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Summary

Fortifications protected the complex of buildings at Glasney College, enclosing an area of about 4.75 acres

Protected Status

• Conservation Area: PENRYN
• Scheduled Monument CO1083: Glasney College

Other References/Statuses

• Heritage at Risk (National): English Heritage, South West
• OS No. (OS Quarter-sheet and OS No.): SW73SE 5
• Primary Record No. (1985-2009): 18660.10
• SMR No. (OS Quarter-sheet and SMR No.): SW73SE 3.5

Monument Type(s):

• FORTIFICATION (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)

Full description

Fortifications protected the complex of buildings and cemetery at Glasney College. They enclose an area of about 4.75 acres, and were described by Leland in his 1538 Itinerary. He reported that the college was "strongly wallid and castellid, having three strong towers and gunnes at the butt of the creke". A C19th copy of a drawing made c.1580 shows three towers on the seaward side protecting the gate - one square and two round - and a strong wall apparently enclosing the whole complex. The exact date of these fortifications is not known. The wall surrounding the precincts can still be identified in places; notably bordering the southern side of the recreation field where it is over 3.5m high and from 0.6 - 1.0m wide. Other stretches, such as that recorded by Peter on the western side (b4), have been destroyed recently. One of the original gateways may be preserved at the entrance to College Ope, on St Thomas' St, where two granite pillars stand, one either side of a building (at approx SW 78607 34265).

--------------------------------
Site history:
1: 1968. ANK/OS
2: 1979. YOUNG, CJ/IAM
3: 1983. SHEPPARD, PA/IAM
5: 1989. PRESTON-JONES, A/CAU
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<1> UNKNOWN, 1788, PLAN OF PENRYN FORRYN (Unedited Source). SCO5634.

<2> Sowell, CR, 1865, Collegiate Church of St Thomas of Glasney, VOL 1, PT 3, 21-34 (Article in Journal). SCO5154.

<3> Rashleigh, J & Vincent, JAC, 1879, Abstract of the Glasney Cartulary, 216-263 (Article in Journal). SCO5146.

<4> Peter, TC, 1903, The History of Glasney Collegiate Church (Bibliographic reference). SCO4122.

<5> Toulmin Smith, L (Ed), 1907, The Itinerary of John Leland (Bibliographic reference). SCO4949.

<6> Ordnance Survey, 1900s, 2nd Edition 6 Inch Map (Cartographic materials). SCO4051.

<7> Henderson, C, 1935, Essays in Cornish History (Bibliographic reference). SCO3501.

<8> Gover, JEB, 1948, Place-Names of Cornwall, 498 (Bibliographic reference). SCO3402.

<9> Nance, RM, 1949, Cornish Culture, NO 1, 11-17 (Article in Serial). SCO5133.

<10> Pevsner, N, 1951, The Buildings of England: Cornwall, 120 (Bibliographic reference). SCO4126.

<11> Geach, M, 1963, Glasney College, VOL 6, PT 5, 208-209 (Article in Serial). SCO5110.

<12> Roddis, RJ, 1964, Penryn: the History of an Ancient Cornish Borough (Bibliographic reference). SCO4267.

<13> Harvey, J (Ed), 1969, Itineraries of William of Worcestre (Bibliographic reference). SCO3466.

<14> Cole, R, 2005, Glasney College, Penryn, Cornwall. Archaeological Assessment and Evaluation Trenching (Cornwall Event Report). SCO3098.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events: none recorded

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