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 European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

, which exists to maintain the national Celtic 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 Encyclop ...

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 ...

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 revival, who took the bardic name "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 country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the Bristol Channel to the south. It had a population in ...

. 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 opposing ...

. 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 prec ...

, R. Morton Nance, and Peter Berresford Ellis. 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

. More metalwork was carried out for the Gorsedh by John Turner and by Cyril Orchard. Lady of Cornwall

The Gorsedh Kernow has now opened up to all forms of revived Cornish language, and states its aim as "to maintain the national Celtic 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 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 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

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 ...

(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
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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 *

(Gwas Myghal) ;1904, Wales *

(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

References

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External links

* * * * * {{Authority control * Celtic Revival Cornish culture Cornish language Cornish nationalism Gorseddau Organizations established in 1928 Poetry organizations