Falmouth Jewish and Congregationalist Cemeteries in Cornwall

Falmouth Jewish and Congregationalist
cemeteries, Cornwall
Archaeological Assessment

Historic Environment Projects
Report No: 2010R039

3

Client The Conserving Cornwalls Past project
Report Number 2010R039
Date July 2010
Status Final report
Report author(s) Catherine Parkes BA MIfA
Checked by Ann Preston-Jones
Approved by Peter Rose

Historic Environment, Cornwall Council
Kennall Building, Old County Hall, Station Road, Truro, Cornwall, TR1 3AY
tel (01872) 323603 fax (01872) 323811 E-mail hes@cornwall.gov.uk
www.cornwall.gov.uk

Falmouth Jewish and
Congregationalist cemeteries,
Cornwall
Archaeological Assessment

avovtb ]eri.b ava Covgregatiovai.t ceveterie., Corvra, .rcbaeoogica ...e..vevt

4

Historic Environment, Cornwall Council is a Registered Organisation with the
Institute for Archaeologists

Cover illustration
1he south east corner o the Jewish cemetery, showing graestones whose positions in this upper, inner part o
the plot relects their status as ounders o the area`s Jewish community, and also the semi-natural diersity o the
ground with its ariety o wild lowers, and lichens and moss on the stones.

Cornwall Council 2010
No part o this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieal system, or transmitted in any orm or by any
means without the prior permission o the publisher.
Acknowledgements
1his study was carried out by Iistoric Lnironment Projects, Cornwall Council.
\ithin the Iistoric Lnironment, the Project Manager was Ann Preston-Jones. Jane Powning helped to locate
inormation about the turnpike road.
Cornwall Record Oice gae permission to reproduce images o historic maps in its custody or this report.
1his project is a component o the Consering Cornwall`s Past` project, which has oerall unding rom Cornwall
Council, Lnglish Ieritage, Cornwall Ieritage 1rust and the Ieritage Lottery lund.

1he iews and recommendations expressed in this report are those o Iistoric Lnironment Projects and are
presented in good aith on the basis o proessional judgement and o inormation currently aailable.

Freedom of Information Act
As Cornwall Council is a public authority it is subject to the terms o the lreedom o Inormation Act 2000,
which came into eect rom 1st January 2005.


5
Contents
J Summary JJ
2 Introduction J3
2.1 Project background 13
2.1.1 Studies o the Jewish cemetery in the 19
th
and 20
th
centuries 13
2.1.2 1he Jewish and Congregationalist cemeteries a monument at risk` 13
2.2 Aims 13
2.3 Methods 14
2.3.1 Desk-based assessment 14
2.3.2 lieldwork 14
3 Site location and setting J4
4 History and context JS
4.1 Origins o the cemeteries 15
4.1.1 Lstablishment o the Jewish community 15
4.1.2 1he growth o the Congregationalists 16
4.1.3 loundation o the cemeteries 16
4.2 lalmouth`s Jewish community 1
4.3 1he Congregationalists 19
4.4 Disuse and decline o the cemeteries 20
S Archaeology and landscape setting 2J
5.1 1he joint cemeteries 21
5.2 1he Jewish cemetery 23
5.2.1 Cemetery enclosure, structures and layout 23
5.2.2 Graestone texts 25
5.3 1he Congregationalist cemetery 2
5.3.1 Cemetery enclosure, structures and layout 2
5.3.2 Graestone texts 30
6 Interim statement of significance 3J
7 Designations and guidance 32
.1 Designations 32
.1.1 Scheduled monument 32
.1.2 Listed buildings 32
.1.3 Scheduling and Listing 32
.1.4 Other designations 32
.2 Guidance 32
.2.1 Producing a Conseration Management Plan 32
.2.2 1reatment o human burials 33
8 Management issues and threats 34
8.1 Summary o present character and management o the cemeteries 34
8.2 Issues relating to present and uture management 35
8.2.1 Obscurity o ownership 35
8.2.2 Lapse o burial unction, and loss o local congregations 35
8.2.3 1he highly sensitie character o the site 35
8.2.4 Physical neglect, and lack o superision and security o the site 36
8.2.5 Degradation o landscape setting 3

6
8.2.6 Limited and unoicial nature o access 3
8.2. Lack o understanding o the site 3
8.2.8 A Scheduled Monument at high risk` 38
8.2.9 Natural diersity at the site 38
8.2.10 Potential or increasing public appreciation and enjoyment o the cemeteries 38
8.3 Current damage and potential risks 39
8.3.1 1he approach to the cemeteries, and their immediate setting 39
8.3.2 Jewish cemetery 40
8.3.3 Congregationalist cemetery 42
9 Recommendations 46
9.1 Deelopment o a Conseration Management Plan 46
9.1.1 lurther recording and assessment 46
9.1.2 Management plan processes 4
9.1.3 Monitoring the plan in action 4
9.2 Management actions currently recommended 48
9.2.1 Identiication o, and consultation with, site owner,s 48
9.2.2 Repair or restoration o the boundaries 48
9.2.3 Restoration o the ormal entrances 48
9.2.4 Improement to the security o the site 49
9.2.5 Consideration o the potential or improing and extending access 49
9.2.6 Reision o the use o the associated roadside bay 49
9.2. Assessment o the stability o the scarp orming the cemeteries` north side. 49
9.2.8 Control o sel sown tree and scrub growth 50
9.2.9 Consideration o renewal o any early planting in the Congregationalist ground 50
9.2.10 Maintenance or restoration o grassy ground coer 50
9.2.11 Repair, restoration, or re-erection o graestones 50
9.2.12 Consolidation, repair or restoration o cemetery buildings 50
9.2.13 Renewal o the original pathway in the Congregationalist cemetery 50
9.2.14 Monitoring or any uture erosion or andalism 50
9.2.15 Inestigation o potential or encouraging or co-ordinating supporters. 50
9.3 Other recommendations 51
9.3.1 1reatment o adjoining land as the immediate setting o the cemeteries 51
9.3.2 Inestigation o potential or strengthening links with associated sites and arteacts 51
J0 References S2
10.1 Primary sources ,in chronological order, 52
10.2 Publications 52
10.3 \ebsites 53
JJ Project archive S3


List of Figures
lig 1 Aerial photograph o the area showing the location o the site, here isible as a cluster
o trees
lig 2 Detail rom an 1814 1ehidy estate surey, recording the two burying grounds`, and
marking the walling on the east o the Congregationalist ground, and the entrance on its
north east
lig 3 Ieadstone in the south east corner o the Congregationalist cemetery marking some o
the last burials in the joint grounds, isolated in time rom the main period o use, as
shown by the more modern design
lig 4 Bluebell coered mound on the north o the site, on the line o the hedge bank
between the cemeteries
lig 5 Iedge bank on the west o the Congregationalist ground, a re-used early ield
boundary, supporting oaks marked on the 1880 OS map which records indiidual large
trees
lig 6 View across the Jewish cemetery west o its centre rom its south boundary, showing
the steepness o the site, with a break in slope here possibly marking an old boundary
line
lig Ieadstone to Lsther lalkson who died in 1863, with text in both Iebrew and Lnglish,
under the ornamental top o the slate stone is the maker`s name, Oler o lalmouth
lig 8 Iy coered walling lanking the derelict Congregationalists` entrance on the north east
o the cemeteries
lig 9 Ruined mortuary chapel at the head o the steps into the Congregationalist ground,
with walling obscured by iy, and oerhung by trees, one o which has recently allen
oer the entrance steps ,oreground,
lig 10 Ornate tomb o the Poat amily, in the south west corner o the Congregationalist
ground, damaged by woody growth and by andalism, the top slab o the central
structure has been recently displaced ,right,
lig 11 Ieadstone with inscription commemorating James Nicholas buried in 1835, north o
centre in the Congregationalist cemetery, the stone is now broken across, and has lost its
rear surace aboe the racture
lig 12 View across the north part o the Congregationalist ground rom outside its eastern
wall, showing its long neglect and resulting collapse o walling, growth o sel-sown trees,
erosion and spread o rubbish
lig 13 1he roadside bay, at the entrance to the Jewish cemetery ,right o photo,, with gas
installation aecting the approach and setting o the site and extending back into the
scheduling
lig 14 Displaced ragment o a headstone lying on the grass in the Jewish cemetery,
illustrating the general ulnerability o the site to loss o remains and o irretrieable
knowledge ,the scale is 25cm long,
lig 15 1he boundary on the east o the Congregationalist cemetery south o its centre,
showing instability, bulging and partial collapse o the walling and its granite coping, with
tree and iy growth

8
lig 16 One o the earlier slate headstones in the Congregationalist cemetery, dated 1813, still
standing in the east end o a row o graes but embedded in one o the many trees
inading this ground
lig 1 Some o the many remains ulnerable to loss, oergrown grae structure with cross
allen or pushed oer in ront o it, on the west in the Congregationalist ground by its
junction with the Jewish cemetery
lig 18 View down the steps to the arched Congregationalist doorway, one o the original
eatures potentially oering rich experiences o aspects o past lies, but now disused,
ruinous, unstable and possibly dangerous
lig 19 Slumping resh in 2010 on the cut scarp orming the north side o the cemeteries,
requiring assessment
lig 20 View rom the Jewish cemetery, showing how it oerlooks low ground to the west
currently or sale as deelopment land
lig 21 Modern mapping showing the location o the cemeteries at Ponsharden, and their
surroundings
lig 22 1he scheduled area, as described in the Lnglish Ieritage documentation, on the
modern map base
lig 23 1he site captured on the edge o a Duke o Leeds` estate map, 188, showing the
Jewish cemetery only with dashed, possibly enced inner boundaries. Note also 1he
Island`, surrounded by the rier and turnpike
lig 24 1he area as sureyed or the Basset Lstate in 193 showing the Jewish ground
,labelled b` on the plan, still standing alone, with a gate symbol depicting the entrance in
the north west corner
lig 25 Richard 1homas` 1814 surey or the Bassett Lstate, the earliest plan ound depicting
both cemeteries, named here as the Jew`s and the Dissenter`s Burying Grounds. No
cemetery buildings appear to be made
lig 26 1he site as recorded on the Budock parish tithe map o 1840, with the building in the
Jewish cemetery
lig 2 1he OS mapping o 1880, recording buildings at both cemeteries, and also indiidual
trees on the hedge bank boundaries o the grounds


