Gorran (St Gorran)

• Gravestone inscriptions searchable on the OPC site
• The Cornwall Family History Society have published Monumental Inscriptions for the Parish Church - 341 entries.
• Details from the War Memorial in this parish are also on-line. Also a Roll of Honour
• The OPC has photographed gravestone inscriptions in this parish.

Census information for this parish (1841 - 1901) is held in the Cornwall Record Office. The Cornwall Family History Society offers a census search service for its members.
Specific census information for this parish is available as follows:

• 1841. The 1841 Census of Gorran (HO107/145), Enumeration Districts 9 to 11, is available on-line from the Cornwall Online Census project.
• 1851. The 1851 Census of Gorran (HO107/1908), Enumeration Districts 3a, 3b and 3c, is available on-line from the Cornwall Online Census project.
• 1861. The 1861 Census of Gorran (RG9/1550), Enumeration Districts 9 to 11, is available on-line from the Cornwall Online Census project.
• 1871. The 1871 Census of Gorran (RG10/2269), Enumeration Districts 9 to 11 [including Merchant Shipping], is available on-line from the Cornwall Online Census project.
• 1881. The 1881 Census of Gorran (RG11/2304), Enumeration Districts 9 to 11, is available on-line from the Cornwall Online Census project.
• 1891. The 1891 Census of Gorran (RG12/1824), Enumeration Districts 9 to 11 [including schools], is available on-line from the Cornwall Online Census project.
• 1901. The 1901 Census of Gorran is available on-line, courtesy of the OPC. (not available on line 8/18)

• Anglican. There are two Angican churches in Gorran parish:
  • The parish church is located in the Churchtown at OS Grid Square SX0141; it was dedicated to St Gorran (Goronus). It comprises a chancel, nave, south aisle, north transept, and vestry. The arcade has eight obtuse arches of Pentewan stone, supported on pillars of the same material. The porch itself is finshed with battlements and pinnacles; there is a blocked north door. The tower is of three stages, buttressed on the square, and finished with battlements and crocketed pinnacles.
    St Goran's stands on the site of a Norman-built cruciform church, some parts of which remain and are incorporated into the church which was later built onto the site, evolving more or less as many older churches, with additions such as the south aisle in the late 14th century, and the tower later in the 15th century, while the North doorway is apparently of the 13th century. Within the nave there are 53 ancient beech (pew) ends, more than in most churches; whilst in the chancel are some fine examples of more modern wood carvings. The tower, which was rebuilt in 1606 in place of a steeple which was taken down in consequence of having fallen into decay, is now a well-known day mark for shipping, and can be seen from a considerable distance.
    Details about the plans of the modern church (ICBS) are available on-line.
  • There is a separate Anglican Church at Gorran Haven. This is the St Just (Chapel of Ease) which stands well down into that part of the parish which contains an old fishing village (of Goran Haven), possibly resting on the footings of a very ancient building, but the present building is mainly 15th Century. It is a gem of a little church which has had a somewhat chequered history, especially after the Reformation, when it was closed as a place of worship apparently, and became a "fish cellar" and net store, until the 19th century, when it was restored to religious worship.
• Non-Conformist. There were Wesleyan Methodist and Calvinist chapels at Gorran Haven. There was also a Wesleyan Methodist chapel at Gorran High Lanes. The Bible Christians had a chapel at Boswinger.

• LDS Church Records.
  • The LDS Church batch numbers for Gorran are: C023201/2, C053351, E053351, M053351. These are searchable by surname.
  • The IGI coverage of this parish is 1661 - 1837.
• The Cornwall Record Office holdings: Baptisms 1661 - 1989, Burials 1661 - 1989, Marriages 1688 - 1975, Boyd's Marriage Index 1607 - 1812, BTs 1607 - 1673.
• Baptisms.
  • Baptisms 1750 to 1773 (BTs) for this parish are available on-line through the OPC search Facility - (C-PROP).
  • The Cornish Forefathers' Society have published on CD baptisms 1724 to 1840 for this parish and these are available for purchase on Parish Chest..
  • Baptisms from St Gorran 1662 to 1669, and 1881 to 1998 are also available on-line, courtesy of the OPC. (not available on line 8/18)
  • Transcription of the baptisms of the Mevagissey Bible Christian Circuit 1838-1907, taken from LDS film 2276210 images 1913-2413 (courtesy of the Church of Latter Day Saints). These records relate to several parishes close to Mevagissey including Gorran, Veryan, St Ewe, St Austell, Gerrans, St Just in Roseland, Ruan Lanihorne etc.
• Marriages.
  • The Cornwall Family History Society have published transcripts of: Parish Marriages 1617 to 1836, which is available in Book, CD or downloadable .pdf file formats.
  • Phillimore's marriages 1668 to 1812, and 1750 to 1773 (BTs), for this parish are available on-line through the OPC search Facility - (C-PROP).
  • The Cornish Forefathers' Society have published on CD marriages 1740 to 1840 (with burials) for this parish and these are available for purchase on Parish Chest..
  • The OPC has placed on-line, marriages at St Gorran 1931 to 1999. (not available on line 8/18)
• Burials.
  • Burials 1750 to 1773 (BTs) for this parish are available on-line through the OPC search Facility - (C-PROP).
  • The Cornwall Family History Society have published transcripts of: Parish Burials 1813 to 1836, which is available in Book format.
  • The OPC has placed on-line, burials at St Gorran 1811 to 1840 and 1912 to 1989. (not available on line 8/18)
  • The Cornish Forefathers' Society have published on CD burials 1740 to 1840 (with marriages) for this parish and these are available for purchase on Parish Chest..

