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Historic England Research Records

St Pirans Oratory

Hob Uid: 428106
Location :
Cornwall
Perranzabuloe
Grid Ref : SW7685756398
Summary : Remains of an Early Medieval oratory, probably 8th century or 7th century at the earliest. The doorway has been described as 11th century, while a stone bearing a fragmentary inscription of probable 5th or 6th century date is featured upside down in the wall of the oratory. The walls survive to a height of 2.4 metres. In 1910, the remains of the oratory were protected from the further encroachment of sand by the construction of a concrete structure. This featured a cross head circa 0.5 metres high, possibly the head of the cross shaft recorded as Monument HOB UID 428169. In 1981, the oratory was reburied under the supervision of the Cornwall Committee for Rescue Archaeology. At the time, a scatter of bones was discovered on the western side of the oratory. Subsequently, erosion has exposed a scatter of bones and remains of at least 10 cists believed to be early medieval in date. It is thought that St Piran retired to Cornwall from Ireland in the 6th century and founded a monastery here which was extant until 1085. (Monument HOB UID 428173).
More information : (SW 76855637) St Piran's Oratory (NR) (remains of)
(NAT) (1)

The roofless remains of St.Piran's oratory are protected from
the encroachment of sand by a concrete structure, built in 1910.
The walls of the oratory stand to a height of 5 - 6 ft. Its
date is uncertain but probably no earlier than the 8th.C. The
S. doorway is 11th. C. The last addition before the site was
abandoned. (2-4)

A stone bearing a fragmentary inscription of 5th. or 6th. C. date
is built upside down into the wall of the oratory. Inscribed
.....rn........f(s?)..... (5)

The remains of the Oratory at SW 76855639 are well preserved
(contained within a modern building) although the floor is
under water because a spring now rises beneath the building.

The Oratory is 9.5m. long by 4.9m.wide with walls 1.4m. to 2.4m.
high. See GP.

A latin cross head is mounted at SW 76865639 in the centre of the
roof at the eastern end of the building which protects the
Oratory. It is approximately 0.5m. high with small section of
octagonal shaft. It is possibly the head of the cross shaft
at SW 77885574 (Monument HOB UID 428169). See GP. (6)

The inscribed stone could not be located. (7)

(SW 7685 5639): The oratory was reburied in 1981. This work was supervised by CCRA. A scatter of bones was discovered on the western side of the oratory whilst contouring the site. (8)

A scatter of bones and part of a cist were exposed due to erosion. (9)

Scheduled and noted. (10-11)

The inscribed stone (described by authy.5) was observed again in 1980 when the oratory was last uncovered. Dr L Olson and OJ Padel both saw the stone and concluded that the letters may be of any date and not necessarily early Christian. (12)
Sources :
Source Number : 1
Source :
Source details : OS 6" 1863
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Source Number : 2
Source :
Source details : Henderson, C. 1925. Cornwall Church Guide
Page(s) : 160
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Source Number : 11
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Source details :
Page(s) : 482
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Source Number : 12
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Page(s) : 200
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Source Number : 3
Source :
Source details : Ministry of Housing and Local Government: Cornwall - Truro Rural District, October 1960
Page(s) : 19
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Source Number : 4
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Page(s) : 25
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Source Number : 5
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Source details :
Page(s) : 224
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Source Number : 6
Source :
Source details : F1 MJF 07-JAN-71
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Source Number : 7
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Source details :
Page(s) : 182
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Vol(s) : 2
Source Number : 8
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Source details :
Page(s) : 216
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Vol(s) : 20, 1981
Source Number : 9
Source :
Source details :
Page(s) : 4
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Vol(s) : 41, 1983
Source Number : 10
Source :
Source details : 10-Aug-99
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Monument Types:
Monument Period Name : Early Medieval
Display Date : 11th century
Monument End Date : 1066
Monument Start Date : 1001
Monument Type : Chapel
Evidence : Ruined Building
Monument Period Name : Early Medieval
Display Date :
Monument End Date : 1066
Monument Start Date : 410
Monument Type : Cist, Human Remains
Evidence : Structure, Sub Surface Deposit, Find
Monument Period Name : Early Medieval
Display Date : 7th or 8th century
Monument End Date : 800
Monument Start Date : 601
Monument Type : Chapel
Evidence : Ruined Building
Monument Period Name : Medieval
Display Date : 11th century
Monument End Date : 1100
Monument Start Date : 1066
Monument Type : Private Chapel
Evidence : Ruined Building
Monument Period Name : Medieval
Display Date :
Monument End Date : 1540
Monument Start Date : 1066
Monument Type : Cross
Evidence : Structure
Components and Objects:
Related Records from other datasets:
External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (County No.)
External Cross Reference Number : CO 116
External Cross Reference Notes :
External Cross Reference Source : SMR Number (Cornwall)
External Cross Reference Number : /035
External Cross Reference Notes :
External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (National No.)
External Cross Reference Number : 29670
External Cross Reference Notes :
External Cross Reference Source : Listed Building List Entry Legacy Uid
External Cross Reference Number : 63723
External Cross Reference Notes :
External Cross Reference Source : NBR Index Number
External Cross Reference Number : 108525
External Cross Reference Notes :
External Cross Reference Source : Unified Designation System UID
External Cross Reference Number : 1141559
External Cross Reference Notes :
External Cross Reference Source : Unified Designation System UID
External Cross Reference Number : 1018955
External Cross Reference Notes :
External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : SW 75 NE 3
External Cross Reference Notes :
Related Warden Records :
Associated Monuments :
Relationship type : General association
Associated Monuments :
Relationship type : General association
Associated Monuments :
Relationship type : General association
Associated Monuments :
Relationship type : General association
Associated Monuments :
Relationship type : General association
Associated Monuments :
Relationship type : General association
Associated Monuments :
Relationship type : General association
Related Activities :
Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1835-01-01
End Date : 1835-12-31
Associated Activities :
Activity type : FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT)
Start Date : 1971-01-07
End Date : 1971-01-07
Associated Activities :
Activity type : ARCHITECTURAL SURVEY
Start Date : 1994-01-01
End Date : 1994-12-31
Associated Activities :
Activity type : EVALUATION
Start Date : 2009-01-01
End Date : 2010-12-31