9
Abbreviations
CC Cornwall Council
CCC Cornwall County Council, now Cornwall Council
CMP Conseration Management Plan
CRO Cornwall Record Oice
LI Lnglish Ieritage
IBSMR Iistoric Buildings, Sites & Monuments Record, Cornwall`s archaeological
database, at IL
IL Iistoric Lnironment, Cornwall Council
ILS Iistoric Lnironment serice, now Iistoric Lnironment
ICS Institute o Cornish Studies
IA Institute or Archaeologists
MPPA Monuments Protection Programme Archaeologist ,reiewing schedulings,
NGR National Grid Reerence
ODPM Oice o the Deputy Prime Minister
OS Ordnance Surey
PRN Primary Record Number in Cornwall IBSMR
RIC Royal Institution o Cornwall
SM Scheduled Monument
SMM Scheduled Monument Management ,works and management to secure and
improe the condition o monuments in the county, co-ordinated by IL, CC,
SMR Scheduled Monuments at Risk

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11
1 Summary
lalmouth`s Jewish and Congregationalist cemeteries lie at Ponsharden between the towns o
Penryn and lalmouth near the south coast o Cornwall, on the end o a small spur aboe a
creek, an arm o the lal estuary. 1he surroundings are now dominated by light industrial and
retail deelopment along the A39 road, running below the cemeteries along the waterront.
1his archaeological assessment, by the Projects team o Iistoric Lnironment, Cornwall
Council ,IL, CC,, aims to contribute to the understanding and appreciation o the cemeteries
and their history, and promote their urgently needed improement and longer term
stabilisation. 1he report summarises present knowledge o the site, its past landscape,
historical context, and condition. It proides an interim statement o signiicance ,urther
eatures or aspects o signiicance are likely to be reealed by the ull ground surey and other
studies recommended,. It also outlines releant constraints and guidance, assesses issues, risks
and needs aecting the cemeteries, and proides a ramework identiying urther work
required or the deelopment o a ull Conseration Management Plan ,CMP,. Preliminary
proposals or actions to address threats and realise potential are included.
1he cemetery site was designated a Scheduled Monument in 2002. It was included in a surey
o the condition and risks o monuments or Cornwall, co-ordinated by IL, CC, part o
Lnglish Ieritage`s nationwide Scheduled Monuments at Risk ,SMR, assessment, and ound
to be at high risk`. A 2010 study prioritising suitable monuments at medium or high risk or
improement i possible under Cornwall`s Scheduled Monument Management ,SMM,
programme identiied the site as among those at the highest priority. 1he need or a CMP was
noted in the 2002 scheduling, and Lnglish Ieritage guidelines o 200 on the deelopment o
CMPs or historic cemeteries hae inormed the present project.
1he main use o the cemeteries or burials spans approximately 100 years rom 180 to 1880,
the Congregationalists` ground being rather later in origin, and larger, than the Jews`. 1ogether
they coer an area o approximately one third o an acre. Lach has remains o a ormal
entrance and o a cemetery chapel ,now ruined, within, and they contain between them oer
150 graes, proiding rich and aried eidence o past lies and conditions. 1hey surie well
oerall, despite decay and damage particularly to the Congregationalist enclosure, and their
time spans, rare eatures, group alue, siting, aried eidence or past religious, social and
economic lie, complexity, and natural diersity combine to make them highly signiicant.
Ioweer, while the Jewish ground is generally in air condition, though subject to signiicant
risks, the condition o the Congregationalists` site is ery poor, and deteriorating, and indeed
can be described as deplorable. 1his cemetery has many, interrelated actie and potential risks,
impacting on highly sensitie and unrecorded graes and associated eatures with ongoing loss
o irretrieable remains and inormation.
1he cemeteries urgently need comprehensie and detailed archaeological recording with
targeted documentary research and ecological study, to inorm an integrated CMP through
urther assessment, planning, and monitoring, ully inoling aith and community groups and
other interested parties. Management actions currently recommended include establishing
ownership, extensie, expert repair or restoration o structures and earthworks, improement
o security, with proision o regular care and improed access i possible, ealuation o the
use and stability o the associated scarp and roadside bay on the north, urgent, large-sale
control o sel sown tree and scrub growth, and long-term maintenance or restoration o
lower rich grass, and monitoring or any uture erosion or andalism. Lncouragement, co-
ordination or deelopment o group,s who may wish to be inoled in the recommended
recording and research, groundworks and care, superision, and monitoring o the cemeteries,
and in the deelopment o any other needs or aims that may emerge, is strongly recommended
to promote the long term protection and appreciation o the site.

12

13
2 Introduction
2.1 Project background
1he present project has been stimulated by the poor and deteriorating condition o the
cemeteries at Ponsharden, together with their national importance, recognised by designation
as a Scheduled Monument ,see lig 22,. 1he site is recorded in Cornwall`s IBSMR under the
reerence number PRN 38921, and its Lnglish Ieritage Scheduled Monument number is
15581. 1he project draws on seeral strands o earlier work, summarised below.
2.1.1 Studies of the Jewish cemetery in the 19
th
and 20
th
centuries
1he disuse and physical neglect o the Jewish cemetery has prompted recording there by
Iebrew specialists and others with a particular interest in it. As a result, the Jewish ground has
been studied in some depth, proiding a record o its headstone texts and also accounts o
some o the indiiduals and amilies represented, their connections and historical context. 1he
deelopment o this study o lalmouth`s Jewish community is outlined by Simmons and
Pearce ,2000a, 101,. Barnet Lyon Joseph compiled a list o headstones in the 19
th
century,
published in 1910. 1his was reprinted with some corrections and added details in 1954. Alex
Jacob made a uller record o headstone texts giing their dates in 1939, and in 1949 presented
his historical research into the origins, structure, economy and experiences o lalmouth`s
Jewish community, reproduced with urther similar studies by Pearce and lry ,Jacob 2000,.
In 195, de Lange and Speake transcribed and translated the Iebrew texts on the graestones
at lalmouth, and also at Penzance ,see Section 4.1.1,, drawing on the earlier records or badly
weathered or lost inscriptions. In 1988 a reised diagram o the lalmouth cemetery was made
by a group o recorders and collated by Simmons and Pearce. 1his is published as a table,
indicating schematically how the stones are arranged in rows ,Simmons and Pearce 2000a,
129,.
2.1.2 The Jewish and Congregationalist cemeteries a monument at risk
lalmouth`s Jewish and Congregationalist cemeteries were ealuated in 2002 as part o Lnglish
Ieritage`s Monuments Protection Programme, a systematic reision and extension o the
protection o archaeological sites through scheduling, by Dae Iooley, then Monuments
Protection Programme Archaeologist ,MPPA,.
1he joint cemeteries were designated as a Scheduled Monument ,lig 22,, and as a result
included in a 2006-200 surey o the condition and risks o monuments or Cornwall, co-
ordinated by the Iistoric Lnironment Serice o Cornwall County Council ,now IL, CC,
or Lnglish Ieritage`s nationwide Scheduled Monuments at Risk ,SMR, initiatie ,Parkes
200,. 1he cemetery monument was ound to be at high risk. A subsequent study prioritising
those monuments at risk` ,ie medium or high risk, and with potential or improement under
Cornwall`s Scheduled Monument Management ,SMM, programme ,works and management
to secure and improe the condition o monuments in the county, identiied the cemetery site
as among those at the highest priority ,Parkes, orthcoming,.
2.2 Aims
1his project aims to contribute to the urgently needed improement and longer term
stabilisation o the condition o lalmouth`s Jewish and Congregationalist cemeteries, and to
the understanding and appreciation o the site and its history, through proiding the
ollowing,
Summaries o present knowledge o the cemeteries, their landscape and human stories
A statement o signiicance based on current knowledge

14
An outline o releant constraints and guidance
Assessment o issues, risks and needs
A ramework or the deelopment o a ull Conseration Management Plan
Preliminary proposals or actions to address threats and realise potential.

2.3 Methods
2.3.1 Deskbased assessment
1he project drew primarily on desk-based study, inoling consultation and synthesis o
readily aailable historical sources, databases and archies, including:
Cornwall Council`s IBSMR and GIS based digital ersions o historic mapping
Original early plans at Cornwall Record Oice ,see Section 10.1,
Published histories ,see Section 10.2,
Lnglish Ieritage`s detailed scheduling documentation or the cemeteries o 2002.
2.3.2 Fieldwork
1he assessment also included ieldwork in the orm o a isit allowing the ollowing,
lamiliarisation with the site and wider landscape
Recording o aspects or eatures o the site where appropriate to inorm the assessment
Rapid reiew o the condition and risks o the cemeteries and immediate surroundings
Colour digital photography to record eidence o threats and opportunities, and other
issues.
3 Site location and setting
1he site is located at NGR S\ 19460 33840 on the outskirts o the town o lalmouth near
the south coast o Cornwall ,ligs 1, 21,. It lies on the end o a small spur running down to the
tidal mouth o the Penryn Rier, an arm o the estuary o the Rier lal with its deep sheltered
natural harbour to seaward, the Carrick Roads. 1he internal area o the two cemeteries
together is approximately a third o an acre ,0.134 hectares,, the Congregationalist ground
being about three times as large as the Jewish plot.
1he area surrounding the cemeteries, known as Ponsharden, is now largely re-deeloped or
light industrial and retail use along the ormer turnpike road ,now the A39, running between
the north o the site and the tidal Penryn Rier, this linking the post-medieal coastal town
and docks o lalmouth and the earlier creekside borough and port o Penryn. ,A second
\orld \ar pillbox just south west o the cemeteries, recorded in the IBSMR, relects the
proximity o the spur to the waterway and the important land route beside it.,
1he ground immediately west o the cemeteries, leelled by machine and scrubby in places, is
currently or sale as deelopment land. On the east and south are small-scale industrial
buildings, a supermarket, and associated car access and parking areas. 1o the north west a
relatiely recent bypass climbs inland rom a roundabout up a larger spur, in a deep cutting.
An area across the road to the north east is now used or a park and ride scheme sering
lalmouth. 1o the east is a marina, and beyond this, the edge o a large housing estate.

