| Altarnun lies on the banks of Penport Water which is why
it is recorded in the Domesday Book as Penport. The name of Altarnun came
from the original 6th century church of St. Nonna which was built here
(being a corruption of Altarnon). Nothing remains of this early Celtic
church apart from possibly the Cornish Cross at the entrance to the churchyard.
The present church was mainly built in the 15th century on the site of
an earlier 12th century Norman church the font of which still remains.
The church is known as the Cathedral of the Moors and two of its main
features is its tower, 109 feet high and a signed series of 79 bench ends
carved by Robert Daye during a twenty year period from 1510 to 1530. A
short walk from the church is the holy well of St. Nonna, the mother of
St. David. There are two bridges in Altarnun, one being a restored 15th
century packhorse bridge which can be seen in this photograph. |
