Kernow (or Cornwall to you and me)

Cornwall has a strong mining history, not just tin and copper but slate too and some mines are still going although much reduced in their operation but the quality of Cornish Tin is second to none.

Because of its location, South West British Isles it benefits from a milder climate than many other places, and in fact some tropical plants thrive outside whereas other places they have to be grown under glass or be protected from the seasonal frosts. It doesn't mean to say it is free from the risk of snow and ice, just that the majority of time it is milder.

It has a strong sense of heritage from Brittany, and the Breton people, and Cornwall is one of the six celtic nations which include : Northern Ireland, Eire, Wales, Scotland, Brittany and Cornwall.

Cornwall is perhaps best known though for its pasties (click for the recipe), usually containing a filling of beef steak, onion, potato and swede with salt and white pepper, and are often referred to as Oggies hence the saying Oggy, Oggy, Oggy which can be heard at Rugby matches. However it's most famous export must be the clotted cream, because much of the area is relatively poor soil and combined with a wet climate it is not ideal for growing many arable crops but does provide for good dairy grazing in turn providing a supply of rich cream which can be used by itself or turned into fudge or ice-cream (Remember the Walls Clotted Cream ice-cream, that lovely yellow colour and rich taste). The trade name clotted cream is now protected under EU laws and cannot be made outside of the county.

Cornwall has its own patron saint, St Pirin (for whom Perranporth is named) we celebrate his day on the 5^th March. Not much is known about him, other than he was from Irish stock and is credited with bringing back the art of tin-smelting to the Cornish and was adopted as the saint of tinner.

Cornwall has its literary moments one of which is that Laurence Binyon wrote the famous For the Fallen (first published in 1914) while sitting on the cliffs between Pentire Point and The Rumps and a stone plaque was erected in 2001 to commemorate the fact.

Why this post, well over at BritSpeak, a post was put up about Cornwall and a subtle hint was made as to me putting up some more information including the recipe which you will find over on my recipe site.