15

ig 1 .eria pbotograpb of tbe area .borivg tbe ocatiov of tbe .ite, bere ri.ibe a. a cv.ter of tree.

4 History and context
4.1 Origins of the cemeteries
4.1.1 Establishment of the Jewish community
Records indicate that a stable though ultimately dispersed Jewish community was ormed in
lalmouth, as elsewhere in Cornwall, in the mid-18
th
century. A group o Jews, generally well
educated and employed as inanciers, had lied in Lxeter in the 12
th
and 13
th
centuries, and
some indiiduals operated precariously in other parts o the South \est, but all were expelled
by royal order in 1290, as in Lngland as a whole ,Ioldsworth 1991, 4,. Jews established
themseles with communities and congregations in Lxeter possibly beore 128, in Plymouth
by 145, lalmouth by 166, and Penzance by 168, so that in 184 there were approximately
480 Jews in total in Deon and Cornwall, associated with these our places ,Orme 1991, 195,
the date or Penzance, aboe, is that gien in Pool 194, 89,.
A mid-20
th
century study o lalmouth`s Jews ,Jacob 2000, 50, ound that many came rom
Alsace to peddle clothes or trinkets as they had done there ,where they were orbidden to lie
in towns,, initially seeking coastal towns with a busy seaport and hinterland such as lalmouth,
then a major harbour or shipping and packet station or oerseas mail, and a market and
business centre or an area with mining as well as agricultural and ishing trade. Prominent
among them were Alexander Moses ,known as Zender lalmouth, and his wie Phoebe. Ie is
thought to hae been born c115 in Alsace, married Phoebe there, and arried in Cornwall
c140, aged 25. Zender was a ounder in the sense that he was important in establishing the
Jewish congregation and proiding the community with an economic system rom which it
could expand` ,Simmons and Pearce 2000b, 205,. Some decades beore his arrial other Jews
may hae lied in lalmouth but lacked the numbers or resources to orm a distinct or stable

16
group, Gay notes in her history o lalmouth that Robert, son o Jerubbaal Gideon` was
baptised in the town in 119 ,1903, 40,.
Benjamin \ool or \ol arried in lalmouth at around the same time as Alexander Moses
and helped deelop the irst congregation ,Simmons and Pearce 2000b, 20,. \ool had
moed rom Iolland to lalmouth ia Penzance. 1he Jewish community and congregation o
Penzance, comparable in organisation to lalmouth`s though smaller, is thought to hae been
roughly contemporary, the synagogue there being recorded as built in 168, though it was
rebuilt in 1806-1808 ,Pool 194, 89,.
4.1.2 The growth of the Congregationalists
1he Congregationalists, also known as Independents, with other old dissenters` with their
own belies and practices, separated rom the Church o Lngland ollowing the disruption o
the Ciil \ar in the mid-1
th
century and ,Barry 1991, 82,. In Cornwall they were a small
group, smaller than in Deon, estimates o their numbers c115 showing one congregation -
presumably that o lalmouth - and 350 hearers` or Congregationalists, representing 0.3 o
the Cornish population ,op cit, 8,.
1he origins o lalmouth`s Congregationalist community needs urther study. In Cornwall and
Deon generally the moement was strongest in towns and attracted tradesmen, cratsmen
and merchants ,Coleman 1991, 136,. A general history o the Christian church in Cornwall
records that 1homas 1regoss, ormer icar o Mylor and Mabe ejected by the Anglican
Church, ounded dissenting Protestant congregations in the Penryn-lalmouth area around the
160s, and also helped establish Baptist congregations there ,Miles Brown 1964, 84, 88,. Miles
Brown mentions that 1regoss held popular meetings in the parish o Budock, so the
Congregationalists may hae had deep roots in the area.
4.1.3 Foundation of the cemeteries
1he ground or the cemeteries was proided, probably initially in 19, by the ery wealthy
mine and landowning amily, the Bassetts, who became Lords de Dunstanille. 1he Bassetts
country seat was at 1ehidy by the north coast o west Cornwall, near Redruth, but their estates
included land at Penwerris, incorporating the cemeteries` site.
1he Jews established their cemetery irst, at least ie years and probably 14 years or more
beore the Congregationalists. It is not certain at present in what year they obtained the
ground, but it is thought likely to be 19. As noted by Dawkins and Pearce ,in additional
notes in Simmons and Pearce 2000a, 102,, an entry in the Bassett estate books dated 159
records that Moses, a Jew o Penryn, applies or leae to enclose a burying place or the Jews,
50t square, out o the green plot at Penwerris now in Dr. 1urner`s possession..to hae an
absolute term o 99 years`, but no record has been ound o the response rom the estate. 1he
MPPA in 2002 suggested that the request was granted in May 19, interpreting a document
o 1829, leasing both Ponsharden grounds or 400 years, as a renewal ater 50 years o an
initial lease now lost ,Lnglish Ieritage scheduling documentation,. 1his would it with
Dawkins` and Pearce`s inding that the earliest Jewish burial might be that o Lsther Ley, said
to hae been dated on her memorial stone to 180, though the oldest stone decipherable at
the time they wrote was dated 190 ,additional notes in Simmons and Pearce 2000a, 103,.
1he Jewish cemetery only appears on the 188 map o part o the Duke o Leeds` manor o
Penryn lorryn ,lig 23,, it lay outside the manor but is clearly marked and labelled 1he Jews
Burial ground`, perhaps to help locate the manor`s boundary which ran close by to the west.
1he use on this surey o dashed lines or its inner boundaries, indicatie o encing perhaps
intentionally temporary, may suggest it was then relatiely newly laid out. A 193 surey or
the Basset estate o the Barton o Penwerris ,which did include the site, also shows the Jewish
ground alone, named in the accompanying schedule as Jew`s Burying Place` ,lig 24,.

1
1he Congregationalist cemetery was laid out around the west side o the earlier plot, its plan
respecting this and so relecting its secondary origin. It dates rom the period between the
193 mapping already mentioned, and another surey or the Bassets made in 1814 ,ligs 2,
25,. 1he earliest o the graestone inscriptions readily decipherable by the MPPA in 2002 was
1815 ,Lnglish Ieritage scheduling documentation,, so it may hae been ounded not long
beore 1814. Closer dating may be possible through urther research in the suriing
Congregationalist archie.

ig 2 Detai frov av 111 1ebia, e.tate .vrre,, recoraivg tbe tro bvr,ivg grovva.`, ava varivg tbe raivg
ov tbe ea.t of tbe Covgregatiovai.t grovva, ava tbe evtravce ov it. vortb ea.t
;ee a.o ig 2: for a riaer rier). 1bi. itev i. iv tbe cv.toa, of Corvra Recora Office. t i. vot to be
reproavcea iv av, forvat ritbovt pervi..iov frov Corvra Recora Office ;CRO ref .D 1,,:)
4.2 Falmouths Jewish community
1he Jewish community at lalmouth reached a peak by the 1840s when there may hae been
as many as 50 to 60 indiiduals in oer a dozen amilies ,Simmons and Pearce 2000b, 218,,
based in the town and using the cemetery at Ponsharden to bury and remember their dead. As
indicated by a mid-19
th
century account o their history, the Jews o lalmouth ormed a loyal
group, linked by strong amily bonds and distinctie economic organisation as well as religious
obserances ,Jacob 2000,. lrom nearly a century and a hal only two mixed marriages are
known among them, though they were a small minority, distant rom other sizeable Jewish
communities apart rom one in Penzance to the west ,see urther below,, mobile, and socially
and economically actie and equal with their neighbours, in 1825 they were described as
respectable, and |conducting[ a great deal o commercial business.. or a series o years in
this town.`
Research by Simmons and Pearce ,2000b, 205-21, shows how the community deeloped and
unctioned, with resident cratsmen and merchants in lalmouth, oten liing aboe their
shops, and satellite pedlars trading or them through the surrounding district, returning to