The parish of Gorran has been in the Registration District of St Austell continuously from 1st July 1837. There were sub-districts at Fowey, Grampound, Mevagissey and St Austell, but these have now been abolished. Parishes within the district are: Creed, Fowey, Gorran, Grampound, Mevagissey, Roche, St. Austell, St. Blazey, St. Dennis, St. Ewe, St. Mewan, St. Michael Carhays, St. Sampson, St. Stephen in Brannel, Tywardreath. The Superintendant Registrar can be contacted at: 12 Carlyon Road, St Austell, PL25 4LD. Tel: 01726 68974. Fax: 01726 68974.

• Photographs of Gorran Haven are available on-line. (not available on line 8/18)

• Geograph
• Flickr

• Ask for a calculation of the distance from Gorran (St Gorran) to another place.

OPC Assistance.

• The On-line Parish Clerk (OPC) scheme operates a service to help family historians; the OPC page for this parish is available on-line, from where the OPC can be contacted by email.
• The OPC for Gorran has provided a genealogical website for this parish. (not available on line 8/18)

The Domesday Settlements of Cornwall, a study undertaken by the Cornwall Branch of the Historical Association, has identified and located settlements listed in the Exeter and Exchequer Domesday Survey of AD 1086. The following places have been identified in St Goran ecclesiastical parish:

• Bodrugan (Bodewrgoin, Bodeworgoin), Grid Reference 015434.
• Galowras (Gloeret), Grid Reference 000442.
• Trevesson (Trefitent), Grid Reference 995414.

A history and Genealogy of Gorran parish is available on-line. (not available on line 8/18)

Landowners & Occupiers of the Parish of St. Goran in 1841 is available on-line. (not available on line 8/18)

• Map of the St Austell Registration district in which the parish lies.

You can see maps centred on OS grid reference SW996425 (Lat/Lon: 50.247973, -4.812832), Gorran (St Gorran) which are provided by:

• OpenStreetMap
• Google Maps
• StreetMap (Current Ordnance Survey maps)
• Bing (was Multimap)
• Old Maps Online
• National Library of Scotland (Old Ordnance Survey maps)
• Vision of Britain (Click "Historical units & statistics" for administrative areas.)
• English Jurisdictions in 1851 (Unfortunately the LDS have removed the facility to enable us to specify a starting location, you will need to search yourself on their map.)
• Magic (Geographic information) (Click + on map if it doesn't show)
• GeoHack (Links to on-line maps and location specific services.)

• All places within the same township/parish shown on an Openstreetmap map.
• Nearby townships/parishes shown on an Openstreetmap map.
• Nearby places shown on an Openstreetmap map.

• A history and family tree of the LIDDICOAT Family is available on-line. (not available on line 8/18)
• A family tree of the PILLS Family of Gorran Haven and Mevagissey is also available on-line. (not available on line 8/18)

Details of some of those involved with Gorran Haven fishing 1800 - 1990 are available on-line, courtesy of the OPC. (not available on line 8/18)

Gorran parish was part of the St Austell Union for Poor Law administration and parish relief.

• In the May of 1641 it was agreed and ordered that every Member of the House of Commons and House of Lords should make a protestation (declaration of loyalty) to the crown. The Protestation was printed and then distributed by the Members to their counties. The Protestation was to be made by everyone and the Rectors, Churchwardens and Overseers of the Poor, had to appear before the Justices of the Peace in their Hundred to make their protestation and, on returning to their parishes, any two of them were to witness the taking of the Protestation Oath by all males over the age of 18 years. All names were listed and anyone who refused was to be noted.
  The Protestation Returns of 1642 for Gorran are available on-line.
• A list of the Vicar's of St Goran Church are available on-line, courtesy of the OPC. (not available on line 8/18)

Class photographs of the pupils of Gorran School have been placed on-line by the OPC. (not available on line 8/18)

The parish comprises 4808 acres of land.