Subject: Re: [BoundaryPoint] Interesting parts of the Cornish border<br/>
Date: Mar 19, 2005 @ 23:14<br/>
Author: Kevin Meynell (Kevin Meynell &lt;knm@...&gt;)<br/>
<a href="17119.htm">Prev</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Post in Topic&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Next&emsp;[<a href="topic17119.htm">All</a> Posts]<br/>
<a href="17122.htm">Prev</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Post in Time&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="17124.htm">Next</a><br/>
<br/><br/>
<div id="ygrps-yiv-35513635"><blockquote><span title="ireply">&gt;Cornwall (Cornwall, &#39;or Kernow,&#39; was the first on Britain&#39;s &#39;Celtic <br/>
&gt;fringe&#39; to be taken by England.<br/>
<br/>
 </span></blockquote>It depends what you mean by &#39;taken&#39;. Cornwall was granted to Earl Moreton <br/>
by William the Conqueror after he invaded England, although parts of it had <br/>
previously been ruled by Anglo-Saxon nobility. However, it was still <br/>
recognised as a separate entity nation with special privileges until well <br/>
into the 16th century. The incorporation of Cornwall into England would <br/>
appear to have happened gradually, but was stepped-up by the Cornish <br/>
refusal to recognise the newly-established Anglican Church. The final act <br/>
would appear to have been the creation of the administrative county in <br/>
1888, although the Duke of Cornwall (the British monarch&#39;s eldest son - <br/>
currently Prince Charles) still makes certain ceremonial appointments <br/>
instead of the monarch as happens with other English counties.<br/>
<br/>
<blockquote><span title="ireply"> &gt;The Cornish language is pretty much extinct, though local feeling has <br/>
&gt;fared better.<br/>
<br/>
 </span></blockquote>Let&#39;s be clear though, that whilst there&#39;s undoubtedly a revival of <br/>
interest in Cornish language and culture, Mebyon Kernow received the grand <br/>
total of 3,199 votes in the 2001 General Election (which was actually half <br/>
of what even the Monster Raving Loony Party managed to poll). They stood <br/>
also in just three of the five Cornish constituencies, and polled less than <br/>
2% of the vote in those. However, their campaign did recently receive <br/>
mention in a recent episode of the Simpsons ;-)<br/>
<br/>
<blockquote><span title="ireply"> &gt;The movement is pro-self rule only, not (generally) pro-independence).<br/>
<br/>
 </span></blockquote>Yes, most of the nationalists question the current constitutional position <br/>
of Cornwall with respect to England. Their general aim seems to be the <br/>
recognition of Cornwall as a nation within the UK, rather than outright <br/>
independence.<br/>
<br/>
<blockquote><span title="ireply"> &gt;The Mebyon Kernow party said &quot;To be totally honest, redrawing the border <br/>
&gt;in the two areas is not something MK has considered in recent years - <br/>
&gt;though, I am sure, most people see the whole length of the Tamar as the border.<br/>
<br/>
 </span></blockquote>Exactly what constitutes Cornwall is questionable to start with, <br/>
particularly if any revised constitutional status is based upon the Duchy <br/>
of Cornwall (as some claim it should be). More than half of the land in the <br/>
Duchy is actually in the neighbouring county of Devon.<br/>
<br/>
Regards,<br/>
<br/>
Kevin Meynell</div>