18
restock, meet and worship, beore eentually settling themseles here or in outlying Cornish
groups. As already noted in Section 4.1.1 aboe, Alexander Moses ,known here as Zender
lalmouth, was among the ounders and central igures enabling and to some extent
controlling this system, arriing in Cornwall c140, aged 25, with his wie Phoebe. Ie was a
silersmith and recruited Jewish pedlars and hawkers to work or him on oot or with pack-
horses selling buckles, small cutlery, jewellery or watches, proiding them with goods on credit
and loans to obtain licences. In return they would make up the necessary qvorvv or the
Sabbath celebrations and perhaps change their names to approed Jewish ones, and in the
longer term extend the settled community through saing to buy shops. Iawkers gathered at
his large brick house at the end o the week eating, praying, meeting and being introduced to
one another and sometimes to potential marriage partners, and doing business, goods being
supplied to ill their heay pack boxes or the ollowing week. On their traels they lodged at
particular inns with proision or kosher cooking.
Simmons and Pearce identiy 54 Jewish traders in lalmouth in the 18
th
and 19
th
centuries,
represented in the lalmouth cemetery, and proide a list o six marriages in the lalmouth
Jewish community, compiled rom arious sources - noting that much o the original
documentation o these alliances was lost due to the destruction o records in \orld \ar II
,2000b 211-21,. 1he community included pawnbrokers, jewellers, silersmiths and watch or
clockmakers, merchants and shopkeepers in household goods, and itinerant pedlars, trades
and skills largely chosen to be readily re-locatable, presumably because o the Jews` longer
history o dislocation in Lurope. Only 5 are known to hae been born in lalmouth, others
had come rom Germany, the Netherlands, or elsewhere in Lurope, or had been born in, or
arried ia, Penzance, Redruth, and other Cornish towns.
Among these amilies researched by Simmons and Pearce is that o the Jacobs, early settlers
linked to Zender lalmouth by marriage. By the 1840s they were prosperous and inested in
rail and in particular in Cornish shipping and mining. In the mid-19
th
century their interests
included the lalmouth Docks Company, Swan Pool Mine near lalmouth, and the Dava, tug
used to carry tin rom the early Redruth-Deoran railway. Another is the amily o Barnet
Ley ,c131-191, and his wie Lsther Llias, who rode rom London to lalmouth c10.
Barnet Ley became one o Zender`s protgs, and their daughter Judith ,14-1846, married
Lyon Joseph ,15-1825, who was a leading merchant and ounder o the new synagogue
built in lalmouth in 1808 ,see urther below,.
1he study by Simmons and Pearce goes on to proide similar details and assessment o
Cornwall`s other Jewish community and congregation, that o Penzance ,2000b 222-256,.
Penzance`s cemetery, exceptionally well-presered, is similar in size to lalmouth`s, but the
limited capacity o the synagogue there ,rebuilt in 1806-8,, the shell o which also suries,
indicates a much smaller congregation. 1he cemetery shows strong links to lalmouth with
groups represented by burials at both towns, such as the Ley amily already mentioned,
Iannah the daughter o Barnet Ley o lalmouth being buried in Penzance.
Simmons and Pearce also show how other Jewish communities in mid-\est Cornwall, much
smaller and more short-lied than those o lalmouth ,or Penzance,, looked primarily to
lalmouth or a supporting religious, social, and business ramework ,2000b, 262-5,. 1ruro is
thought to hae had 14 Jewish amilies in the period 148-1844, and no more than a ew o
these at any one time, with a cemetery now largely destroyed at least aboe ground. Redruth
had only 5 or 6 amilies rom the 160s to the 1860s. Moses Jacob ,133-180, or example
moed rom lalmouth to lie in Redruth as a clockmaker and dealer in mineral specimens
with his wie Sarah Moses, daughter o Zender lalmouth. Ie was buried at the lalmouth
cemetery - the authors include a photo o his grae, recorded as lalmouth 2:9 ,see Section
5.2.2 or comment on this numbering system, - and a 1903 obituary o a descendant states
that our generations o the amily are buried here.

19
1he history o the two, consecutie synagogues in lalmouth which with the cemetery at
Ponsharden sered its Jewish community is outlined by lriedlander and lry ,2000,. 1he early
settlers established their irst synagogue in the town in 166, re-using an existing building. A
synagogue with seating or 80 was built new or the purpose c1806-8 in Smithick Iill, then
called lish Street Iill, oerlooking the harbour. ,1he site is named as Porhan Iill in Gay`s
1903 history o lalmouth., It is still standing and is a Listed Building at Grade II, though it
has been conerted and its original internal arrangements lost. 1he writers suggest the choice
o this prominent site quite central to and oerlooking the town and harbour shows the
importance and conidence o the community, and perhaps the attraction o iews o the port
and shipping moements to the Jewish merchants, and consider the building to be ery similar
in style to 19
th
century non-conormist chapels.
lriedlander and lry also record that arteacts rom the lalmouth and Penzance synagogues
surie, in the Royal Cornwall Museum ,RIC,, 1ruro, and in the Jewish Museum, London.
1hose rom lalmouth include seeral Iebrew 1orah scrolls, and a prayer book dated 152, all
rom the collection o Alred de Pass o lalmouth who bought the Jewish cemetery in 1913
,see Section 4.4,, now in the RIC`s Courtney Library. 1he Jewish Museum has siler
adornments and pointers or the lalmouth synagogues sacred religious texts, one with an
Lxeter assay mark dated to 1815 and Iebrew inscription naming a Jew o 1ruro. Also in the
Jewish Museum is lalmouth`s wooden Decalogue painted with the 1en Commandments in
Iebrew.
4.3 The Congregationalists
1he Congregationalists or Independents as they were also known remained a ery small
minority in Cornwall or most o the 18
th
century, but increased in number with other
Nonconormists in the later 18
th
and early 19
th
centuries, so that by the 1851 census, at their
peak, they ormed 6.4 o lalmouth`s population ,Lnglish Ieritage scheduling
documentation,. Many congregations were set up in Cornish illages during this period, and a
Cornwall Association o Congregational Churches was established at 1regony at the head o
the Roseland peninsula which orms the eastern side o the lal opposite lalmouth, to
promote links between the groups ,Miles Brown 1964, 8,. In Cornwall as a whole there were
33 Independent churches by 1821 ,ibia,, and 3 by the 1851 census, when there were nearly
10,000 ,9,965, Independent hearers` or members o congregations ,Coleman 1991, 138,.
lurther study is needed to proide a record o the Congregationalists represented in the
cemetery at Ponsharden comparable to that achieed or the Jewish community here. 1hey are
known to hae had meeting houses or chapels at Penryn as well as lalmouth. A history o
lalmouth records a Congregationalist chapel made in 115 and enlarged in 189, and also an
Independent Chapel built in Prince Street in 113-115 ,Gay 1903, 230,. Pigot`s Directory o
1823, which does not include an Independent, or Congregationalist, meeting house amongst
the chapels it records at lalmouth, does note one at Penryn. 1he 1913 Penwerris sales
particulars speciy that a lease or 400 years rom May 28
th
1829 or 1he Independent Burial
Ground` was granted to \illiam 1ucker and others or the burial o persons o the religious
Independent congregations` at Penryn and lalmouth. As well as being conenient or use by
their groups in the towns to either side, Ponsharden may hae had old associations with the
Congregationalists through the siting o a meeting-house on the lalmouth-Penryn road,
reerred to in a document o 118 ,a 19
th
century copy o this suries at CRO, re X850,9,.
1he MPPA recording the cemetery in 2002 noted that the inscriptions on its graes oten state
the place o origin o the community, including the Roseland peninsula across the lal estuary
as well as lalmouth and neighbouring Penryn and llushing, and their trades or proessions,
including at least one Congregationalist minister and seeral surgeons, such as John Symons
buried in 183.

20
4.4 Disuse and decline of the cemeteries
Communities o around a hundred Jews surie in Plymouth and Lxeter ,Orme 1991, 195,
but the Jewish community at lalmouth dispersed rom the mid 19
th
century due to the
withdrawal o the packet serice in 1850 causing a seere and sharp decline in the local
economy, and other actors including the introduction o the telegraph system which limited
the necessity or ships to await orders in the harbour, outbreaks o cholera, and ires
,Simmons and Pearce 2000b, 218-221,. 1he lalmouth synagogue was closed when Samuel
Jacob let with his amily or London in 1880 and only a ew Jewish traders remained, Nathan
Vos, who died in 1913, being the last to be buried in their cemetery.
1he cemetery soon ell into neglect. An appeal launched in 1889 by a Jewish London solicitor
raised unds or its restoration, but there is eidence rom 1896 that it proed diicult to
secure the necessary care ,Dawkins and Pearce, additional notes in Simmons and Pearce
2000a, 103-104,. Alred de Pass, the entrepreneur, art patron and collector, and lalmouth
resident, bought the cemetery on the sale o the Penwerris estate in 1913, paid or
maintenance, and gae permission or the last Jewish burial, isolated in time, in the same year
,ibia,. De Pass let a legacy or the cemetery on his death in 1952, but rom the mid 20
th

century the ground was largely neglected.
1he Congregationalists ell away rom the later 19
th
century, the Congregational and Lnglish
Presbyterian Church inally uniting nationally in 192 to orm the United Reorm Church
,Orme 1991, 191,, though the decline o the lalmouth group like much o its history remains
relatiely obscure at present in terms o published research. As with the Jewish ground, the
last regular use o their lalmouth cemetery is dated to the 1880s, with one later grae, in this
case that o Alred and Llizabeth Cook buried in 1903 and 1912 ,lig 3,.

ig eaa.tove iv tbe .ovtb ea.t corver of tbe Covgregatiovai.t ceveter, varivg .ove of tbe a.t bvria. iv
tbe ;oivt grovva., i.oatea iv tive frov tbe vaiv perioa of v.e, a. .borv b, tbe vore voaerv ae.igv

21
5 Archaeology and landscape setting
5.1 The joint cemeteries
1he Ponsharden area within which the cemeteries lie, though now predominantly modern and
urban in character, is part o an extensie tract o land armed in the medieal period and
probably in prehistory. 1he sheltered setting oerlooking the Penryn Creek can be expected to
hae attracted human actiity particularly perhaps in the later prehistoric era and Roman
period, when the lal estuary is known rom inds elsewhere to hae been a ocus or
waterborne trade, and also or ritual actiity.
1here are no prehistoric remains recorded in the icinity o the site in Cornwall`s IBSMR.
Ioweer at the north end o the shared boundary between the cemeteries, mostly on the
Congregationalist side, is a mound with a lattish top, obscured by egetation but apparently
roughly rounded, and measuring approximately 9m across and up to around 1.1m high. 1he
mound is not recent, being coered in well established bluebell rich egetation ,lig 4,. It could
be a cemetery eature, but its rounded orm and location on the shoulder o the spur may
suggest it is a later prehistoric round barrow, a burial and ritual mound. 1his raises the
question o whether the cemeteries by chance incorporate a burial site rom the Bronze Age,
some 4,000 years earlier, but this possibility needs urther inestigation through ull ground
surey.

ig 1 vebe corerea vovva ov tbe vortb of tbe .ite, ov tbe ive of tbe beage bav betreev tbe ceveterie.
Until recent times the area was armland. A map o the Llizabethan period ,as reproduced in
Peter, 1903, shows that woodland associated with the deerpark o the high status medieal
college and bishop`s palace o Glasney, Penryn, extended at that time rom Penryn east aboe
the creek oer hal way to Ponsharden. On the slopes oer Ponsharden the woods gae way
to ields, the shapes o these isible on the historic maps, relatiely long and narrow with
gentle cures, indicating they were enclosed rom open, early medieal strip ields.

