# Gorsedh Kernow

Gorsedh Kernow (Cornish Gorsedd) is a non-political Cornish organisation, based in Cornwall, United Kingdom, which exists to maintain the national Celtic spirit of Cornwall. It is based on the Welsh-based Gorsedd, which was founded by Iolo Morganwg in 1792.
Since 1995, they run the annual Holyer an Gof Publishers Awards "to promote books about Cornwall, set in Cornwall or in Cornish".

## History

The Gorsedh Kernow (Gorsedd of Cornwall) was set up in 1928 at Boscawen-Un by Henry Jenner, one of the early proponents of Cornish language revival, who took the bardic name "Gwas Myghal", meaning "servant of Michael". He and twelve others (including Kitty Lee Jenner) were initiated by the Archdruid of Wales. It has been held every year since, except during World War II. 1,000 people have been Cornish bards, including Dame Alida Brittain, Ken George, R. Morton Nance, and Peter Berresford Ellis.
After 1939 the Council of the Gorsedd of Cornwall approved additional regalia, and asked Francis Cargeeg 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. 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, 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 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 Gorsedh for 2008 was held in September 2008 in Looe which coincided with the Dehwelans Kernow festival. The 2009 Gorsedh began on 18 April at Saltash.

### The first bards of Gorsedh 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)
* Arthur Quiller-Couch (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 (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.

## Lists of Cornish bards and venues
### 1899 – 1928
#### 1899, Wales

* John Hobson Matthews (Mab Cernyw)
* Reginald Reynolds (Gwas Piran)
* Hettie Tangye Reynolds (Merch Eia)

#### 1903, Brittany

* Henry Jenner (Gwas Myghal)

#### 1904, Wales

* Kitty Lee Jenner (Morvoren)
* L. C. R. Duncombe Jewell (Bardd Glas)

#### 1928, Wales

* Albert Marwood Bluett (Gwryghonen Vew)
* James Sims Carah (Gwas Crowan)
* Gilbert Hunter Doble (Gwas Gwendron)
* Robert Morton Nance (Mordon)
* Annie Pool (Myrgh Piala)
* Trelawney Roberts (Gonader A Bell)
* Joseph Hambley Rowe (Tolzethan)
* William Charles Daniel 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 Rounds, Wadebridge/Pons War Wlan 1937 Boscawen-Un 1938 Trippet Stones, Blisland 1939 "Chylason", Carbis Bay, (Grand Bard's house) 1940–1945 Royal Institution of Cornwall (Truro Museum) 1946 Perran Round, Perranzabuloe 1947 Lannstefan / Launceston 1948 Carwyen, Cambron Camborne 1949 Mount Charles Menhyr 1950 Boscawen-Un 1951 Padstow/Lodenek 1952 Trethevy Quoit, St Cleer 1953 Trencrom, Lelant 1954 Castle Dore, Golant 1955 The Merry Maidens, St Buryan 1956 Castle Canyke, Bodmin 1957 Predannack Cross, Mullion 1958 Perran Round, Perranzabuloe 1959 Kelliwik, Callington 1960 Cambron/Camborne 1961 Bude Castle Bude 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 Antony House, Torpoint 1988 Poldhu, Mullion 1989 Lostwydhyel/Lostwithiel 1990 Marhasvean/Marazion 1991 Roche, Cornwall| 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 2009 Essa / Saltash 2010 Porthia / St Ives 2011 Hellys / Helston 2012 Reskammel / Camelford 2013 Glasney, Pennrynn / Penryn 2014 Penntorr / Torpoint 2015 Sen Austel / St Austell 2016 Lannaghevran / St Keverne 2017 Lannstefan/Launceston 2018 Towan Blistra/Newquay 2019 Lannust / St Just in Penwith 2020 Covid-19 secure ceremony Truru / Truro 2021 Porthbud–Strasnedh / Bude-Stratton 2022 Heyl / Hayle 2023 Lodenek/ Padstow 2024 Kelliwik / Callington 2025 Marhasvean / Marazion |
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

| 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 (John Chesterfield) 1988–1991 Caradok (Jori P. S. Ansell) 1991–1994 Cummow (Brian F. J. Coombes) 1994–1997 Bryallen (Ann Trevenen Jenkin) 1997–2000 | Jowan an Cleth (John Bolitho) 2000–2003 Tewennow (Rod Lyon) 2003–2006 Gwenenen (Vanessa Beeman) 2006–2009 Skogynn Pryv (Mick Paynter) 2009–2012 Steren Mor (Maureen Fuller) 2012–2015 Telynor an Weryn (Merv Davey) 2015–2018 Melennek (Elizabeth M. Carne) 2018–2021 Mab Stenak Vur (Pol Hodge) 2021-2024 Gwythvosen (Jenefer Lowe) 2024- |

### List of Deputy Grand Bards of the Gorsedh Kernow since 1928

| Mordon (Robert Morton Nance) 1928–1934 Tolzethan (Joseph Hambley Rowe) 1934–1937 Gonader A-Bell (Trelawney Roberts) 1937–1946 Map Mor (Henry Trefusis) 1946–1952 Gwas Cadoc (David R. Evans) 1952–1962 Tan Dyvarow (Francis Cargeeg) 1962–1967 Map Kenwyn (Cecil Beer) 1967–1972 Map Dyvroeth (Richard Jenkin) 1972–1976 Den Toll (Hugh John Miners) 1976–1982 Gwas Gwethnok (Ernest E. Morton Nance) 1982–1988 Caradok (George P. S. Ansell) 1988–1991 Cummow (Brian F. J. Coombes) 1991–1994 Bryallen (Dorothy Ann Trevenen Jenkin) 1994–1997 Jowan an Cleth (John Bolitho) 1997–2000 | Tewennow (Rod Lyon) 2000–2003 Gwenenen (Vanessa Beeman) 2003–2006 Skogyn Pryv (Mick Paynter) 2006–2009 Steren Mor (Maureen Fuller) 2009–2012 Telynor an Weryn (Merv Davey) 2012–2015 Melennek (Elizabeth M. Carne) 2015–2018 Mab Stenak Vur (Pol Hodge) 2018–2021 Gwythvosen (Jenefer Lowe) 2021-2024 Myrgh an Tyr (Loveday Jenkin) 2024- |