitty Lee Jenner
Kitty Lee Jenner (12 September 185321 October 1936) was an English artist, bard and writer who helped to set up the Cornish Gorsedh. She grew up in Cornwall and studied art in London. She later became an author, publishing six novels under the ...
(Morvoren)
* L. C. R. Duncombe Jewell (Bardd Glas)
;1928, Wales
* Albert Marwood Bluett (Gwryghonen Vew)
* James Sims Carah (Gwas Crowan)
* Gilbert Hunter Doble
Gilbert Hunter Doble (26 November 1880 – 15 April 1945) was an Anglican priest and Cornish historian and hagiographer.
Early life
G. H. Doble was born in Penzance, Cornwall, on 26 November 1880. His father, John Medley Doble, shared his enthus ...
(Gwas Gwendron)
* Robert Morton Nance
Robert Morton Nance (1873–1959) was a British writer and leading authority on the Cornish language, a nautical archaeologist, and joint founder of the Old Cornwall Society.
Nance wrote many books and pamphlets on the Cornish language, inclu ...
(Mordon)
* Annie Pool (Myrgh Piala)
* Trelawney Roberts (Gonader A Bell)
* Joseph Hambley Rowe (Tolzethan)
* William Charles Daniel Watson (Tirvab)
Venues in Cornwall since 1928
Jori Ansell, Caradok. Barded in 1978 at Merry Maidens, St Buryan by examination in the Cornish language. Joined GK Council as elected member in 1985. Deputy Grand Bard 1988-1991. Grand Bard 1991-1994. Chair GK Constitutional sub-committee.
List of Grand Bards of the Gorsedh Kernow since 1928
List of Deputy Grand Bards of the Gorsedh Kernow since 1928
See also
* List of topics related to Cornwall
The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Cornwall:
Cornwall – ceremonial county and unitary authority area of England within the United Kingdom. Cornwall is a peninsula bordered to the north and wes ...
References
*
*
*
External links
*
*
*
*
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{{Authority control
*
Celtic Revival
Cornish culture
Cornish language
Cornish nationalism
Gorseddau
Organizations established in 1928
Poetry organizations