22
Beore they were built oer or conerted to deelopment land in the later 20th century, these
ields continued in use, altered in places, with their boundary banks coered in mature trees
recorded on the 1880 OS map or which trees were plotted indiidually ,lig 2,. 1he low lying
ield below the west side o the cemeteries` spur, isible rom much o the Jews` plot and part
o the Congregationalists` ,the ground sloping this way as well as slanting northwards, was
probably marshy grassland, being named as Moor` and classed as pasture rather than
cultiable land in the 1840 tithe schedule.
Some traces o the earlier ields are isible on the site itsel. 1he boundary orming the west
side o the Congregationalist cemetery re-uses an earlier ield boundary shown on the historic
mapping, probably late medieal in origin ,lig 5,. It may hae continued down to meet the
road and creek below, beore incorporation in the Jewish cemetery. 1he south boundary o
the Jewish plot as shown on the detailed 1840 and 1880 mapping ,ligs 26, 2, does take a
slightly dierent course to either side o the earlier boundary`s projected line, suggesting it
straddles it, and archaeological eidence to support this is isible on the site where a break o
slope runs across the Jewish ground.

ig : eage bav ov tbe re.t of tbe Covgregatiovai.t grovva, a rev.ea ear, fiea bovvaar,, .vpportivg oa.
varea ov tbe 10 O vap rbicb recora. ivairiava arge tree.
1he 1880 OS map ,lig 2, shows a trackway running below the boundary along the west o
the Congregationalist ground, which appears to swing west rom the south west corner o the
cemeteries to respect them, leaing what appears to be a truncated section o the track
continuing on its original line to stop at the centre o the south edge o the Jewish ground.
1his might suggest that the trackway, like the boundary orming its east side discussed aboe,
once continued down the spur, and was incorporated in the Jewish cemetery there, though on
the ground this seems less likely as the ground leel on the possible truncated lane site is lower
by seeral metres than that inside the Jews` plot.
1he Llizabethan map mentioned aboe shows a road on the line o the ormer turnpike road
and present A39 north o the cemetery site, indicating that this route is early in origin. It may

23
hae had a medieal bridge below the cemetery site to the north west, on a stream running
west o the cemetery spur ,now at least part undergrounded,, as indicated by the place-name
Ponsharden irst recorded in the early 13
th
century, which contains the Cornish element pov.,
meaning bridge` ,ICS place-name index, at IL,. 1he small, low curing promontory
extending into Penryn Rier across the road, east o Ponsharden, appears on the Llizabethan
plan, a 188 surey labels this as 1he Island ,lig 23,, a name which seems to relect its
isolation surrounded by the creek and the road, and which now seems to be lost.
At the time o the establishment o the Jewish cemetery in or around 19 ,see Section 4.1.3,,
and throughout the use o both this and the rather later Congregationalist ground or burials,
the turnpike road was a major eature o the local historic landscape. As noted in the
scheduling o 2002, the spur running down towards the creek on which the site lies is
bounded by a steep scarp along its ront, north, side, ormed by the cutting back o the base
o the natural slope to allow the widening o the old road or the turnpike, and a roadside bay
here is likely to hae been used by cemetery traic. 1he Ielston 1urnpike 1rust was created
in 161 to improe the road rom lalmouth through Penryn and Ielston to Marazion, and
undertook some urther improements in 1802 ,inormation rom turnpikes website - see
Section 10.3 - noted by Jane Powning, IL,.
Access to the cemeteries was rom the turnpike, their two separate entrances opening rom it.
1he precise positioning o the associated ehicle bay, its deepest part lying at the Jewish
entrance, suggests it was designed to sere this. 1he site is also seen clearly rom the road, the
truncation o the spur emphasising its natural prominence, an indication perhaps o the status
o the groups using it within the local community. 1he roadside location between the historic
built up areas o both lalmouth and Penryn would hae met the traditional religious
requirement or a Jewish cemetery to be situated outside the town ,Lnglish Ieritage
scheduling documentation,, and its position outside the old turnpike gate with toll house
which stood some 20m along the road to the east, recorded on the 1840 tithe map, may hae
reinorced perceptions o this ,lig 26,.
Other notable eatures o the historic enironment during the period o use o the cemeteries
were a rope walk to the south east where rope was made or ships or mines shown on the
193 Penwerris surey ,lig 24, and later historic mapping, which introduced a mercantile
character to the surrounding agricultural land, and o course the creek below the site on the
north. Beore the re-deelopment o the shore across the road, the Jewish cemetery in
particular oered iews o the waterway and passing shipping, proiding associations with the
lies and lielihoods o the people isiting the cemetery, and or the many immigrants among
the Jews, with their origins and relaties across the seas.
5.2 The Jewish cemetery
5.2.1 Cemetery enclosure, structures and layout
1he Jewish cemetery is a compact, quite steeply sloping site surrounded by tree-coered hedge
banks, with rows o slanting headstones running oer much o its lower-rich grassy ground,
and traces o a ruined structure in the lower corner by its modiied walled entrance ,lig 6,.
1he cemetery is roughly rectangular in plan, its longer axis running LNL-\S\ with the line
o the road below, though with its broad scarp aboe the road, it measures approximately 20m
across oerall in both directions. 1he ground runs down the west side o the spur, and also
alls towards the north. Despite its steepness it was not shaped into a series o ormal terraces,
though the ground leel in its highest, innermost corner, on the south east, is some 0.9m
below that in the Congregationalist cemetery on the south, so may hae been lowered. 1here
is also some eidence or landscaping in the orm o a scarp suggesting reduction o a pre-
existing boundary running across along the contour west o centre, already mentioned in the

24
discussion o the landscape history o the site and surroundings ,lig 6, see also Section 5.1,.
No old internal routes are marked on the historic maps consulted, or eident on the ground,
apart rom those naturally suggested by the arrangement o the graes in rows, but pathway,s
could be buried under tur.

ig 1ier acro.. tbe ]eri.b ceveter, re.t of it. cevtre frov it. .ovtb bovvaar,, .borivg tbe .teepve.. of tbe
.ite, ritb a brea iv .ope bere po..ib, varivg av oa bovvaar, ive
1he ground is enclosed Cornish hedges, the stone reetted hedge banks traditional or ield
boundaries in the region, with some walling by its entrance ,see below,. 1he inner, south and
east boundaries may originally hae been enced rather than hedged, as they appear as dashed
instead o solid lines on the 188 surey ,lig 23,, they were deinitely hedged in 1814, as
shown by the detailed plan o that date ,lig 2,. 1he hedges are mostly around 1-1.5m wide
and 0.8m high. lacing o ertically set small local stone is detectable in places under the
egetation on the inner side o the south hedge, some similar work is isible in the outer
reetment on the north, and larger, laid slabs are also exposed near the centre o this where a
recent track has been worn up oer it. 1his north side has a steep scarp some 3 or 4m high
running down rom it to the bay beside the road, the ormer turnpike. 1he ground also alls
ery sharply outside the boundary o the cemetery west o its junction with the
Congregationalist ground, but this area may hae been partly cut away in more recent times as
part o the leelling o the land below on the west or re-deelopment.
1he access to the Jewish ground, recorded with a gate symbol on the 193 surey ,lig 24,, lies
in its north west corner, at the deepest point o the bay beside the turnpike ,see Section 5.1,.
1he entrance has a simple opening in a rendered brick and stone wall now itted with a
standard modern wooden rame and board garden-type door. It opens into the site o a
ormer cemetery structure. 1his post-dates the 188, 193 and 1814 sureys, appearing on the
1840 tithe map ,lig 26,. 1he site is marked by similar walling suriing to around 0.9 m high
to the west, with earlier walling on the east up to 2.2m high made o shillet with granite and
shillet slab quoins ,the south wall is no longer upstanding,. 1he earlier abric could represent
another phase o the building, or perhaps a preious entrance walling or archway.

25
1he MPPA suggests that the structure at the Jews` entrance is a pre-Victorian obe, altered in
seeral phases, this would be one o only two known examples remaining standing nationally
,Lnglish Ieritage 2002,. An obe is deined as a prayer hall at a burial ground, especially a small
walk-in structure deoted to the memory o a rabbi or ordained religious leader sering the
community ,Kadish 2006, 213,. Kadish notes that the cemetery would hae had a bet tabarab, a
mortuary ,op cit, 96, 213,. It is interesting in this connection that the 1880 map ,lig 2, shows
the then rooed building here as measuring around 5m NNL-SS\ by 4m \N\-LSL oerall,
ery like the structure interpreted as a mortuary chapel in a comparable position inside the
entrance in the Congregationalist cemetery ,Section 5.3.1,, suggesting perhaps some similarity
in unction between the two.
Approximately 50 burials spanning a century rom 180 to 1880 with one ollowing later in
1913 are recorded at the cemetery, though not all are now eident or marked by legible
graestones. 1he earliest headstone remaining in place is that o Isaac son o Benjamin, dated
190, which is one o the two designated as Listed Buildings, at Grade II ,Section .1.2,.
Analysis by the MPPA o the data based on headstone transcriptions presented by Simmons
and Pearce ,2000a, 100-129, indicates that rom 190, recorded burials number two to six per
decade with peaks o eight and ten during the 190s and 1830s respectiely ,Lnglish Ieritage
scheduling documentation,.
Graes were placed acing roughly north ,NNL,, so that like the cemetery itsel they aced the
end o the spur and the Penryn Rier, isible rom the upper hal o the cemetery where
isitors may hae lingered to relect on the beauty o the water and its connections with trade,
and on the distant passages rom London or Lurope which Jews had taken to reach lalmouth.
1he graes were arranged in six quite regular rows running LSL-\N\ roughly along the
length o the plot, the earliest graes being in the SS\ row running rom the upper, inner part
o the cemetery where community ounder and leader Alexander Moses was buried in 191
,coer photo,, and the dates within each row generally becoming later towards the NN\
where the entrance lies. Gaps in the rows, and dierences between the records o them made
at dierent dates, indicate missing stones, and each row now contains some headstones lying
lat, either allen or laid to protect them ater subsidence or disturbance. 1he MPPA ound
that most are local slate while some are ine grained sandstone, and most hae cured upper
edges like those o some o the area`s contemporary non-Jewish graestones ,Lnglish Ieritage
scheduling documentation,. In 2010 makers` names were noted on seeral headstones,
including OLVLR & SONS lALM
O
` on that shown in ligure commemorating Lsther
lalkson dated 1863 ,Row 3, stone 13 in the record published in Simmons and Pearce 2000a,
119,, work by Oler also occurs among the Congregationalist graestones ,Section 5.3.1,.
5.2.2 Gravestone texts
1he transcription and translation o the Iebrew texts or the Jewish cemetery carried out in
195, with the 1988 reised diagram o their order collated by Simmons and Pearce ,see
Section 2.1.1,, though not now ully accurate and not complemented by a ull archaeological
and architectural record, neertheless adds greatly to our knowledge o the headstones, the
lies they commemorate, and aspects o the conditions they experienced.
As well as recording biographical inormation and religious and moral alues, some o the
texts transcribed rom the lalmouth stones reer to the social position, business role or local
status o Jewish men commemorated, while the women`s memorials tend to stress their home-
based, amily related standing. 1hese include the ollowing ,Simmons and Pearce 2000a, 108-
121,,
Alexander Moses ,Zender lalmouth, .a leader and guide..Iis house was open and his
table laid or all` ,191,

