top of page

Lewannick Sculptured Stone

Lewannick_ogham_stone_A.jpeg
16-9 border.png

The early Christian memorial stones at Lewannick are important survivals from the early medieval period, probably dating from between the fifth and eighth centuries. Such stones are usually upright granite slabs carrying inscriptions that name the dead and sometimes their family connections. They belong to a period when Christianity, Latin literacy, and older Celtic traditions existed alongside one another in Cornwall and other western parts of Britain. One of the Lewannick stones stands near the lych gate in the churchyard. It is a weathered granite shaft with inscriptions in both Latin and ogham. The Latin inscription appears to read “INGENVI MEMORIA,” usually interpreted as “the monument of Incenvus.” Along the edge of the stone, the ogham inscription records the same name. The use of both scripts on one stone is rare, with only a small number of examples known in south west England. The second stone is now preserved inside Lewannick church. It was formerly built into the north porch wall and is broken into two pieces. This stone also carries both Latin and ogham inscriptions. The Latin name “VLCAGNI” is reflected in the ogham as “ULCAGNI,” while an earlier incorrect ogham version, “UDSAGQI,” is also visible. The correction is significant because it suggests that the person responsible for the inscription understood the script well enough to recognise and amend an error. The presence of Latin and ogham together shows the cultural complexity of early medieval Cornwall. Latin reflects Christian and ecclesiastical influence, while ogham points to connections with Irish script traditions and local identities. These stones suggest that communities such as Lewannick were not isolated, but were part of wider networks of language, belief, kinship, and commemoration. They also show that Christianisation was not a simple replacement of older traditions, but a gradual process in which different forms of identity could coexist. The survival of the Lewannick stones gives rare named evidence for people who lived more than a thousand years ago. One stone was re erected in the nineteenth century near the churchyard entrance, while the other is protected indoors. Although their inscriptions have suffered from weathering and reuse, they remain valuable records of early Christian Cornwall.

Photo Gallery

Directions

Dark Cornwall is dedicated to preserving Cornish folklore, myths, and ancient sites. Through storytelling, art, and interacti
  • Youtube
  • Discord
  • Threads
  • Instagram
bottom of page