Lizard

Lizard is a village on the peninsula of the same name and is south west from Coverack and Kuggar and about ten miles south of Helston along the A3083. The name comes from the Cornish for place 'lis' and high 'ard'. There is a large village green with a number of cafes and gift shops. The parish church is dedicated to St Winwallow and is in Landewednack on the outskirts of Lizard village. A Grade 1 listed building it was founded around 600 AD and the oldest part of the present building is a twelfth century Norman doorway. Thirteenth century restoration saw the porch added and in the fifteenth century a new window in the tower.

Other notable buildings include Lizard Lighthouse which is about half a mile south from the village and was built in 1752. A similar distance to the east is Lizard Lifeboat Station at Kilcobben Cove. The Top House Pub is reputed to be the most southerly pub in mainland United Kingdom.

Our visit

The weather was starting to cloud over and the mist closing in when we reached Lizard village on this March day. The weather added to the atmosphere. We went to the lighthouse and took in the coastal views.

The church St Winwallow in Landewednack, founded in 600 AD was very impressive and well worth visiting. Saint Winwaloe was born around the year 430 AD and died 3rd March 532 AD.  He was the son of Fragan a prince from Dumnonia a Brythonic Celtic kingdom and land of the Domnonii whose lands included Cornwall. His mother was Gwen Teirbron of Brittany. Winwaloe was said to have been born at Plouguin and grew up in Ploufragan, Aodoù-an-Arvor, Brittany. He was said to have been educated by Saint Budoc, who was the Bishop of Dol in Brittany.

Legend says that as a child Winwaloe had a dream where Saint Patrick came to him. In the dream Saint Patrick asked him to found an Abbey in Brittany. He and other followers of Budoc founded Landévennec Abbey, where he died on 3rd March 532 AD and that date is now his feast day. In Cornwall, the land of his ancestors, he is the patron of churches at Gunwalloe, St Wynwallow’s Church at Landewednack and Tremaine.

The Lizard (Cornish-An Lysardh) is within the Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.