26
Abraham Joseph Ie gae charity generously to the needy` ,1828,
Re. Moses Iyman lrom here lalmouth` ,1830,
Lazarus Lawrence Ie was ree with his wealth, his business dealings were with aith` ,1841,.
1he texts illustrate the continued importance or the community o the use o Iebrew, and
the gradual adoption o Lnglish to accompany rather than replace it ,lig ,, as ollows
,Dawkins and Pearce, in Pearce and lry 2000, 108-129,,
Row 1 o graestones ,late 18
th
C, early 19
th
C, all inscriptions in Iebrew
Row 2 ,irst hal o 19
th
C except or no.12 at one end, 1868, Iebrew, and on the 1868 stone,
Iebrew and Lnglish
Row 3 ,irst hal o 19
th
C except or no.13 at the end, 1863, Iebrew, and on the 1863 stone,
Iebrew and Lnglish
Row 4 ,earlier or mid 19
th
C, Iebrew, and on 5 stones, the mid-19
th
C ones, Lnglish
Row 5 ,earlier and mid 19
th
C, and 1860, Iebrew, mostly with Lnglish
Row 6 one late 18
th
C, Iebrew only, one o 1913, the latest, Iebrew and Lnglish,
1he MPPA records one lat graestone in the south west corner o the Jewish cemetery as
haing an inscription in Lnglish only, to Peter Johns, he suggests this may hae been moed
here rom the Congregationalist ground adjoining ,Lnglish Ieritage scheduling
documentation,.

ig eaa.tove to .tber a.ov rbo aiea iv 1, ritb tet iv botb ebrer ava vgi.b; vvaer tbe
orvavevta top of tbe .ate .tove i. tbe vaer`. vave, Orer of avovtb

2
5.3 The Congregationalist cemetery
5.3.1 Cemetery enclosure, structures and layout
1he Congregationalist cemetery is a substantial, airly leel plot, part walled and part hedged,
with a tunnel-like entrance and nearby ruined chapel, and rows o aried graes coering the
ground within, ormerly open or with limited planting but now obscured by sel sown trees.
1he ground is roughly L shaped in plan, laid out around the south east part o the adjoining
Jewish cemetery, and measures with its enclosing banks and wall up to approximately 50m
NNL-SS\ by 25m LNL-\S\ ,see lig 2,. It is enclosed by walling on the east and by the
entrance on the north east, and by hedge banks on the west, north and south, as well as the
hedges on the shared boundaries against the Jewish ground. 1he natural contours o the
interior seem to hae been presered, with gentle downward slopes to the west and north, the
diagonal, NNL-SS\ cemetery path ,see below, running aboe the west acing gradient.
1he wall on the east, distinguished rom the hedges elsewhere on the 1814 surey ,lig 2,, has
a high quality inish, possibly because it ronted the grounds o the mansion o Ashield ,see
lig 26,. It is 0.5m ,20`, wide and 1.25m ,4`, high, and is made o laid medium sized local
rubble slabs with an earth or subsoil core and lime pointing, and a coping o dressed granites
with rounded backs ,lig 15,. 1he coping stones each measure 0.9m along the wall by 0.5m
and are .5cm deep at their edges, 15cm deep at their centres ,3` x 20`, and 3` to 6`,.
1he hedge banks on the other sides resemble those o the Jewish ground, apart rom that on
the west, the re-used earlier ield boundary, which is rather more substantial, around 2m high
wide and 1m high, with lattish top, and has large mature oak and at least one stump, likely to
be among the trees recorded here on the 1880 map ,lig 2,. 1his western bank has a drainage
ditch along its inner side, 0.9m wide and 0.5m deep ,lig 5,. 1he walling added to the lower
part o the scarp on the north, to enhance the entrance, extends some 2m either side o the
gateway ,lig 8,. It is made o laid granite slabs with larger, dressed granite quoins. 1he
stonework east o the entrance has been altered relatiely recently by part incorporation in a
tall, modern style granite reetment extending urther east along the re-modelled roadside.

ig r, corerea raivg favivg tbe aereict Covgregatiovai.t.` evtravce ov tbe vortb ea.t of tbe ceveterie.

28
1he Congregationalists` entrance itsel, in the north east corner o their ground at the east end
o the bay beside the ormer turnpike road, has a round headed brick archway with remains o
a wooden door, and a light o cut granite steps 1.2m ,4`, across rising rom this between
reetment walls o laid rubble shillet, with more regular slabs orming the upper course, and
rab or earth mortar and lime pointing ,lig 18,. 1he door is traditionally made with broad
timber and likely to be original. It is part broken away and dilapidated but measures 1.8m
across its ull width ,it is not clear whether there were two leaes, as it is broken in the centre,
and 2.6m high. Peeling old paint in seeral old colours is isible, with the ghost o a tapering
iron hinge, now displaced or missing, within this on the west outer side o the door.
By the top o the steps is a ruined building on the east o the cemetery, interpreted as a
mortuary chapel ,Lnglish Ieritage scheduling documentation,. 1his is rectangular in plan,
measuring like the ruin in the Jewish ground around 5m NNL-SS\ by 4m \N\-LSL oerall
,see Section 5.3.1,. Its walling o brick and laid shillet slabs with lime render stands up to
around 1.5m high in places but is obscured by iy and a large allen tree lying across it ,lig 9,.
1he MPPA in 2002 recorded traces o one or two openings.

ig Rvivea vortvar, cbape at tbe beaa of tbe .tep. ivto tbe Covgregatiovai.t grovva, ritb raivg ob.cvrea
b, ir,, ava orerbvvg b, tree., ove of rbicb ba. recevt, faev orer tbe evtravce .tep. ;foregrovva)
A mound in the other ront` corner o the ground, on the north west, could also be remains
o a cemetery structure, but as it appears to lie on the line o the boundary against the Jewish
plot, extending slightly into the latter, it could be an earlier earthwork ,see Section 5.1, and lig
4,. Surey is needed to inestigate this eature.
A path extends through the cemetery rom the chapel on the north east, running south west
diagonally across the ground. 1his is marked on the large scale historic OS maps ,ligs 2, 2,
and would seem to be original. \here exposed by erosion south o the chapel it is 1m wide
and deined by edging 0.1 to 0.2m high, with lime mortared shillet isible along the east side
and brick on the west.

29
\ithin the cemetery there are oer 100 graes. 1he ull number is ery diicult to determine
on the ground, the MPPA in 2002 ound around 65 with iv.itv graestones or more elaborate
memorials, and ten with allen or displaced stones, the others isible as low mounds ,Lnglish
Ieritage scheduling documentation,. As in the Jewish ground graes are aligned NNL-SS\
and lie in rows running LSL-\N\, now much disturbed by trees. Gaps in the rows, grae
shaped low mounds, and damaged or displaced headstones suggest there may be many
unmarked graes, some at least originally marked. 1wo open grae pits were noted in 2010,
one south o the ruined building and the other near the centre o the ground.
1he grae structures show considerable ariety in their orms, styles and materials, seeral
haing granite kerbing and iron railing, and a plinth or a box like structure within oten o
imported white reestone slabs, though these are now badly damaged ,lig 10,. A allen cross
sculpture, moss coered but probably o granite, lies by the south east corner o the Jewish
plot ,lig 1,. In the south east o the Congregationalist ground is the relatiely recent grae o
the Cooks, a slab o polished granite with an angular top ,lig 3,. Most grae markers are
headstones o local slate, with curing ornate tops, and sometimes intricate lettering or incised
decoration. Makers` names are cared on some stones. 1he Snell and Browning headstone o
1813 on the east near the centre o the ground was made by OLVLR lALM
O
` a irm which
also supplied at least one stone in the Jewish cemetery ,Section 5.2.1,. 1he 1815 Jenking and
Downing headstone west o this was cared by LDGCOMBL lALM
1I
`.

ig 10 Orvate tovb of tbe Poat favi,, iv tbe .ovtb re.t corver of tbe Covgregatiovai.t grovva, aavagea b,
rooa, grortb ava b, ravaai.v; tbe top .ab of tbe cevtra .trvctvre ba. beev recevt, ai.pacea ;rigbt)
In 2002, 55 graestones were ound to hae airly clear inscriptions, all apart rom that o the
later Cook grae dating rom 1810 to the 1880s with the majority being mid-19
th
century, no
clear chronological sequence across the ground was detectable, though wide spacing o the
earliest marked graes suggesting early allocation o amily plots was noted ,Lnglish Ieritage
scheduling documentation,.

