Gorsedh Kernow (Cornish Gorsedd) is a non-political Cornish organisation, based in Cornwall,

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and ...

, which exists to maintain the national

Celt The Celts (, see pronunciation for different usages) or Celtic peoples () are. "CELTS location: Greater Europe time period: Second millennium B.C.E. to present ancestry: Celtic a collection of Indo-European peoples. "The Celts, an ancient ...

ic spirit of Cornwall. It is based on the Welsh-based

Gorsedd A gorsedd (, plural ''gorseddau'') is a community or meeting of modern-day bards. The word is of Welsh origin, meaning "throne". It is spelled gorsedh in Cornish and goursez in Breton. When the term is used without qualification, it usually ...

, which was founded by

Iolo Morganwg Edward Williams, better known by his bardic name Iolo Morganwg (; 10 March 1747 – 18 December 1826), was a Welsh antiquarian, poet and collector.Jones, Mary (2004)"Edward Williams/Iolo Morganwg/Iolo Morgannwg" From ''Jones' Celtic Encycloped ...

in 1792.

History

The Gorsedh Kernow (

of Cornwall) was set up in 1928 at Boscawen-Un by

Henry Jenner Henry Jenner (8 August 1848 – 8 May 1934) was a British scholar of the Celtic languages, a Cornish cultural activist, and the chief originator of the Cornish language revival. Jenner was born at St Columb Major on 8 August 1848. He was th ...

, one of the early proponents of

Cornish language Cornish (Standard Written Form: or ) , is a Southwestern Brittonic language of the Celtic language family. It is a revived language, having become extinct as a living community language in Cornwall at the end of the 18th century. However, ...

revival, who took the

bardic name A bardic name (, ) is a pseudonym used in Wales, Cornwall, or Brittany by poets and other artists, especially those involved in the eisteddfod movement. The Welsh term bardd ("poet") originally referred to the Welsh poets of the Middle Ages, who ...

"Gwas Myghal", meaning "servant of

Michael Michael may refer to: People * Michael (given name), a given name * Michael (surname), including a list of people with the surname Michael Given name "Michael" * Michael (archangel), ''first'' of God's archangels in the Jewish, Christian and ...

". He and twelve others (including Kitty Lee Jenner) were initiated by the Archdruid of

Wales Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the Bristol Channel to the south. It had a population in ...

. It has been held every year since, except during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...

. 1,000 people have been Cornish bards, including Dame Alida Brittain, Ken George,

R. Morton Nance Robert Morton Nance (1873–1959) was a British writer and leading authority on the Cornish language, a nautical archaeologist, and joint founder of the Old Cornwall Society. Nance wrote many books and pamphlets on the Cornish language, inc ...

, and

Peter Berresford Ellis Peter Berresford Ellis (born 10 March 1943) is a British historian, literary biographer, and novelist who has published over 98 books to date either under his own name or his pseudonyms Peter Tremayne and Peter MacAlan. He has also published 100 ...

. After 1939 the Council of the Gorsedd of Cornwall approved additional regalia, and asked Francis Cargeeg to design and execute new regalia for the Grand Bard, the Deputy Grand Bard and the Secretary, and two headpieces for the Marshal's staves. Over time, and up to 1970, additional pieces were added, including plastrons for past Grand Bards, also produced by Francis Cargeeg. More metalwork was carried out for the Gorsedh by John Turner and by Cyril Orchard. Lady of Cornwall

The Gorsedh Kernow has now opened up to all forms of revived

, and states its aim as "to maintain the national

ic spirit of Cornwall". The Gorsedh also encourages the study of the arts and history. It has been held annually since and has become an important institution in Cornwall's cultural and civic life. Its competitions attract many applicants and the "open Gorsedh" is attended by many Cornish people. There is also extensive coverage on local media. An important part of the open Gorsedh is the awarding of bardships to individuals for meritorious work for Cornish culture. Thus the Gorsedh acts in many ways as a form of "honours system". Bardships are awarded for study in the language, services to Cornish music, encouraging the arts (especially amongst children) amongst other things. Initiate Bards are given

Bardic name A bardic name (, ) is a pseudonym used in Wales, Cornwall, or Brittany by poets and other artists, especially those involved in the eisteddfod movement. The Welsh term bardd ("poet") originally referred to the Welsh poets of the Middle Ages, who ...

