Ludgvan

Coordinates: 50°08′38″N 5°29′42″W / 50.144°N 5.495°W / 50.144; -5.495

Ludgvan (/ˈlʌdʒən/ LUJ-ən; Cornish: Lujuan) is a civil parish and village in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The village is 2 ¹⁄₂ miles (4.0 km) northeast of Penzance. Ludgvan village is physically split between the area known as Churchtown, situated on the hill, and Lower Quarter to the east, adjoining Crowlas. For the purposes of local government, Ludgvan elects a parish council every four years and the principal local authority is Cornwall Council. The civil parish population at the 2011 census was 3,250, whereas the electoral ward population which also covers the above plus the surroundings up to the North Cornish Coast at Zennor was 4,145 at the same census.

The village has an Old Cornwall Society.

History

Like many communities in Cornwall the legendary origins of Ludgvan are attributed to the arrival of its patron saint, in this case Saint Ludowanus. However, the place-name appears to derive from the Cornish for place of ashes or burnt place. Ludgvan was mentioned in the Domesday Book (under the name of Luduhan) as falling within the manor of Ludgvan Lese, which at the time of record covered more of what is now the Penwith district including some parts of the modern parish of St Ives. The Lords of the manor of Ludgvan Lese kept certain shipping rights within the port of St Ives up to and possibly beyond the 19th-century. Ludgvan Lease now exists as a hamlet within the parish. At the time of Domesday Book the manor had 3 hides of land and land for 15 or 30 ploughs. It was held by Richard from Robert, Count of Mortain; there were 12 ploughs, 8 serfs, 14 villeins and 40 smallholders. There were 300 acres of pasture, 27 unbroken mares, 22 cattle, 17 pigs and 140 sheep. The value of the manor was £3 sterling though it had formerly been worth £5.