30
5.3.2 Gravestone texts
1he texts o the graestones hae not been ully transcribed and published or this cemetery
as they hae or the Jewish ground. 1he MPPA notes that inscriptions oten record the place
o origin o the Congregationalists, including the lalmouth area, and also the Roseland, and
the trade or proession o males, seeral being surgeons, or example ,Lnglish Ieritage
scheduling documentation,. Systematic recording was not possible within the time aailable
or the isit in 2010, particularly since as a result o iy and tree growth, with weathering and
other damage, so many o the Congregationalist texts are obscured or part illegible - though
these conditions o course mean that recording is urgently needed to presere inormation
threatened with irretrieable loss ,lig 11,.

ig 11 eaa.tove ritb iv.criptiov covvevorativg ]ave. îcboa. bvriea iv 1:, vortb of cevtre iv tbe
Covgregatiovai.t ceveter,; tbe .tove i. vor broev acro.., ava ba. o.t it. rear .vrface abore tbe fractvre

31
6 Interim statement of significance
1he cemeteries at Ponsharden surie well oerall, despite decay and damage particularly to
the Congregationalist enclosure, and their time spans, rare eatures, group alue, siting, aried
eidence or past religious, social and economic lie, complexity, and natural diersity combine
to make them highly signiicant. 1heir importance is recognised by legal protection, two
Jewish headstones being Listed Buildings, and the whole site being a Scheduled Monument.
1he chronological span o the site, used mostly rom around 180 to 1880, means that it
preseres cohesie remains o that period, a time o great expansion in local industry and
trade, it has not been reorganised, disturbed or expanded or more recent use. It represents
religious minority groups whose importance in the area was linked to their commercial actiity
and whose decline is linked to an economic crash with the loss o lalmouth`s role as a packet
station, the Jews largely leaing the district at that time. Records o Jewish pedlars based at
lalmouth show strong links to the rural hinterland, which could be urther explored.
1he Jewish cemetery in particular is rare, one o only 25 ounded beore 1830 suriing in the
country, and with six others, orms part o the best presered regional group o these outside
London`, that in the south west ,Lnglish Ieritage scheduling inormation,. It has group alue
with another, exceptionally well-presered, Jewish cemetery at Penzance, graestone texts at
the two locations proiding eidence o recorded historic links between their communities.
Other suriing associated religious structures and arteacts, including a co-eal synagogue in
lalmouth, add to our understanding o the context o the site, and so to its interest.
1he prominent location oerlooking the old turnpike and tidal waterway between lalmouth
and Penryn shows well the strength o the cemeteries` communities in both these port towns,
and may also relect early wide support or Protestant non-conormity in the surrounding
parish o Budock. Despite modern deelopment some o the ormer medieal armland
character o the land suries with an early hedge bank supporting old trees re-used in the
boundaries o the site. 1his shows the Jewish tradition o siting cemeteries outside the town,
and the positioning o the rather later Congregationalists` plot beside the Jews` is o interest in
that it would seem to indicate respectul relations and tolerance between the two aith groups.
Both the Jewish and Congregationalist cemeteries presere irreplaceable remains o
indiiduals, amilies, and religious groups, and o their unerary practices, and social and
economic roles and conditions. Positioning o graes relects such actors, with those o
ounders o the Jewish group in lalmouth orming a prominent cluster in the inner, upper
corner o their ground. Ieadstone inscriptions proide much detail o genealogical and social
interest. 1hose in the Jewish ground beneit rom transcription and translation o Iebrew
text, the lack o similar recording or the inscriptions on Congregationalist stones, together
with the loss o legibility o many o these due to their poor condition, emphasises the unique
and ulnerable nature o the inormation represented by these remains.
A ormal entrance and associated ruined structure in each cemetery, with some other internal
eatures, proide eidence o unerary traditions, and oer glimpses o the original use o the
ground, though the relatiely well-presered Congregationalists` gateway is blocked and may
be unsae. 1he eidence or remains o a pre-Victorian obe at the Jewish entrance is ery rare.
1he ariety o graes, and natural diersity, add to the meaning o the site. 1he many slate
headstones proide eidence o local stoneworkers and their styles, while non-local stones
relect the geological resources o the wider region. Rich plant lie now locally rare, particularly
wild lowers in the Jewish ground, and broadlea trees, eoke the hedge banks o the lost
arming landscape and perhaps the medieal deerpark woods o Glasney to the west. Mature
trees, lichens and woodland indicators such as bluebell contribute to perceptions o time
depth, and the tangible presence o natural lie contributes isual ariety and seasonal renewal.

32
7 Designations and guidance
7.1 Designations
7.1.1 Scheduled monument
1he lalmouth Jewish and Congregationalist cemeteries are together designated a nationally
important Scheduled Monument, reerence number 15581 ,lig 22,.
Scheduled Monuments hae statutory protection under the Ancient Monuments and
Archaeological Areas Act 199, as amended by the National Ieritage Act 1983. By law, any
proposed work aecting such sites requires Scheduled Monument Consent rom the Secretary
o State or Culture, Media and Sport, and should be reerred to Lnglish Ieritage.
7.1.2 Listed buildings
In addition, two grae headstones within the Jewish cemetery are Listed Buildings, at Grade
II. 1hese are the headstones to Isaac Ben Benjamin and to Alexander Moses, in the south o
the Jewish cemetery ,LB re 489635,.
lor Listed Buildings, 'listed building consent' must be obtained rom the local planning
authority or in some circumstances the Secretary o State or any proposal to demolish or alter
the structure in any way that aects its character. Grade II Listed Buildings are deined as
being o special interest, warranting eery eort to presere them
7.1.3 Scheduling and Listing
\here structures are both scheduled and listed, as in the Jewish cemetery, the scheduled
monuments legislation takes precedence.
7.1.4 Other designations
No other speciic historic or enironmental designations apply to the lalmouth cemeteries.
Lnglish Ieritage guidance ,200, see urther Section .2.1, notes howeer that cemeteries in
general are an important part o the community`s green spaces and are included in the
Goernment`s planning guidance on open green space ,ODPM 2002,.
7.2 Guidance
7.2.1 Producing a Conservation Management Plan
Recent work by Lnglish Ieritage in partnership with Natural Lngland, Paraai.e Pre.errea
,Lnglish Ieritage 200, proides guidance or the conseration management o a cemetery, in
particular, or the processes necessary to produce a Conseration Management Plan` ,CMP,
as a ramework or this. Paraai.e Pre.errea shows the need to undertake wide and detailed study
o a cemetery to identiy and balance its historic, aesthetic, biodiersity or wildlie and amenity
alue, and capacity and ulnerability to change, and to deelop an integrated CMP,
incorporating these issues and inoling interested parties, to address the site`s needs and
potential. It identiies three main stages to the preparation and actiation o a CMP, as
ollows.
7.2.1.1 Full assessment
1he irst step is a ull assessment, to describe accurately the cemetery and all its eatures,
deelop an understanding o the place and its many interests, its signiicance, the resources
aailable and the possible constraints. Analysis and ealuation o the signiicance o the
cemetery or the conseration management plan will require research and surey, including:
Documentary research into written descriptions, maps and plans

33
Archaeological surey o the layout, showing all eatures, landscape design, and subsequent
adaptations
Archaeological and architectural surey o boundary walls, gates, chapels and any other
signiicant buildings
Monument and sculpture surey, recording architectural design, decoration or sculptural
quality, any sculptors` names, and the geological interest o the stones used
Biographical surey o the people buried in the cemetery - social, ethnic or religious
groups, or notable indiiduals
Lcological surey, recording the presence, systems and diersity o wildlie - especially rare
and protected species
1ree surey showing any historic planting or other notable trees
Surey o the cemetery community`s iews on what they alue and how they would like to
be inoled.
7.2.1.2 Planning management
1he second step in deeloping a CMP is to plan speciic management policies and actions,
which should always be preceded by ull assessment. 1his would require,
Programming management work including detailed prescriptions and standards
Maintenance checklists
Planning budgets and work programme
Business planning.
7.2.1.3 Monitoring
Lnglish Ieritage notes that a third stage, regular monitoring and reiew o the CMP in action,
is also necessary, to include,
A programme o isits or sureys to check on the condition o the site including actors
such as biodiersity as well as built abric
Appraisal by isitors o the deeloping character o the cemetery and o the works
undertaken to care or it.
7.2.2 Treatment of human burials
Any proposals or ground disturbing works ,such as tree control, must take ull account o all
legal requirements, current guidance and best practice relating to the treatment o human
remains, particularly as the Congregationalist cemetery includes ground, in urgent need o
restoration works, where graes no longer marked on the surace may be present. Iuman
remains require the greatest care and due reerence. Any predictable impact upon them must
be aoided, and should any be disturbed, appropriate procedures must be adopted. As noted
recently or IL in the context o recording elsewhere in Cornwall ,Andy Jones 2008, project
design or work at Bodmin Methodist Church,, these are set out in vvav ove frov
.rcbaeoogica ite. ,Mays 2002,, Cviaavce for be.t practi.e for treatvevt of bvvav revaiv. ecaratea frov
Cbri.tiav bvria grovva. iv vgava ,Mays 2005, and the IA Guidelines to the Standards or
Recording Iuman Remains ,Brickley and McKinley 2004,.