s by the Grand Bard who welcomes them into the College of Bards. These names are in Cornish and will often refer somehow to the reason for their bardship: other

s refer to the Bard's personal or family name, or describe the Bards themselves, The three major Gorsedhs in Britain are recorded in an ancient Welsh triad as being held at Moel Merw and Bryn Gwyddon in Wales and Boscawen-Un in Cornwall (ref: Craig Weatherhill). After domination of the Brythonic Celts by the Saxons the Bardic tradition fell into disuse and despite attempts at revival over the centuries lost all its prestige. The Gorsedh for 2008 was held in September 2008 in

Looe Looe (; kw, Logh, ) is a coastal town and civil parish in south-east Cornwall, England, with a population of 5,280 at the 2011 census. Looe is west of Plymouth and south of Liskeard, divided in two by the River Looe, East Looe ( kw, links ...

which coincided with the Dehwelans Kernow festival. The 2009 Gorsedh began on 18 April at

Saltash Saltash (Cornish: Essa) is a town and civil parish in south Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It had a population of 16,184 in 2011 census. Saltash faces the city of Plymouth over the River Tamar and is popularly known as "the Gateway to Corn ...

The first bards of Gorsedh Kernow at Boscawen-Un

* Michael Ambrose Cardew (Myghal An Pry) * Charles G. Henderson (Map Hendra) * William Benjamin Tregoning Hooper (Bras y Golon) * James Dryden Hosken (Caner Helles) * Kenneth Hamilton Jenkin (Lef Stenoryon) *

Arthur Quiller-Couch Sir Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch (; 21 November 186312 May 1944) was a British writer who published using the pseudonym Q. Although a prolific novelist, he is remembered mainly for the monumental publication '' The Oxford Book of English Verse ...

(Marghak Cough) * Edgar Algernon Rees (Carer Losow) * George Sloggett (Gwas Petrock) * Thomas Taylor (Gwas Ust) * Herbert Thomas (Barth Colonnek) * James Thomas (Tas Cambron) *

John Coulson Tregarthen John Coulson Tregarthen (9 September 1854 – 17 February 1933) was a British field naturalist and author, described as "the best loved Cornishman of his time". Tregarthen was born in Penzance, Cornwall, the son of James Tregarthen of St Mary's ...

(Mylgarer) Morton Nance became the second Grand Bard in 1934. He said, "One generation has set Cornish on its feet. It is now for another to make it walk." Although the early Gorsedh used the Unified form, in June 2009, members voted overwhelmingly to adopt the new

Standard Written Form The Standard Written Form or SWF ( kw, Furv Skrifys Savonek) of the Cornish language is an orthography standard that is designed to "provide public bodies and the educational system with a universally acceptable, inclusive, and neutral orthograph ...

as their standard.Gorsedh adopts SWF – Cornish Language Partnership
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Lists of Cornish bards and venues

1899 – 1928

;1899, Wales * John Hobson Matthews (Mab Cernyw) * Reginald Reynolds (Gwas Piran) * Hettie Tangye Reynolds (Merch Eia) ;1903, Brittany *

(Gwas Myghal) ;1904, Wales * Kitty Lee Jenner (Morvoren) * L. C. R. Duncombe Jewell (Bardd Glas) ;1928, Wales * Albert Marwood Bluett (Gwryghonen Vew) * James Sims Carah (Gwas Crowan) * Gilbert Hunter Doble (Gwas Gwendron) *

Robert Morton Nance Robert Morton Nance (1873–1959) was a British writer and leading authority on the Cornish language, a nautical archaeologist, and joint founder of the Old Cornwall Society. Nance wrote many books and pamphlets on the Cornish language, inclu ...

(Mordon) * Annie Pool (Myrgh Piala) * Trelawney Roberts (Gonader A Bell) * Joseph Hambley Rowe (Tolzethan) * William Charles Daniel Watson (Tirvab)

Venues in Cornwall since 1928

Jori Ansell, Caradok. Barded in 1978 at Merry Maidens, St Buryan by examination in the Cornish language. Joined GK Council as elected member in 1985. Deputy Grand Bard 1988-1991. Grand Bard 1991-1994. Chair GK Constitutional sub-committee.

List of Grand Bards of the Gorsedh Kernow since 1928

List of Deputy Grand Bards of the Gorsedh Kernow since 1928

References

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External links

* * * * * {{Authority control * Celtic Revival Cornish culture Cornish language Cornish nationalism Gorseddau Organizations established in 1928 Poetry organizations