34
8 Management issues and threats
1he ollowing Section 8.1 proides a general picture o the condition and character o the
cemeteries as they may be experienced by a isitor today. In the next Section, 8.2, the issues
relating to their management are identiied, and explored in detail. Section 8.3 then sets out
the eidence or current damage and ongoing risks to the site.
8.1 Summary of present character and management of the cemeteries
1he joint cemeteries today orm a reseroir ull o historic and natural interest in a local
enironment dominated by modern deelopment and traic noise, rich and dierse, but
largely hidden, neglected, and threatened.
1o some extent the hidden nature o the cemeteries relects their original, designed, enclosed
character. 1he scarp aboe the road, dating rom the improement o the latter to orm a
turnpike in the 18
th
century, is high, and this with the natural eleation o the cemeteries on a
spur conceals much o the interior o the site, though some headstones in the steeper Jewish
ground can be glimpsed rom below particularly when the trees on the scarp are not in lea.
Ioweer the ront`, north boundary is now diicult to identiy as a eature o historic
signiicance, perhaps surprisingly so, gien that it ronts a busy main road. 1he banks are
shrouded in scrub and iy, and slumped or worn in places, and the impact o the walling by
the Congregationalist entrance is reduced by its incorporation in a high modern stone
reetment extending to the east ,lig 8,. 1he separate cemetery entrances are obscured - the
Congregationalists` once rather dramatic tunnel-like gateway now boarded up and let to
dereliction, and the Jews` entrance modiied with its simple modern garden-style door and a
bulky humming gas installation to one side ,ligs 8, 13,.
1he other, upper boundaries o the site are obscured and diicult to identiy or access,
ruinous, worn down, or oergrown, and surrounded by the rear sides o industrial units, waste
ground, or enced deelopment land ,lig 12,.
\ithin the site, there is a great contrast between the two cemeteries in terms o the condition
and stability o their remains, and o the quality o isitors` experiences, due to dierences in
the management o the grounds.
1he egetation across the Jewish ground is cut regularly, at ortnightly interals, by Cornwall
Council under contract or lalmouth 1own Council ,inormation rom Mr Mark \illiams,
lalmouth 1own Clerk, and Mr Simon Penna, Cornwall Council,. As a result this plot is
coered in grass, rich in wild lowers in season, aboe which the headstones marking the
Jewish graes, and their arrangement across the cemetery, can be readily seen and appreciated.
1he periodic nature o the cutting maintains the wild lora, and preseres the sunlit, benign
character o this cemetery as a whole, making it stable but naturalistic, disused but clearly
cared or ,ligs 6, 20,.
1he Congregationalist ground has no regular actie management, though Cornwall Council
has carried out seeral works there or lalmouth 1own Council in the recent past ,Mr Simon
Penna, pers comm,, and it is dominated by the aderse eects o neglect oer many decades.
Inasie tree and scrub growth makes the ground dark and diicult to moe around, een to
see. \ith collapsing walling, and widespread damage to graes rom root disturbance, it
creates a perasie atmosphere o abandonment and neglect. 1his in turn encourages
andalism, rough camping and other casual use o the cemetery, with rubbish, ires, and
improised shelters ,ligs 10, 1,. Oerall the condition o the Congregationalist cemetery is
ery poor, and rapidly deteriorating, and indeed it can be described as deplorable.

35
8.2 Issues relating to present and future management
8.2.1 Obscurity of ownership
1he 2002 scheduling notes that ownership o both the Jewish and the Congregationalist
cemeteries is unclear. 1he legal status o the sites, or the documentation o this, seems to be
obscure, though a measure or attempt to regularise it in 1829 is recorded. 1he schedule entry
or the Jewish site in the 193 1ehidy estate surey book includes a aint, apparently pencilled
comment, possibly original, No Lease`. 1he 1840 Budock tithe apportionment would seem to
indicate that both cemeteries were reehold, listing the one as owned by 1he Jews` and the
other as owned by Independent Society`, and both as being occupied by these groups
1hemseles`. 1he particulars or the auction o the Penwerris Lstate in 1913 state that the
plots were leased to the Jews and Independents respectiely or 400 years rom May 28
th
1829.
According to Simmons and Pearce in their contribution to the recent history o the Jewish
communities o Cornwall ,2000a, 100, the lalmouth cemetery is priately owned and under
Jewish superision with the Board o Deputies o British Jews as trustees. In the scheduling o
2002, the Board o Deputies o British Jews is taken as being the owner o the Jewish
cemetery, though this is not conirmed and there is a complex and poorly documented history
o ownership there. 1he 2002 scheduling documentation treats the Congregationalist cemetery
as haing no known ownership, and thereore as under the responsibility o the local
authorities, lalmouth 1own Council and Cornwall Council. ,Also in 2002 Cornwall Council -
then Cornwall County Council - is named as the owner o the northern strip o the protectie
margin o the monument, this extending oer paement orming part o the highway owned
by the Council.,
1he two cemeteries would thereore seem at present to be separate properties with obscure
origins and legal status, lacking asserted or apparent ownership. 1his has contributed to
limited proision or maintenance groundwork, or at the Congregationalist cemetery, to
general neglect ,see Section 8.2.4,, and any uture management initiaties inormed by the
heritage alue o the site may encounter a lack o owners` input and support.
8.2.2 Lapse of burial function, and loss of local congregations
1he last Jewish burial took place in 1913, ater an interal o 55 years, and the lalmouth
synagogue closed in 1880 ,Dawkins and Pearce, additional notes in Simmons and Pearce
2000a, 103, 104,. In the Congregationalist cemetery the most recent use appears to hae been
in 1912, this being the date gien on the Cook headstone in the south east corner or the
burial o Llizabeth Cook ,lig 3,, prior to that the most recent was in the 1880s, when the
Congregationalist population declined in number ,Lnglish Ieritage scheduling
documentation, 2002,.
1he long lapse o the burial unction and the associated congregations o both cemeteries
adds to the historic alue o the site as an embodiment o lost identities. Ioweer it has
clearly contributed to their neglect, and means that there is no suriing local group with a
strong natural interest in the site which might supply unding or other resources or its care.
8.2.3 The highly sensitive character of the site
\ith the loss or shiting o their associated congregations, the Jewish and Congregationalist
cemeteries are not aected by the requirements o new burials. 1hey continue to presere the
human remains o past people o lalmouth, which may be o great personal or amily
signiicance to liing indiiduals, and represent the aried practices and belies o their aith
and social groups, and require the greatest respect and care. 1he known presence o unmarked
graes means that disturbance o the ground must be aoided.

36
Visitors will wish to ind a stable and peaceul enironment in the cemeteries as part o their
experience o this continuity. 1he collapse or loss o walling or graes is clearly a threat to this,
but groundworks designed to redress or preent this such as control o tree growth may also
be considered threatening, at least initially. As such the site is highly sensitie to change and
perceptions o change, and consensus as well as expert adice is needed or any works.
1he cemeteries are also subject to the constraints o the law relating to human remains, as well
as those associated with Scheduled Monument status ,Section ,.
8.2.4 Physical neglect, and lack of supervision and security of the site
lor the Jewish cemetery, Dawkins and Pearce ,additional notes in Simmons and Pearce 2000a,
103-105, record sporadic maintenance since the closure o the synagogue in 1880. Neglect was
an issue by 1889 when a solicitor in London launched a Restoration lund Appeal. \hen de
Pass bought the reehold in 1913 he arranged or its maintenance, and in 194 his son gae
_100 towards clearing undergrowth, and when De Pass senior died in 1952 he let _200 or
the cemetery. Ater that time there has been little proision or care o the Jewish ground.
Ioweer periodic scrub control and cutting o the grass, both highly beneicial, hae been
undertaken by a local businessman in the 190s, more recently by the ormer 1own clerk o
Penryn, Mr Dawkins, as caretaker or the Board o Deputies o British Jews, and currently by
Cornwall Council under contract or lalmouth 1own Council, as noted aboe in Section 8.1.
lor the Congregationalist cemetery, there is no record o systematic maintenance ollowing
the cessation o burials, though limited, occasional work has been carried out by Cornwall
Council or lalmouth 1own Council relatiely recently ,again, see Section 8.1,.
1he cemeteries hae no regular superision, and as there are no residential areas adjoining or
busy pedestrian public spaces such as ootpaths oerlooking them, they do not beneit rom
daily inormal superision by the public in the neighbourhood. 1he general physical neglect
and lack o superision and security o the site hae contributed to ulnerability to andalism
as well as collapse o structures, and disturbance by tree growth ,lig 12, and see Section 8.3,.

ig 12 1ier acro.. tbe vortb part of tbe Covgregatiovai.t grovva frov ovt.iae it. ea.terv ra, .borivg it.
ovg vegect ava re.vtivg coap.e of raivg, grortb of .ef.orv tree., ero.iov ava .preaa of rvbbi.b

3
8.2.5 Degradation of landscape setting
1he area around the site has been deeloped in the later 20
th
and 21
st
centuries so that it has an
industrial estate on its east and south sides with a large supermarket to the south east, a part
machine leelled, part scrubby deelopment site on its west, and the altered, ormer turnpike
road between Penryn and lalmouth on its north ,ligs 1, 8, 13,. 1he modern design and abric
o the surrounding buildings and access ways, and the widening, materials, signage and heay
traic on the road, obscure the earlier landscape setting o the cemeteries, and take no
account o their character. 1hey orm a physical, isual and conceptual barrier to integration
o the site with other eatures o the historic enironment in the icinity, notably the modiied
Ponsharden waterront, and to the east the terraces including grand houses or the mercantile
classes marking the 19
th
century extent o lalmouth town.
1his has resulted in urther isolation o the cemeteries and reduction o perceptions o their
meaning and alue, leading in turn to increased ulnerability to andalism.
8.2.6 Limited and unofficial nature of access
1he access to the cemeteries is currently limited, unsatisactory and potentially unsae.
1he ormal entrance to the Congregationalist ground rom the road on the north east is
disused, part blocked and potentially dangerous ,lig 18,. 1hough this ground can be entered
through its dilapidated perimeter, or ia the recent path worn oer the boundary rom the
Jewish ground, this diminishes appreciation o the enclosed character o the cemeteries, may
cause urther wear or collapse, could be hazardous, and does not allow access by people
unable to scramble oer bank or walling.
1he Jewish ground`s original entrance is still used but the gate has been orced, as shown by
broken padlocks and bolts, and the walling immediately inside it on the east, some 2m high, is
bulging and unstable.
8.2.7 Lack of understanding of the site
No ull, detailed archaeological and architectural surey exists o the cemeteries.
1ranscriptions with translations o the texts o Jewish graestones hae been published, and
these are accompanied by a useul plan o the Jewish cemetery ,Simmons and Pearce 2000a,
105-109,. Ioweer this plan is essentially a partial schematic diagram showing relatie
positions o graes as numbers only. It includes in its numbering system, marked with
asterisks, graes which are either without a headstone, or which hae or had one that is
damaged, allen, displaced or illegible, but does not distinguish between these. Oerall, it
represents an inaluable and ery timely contribution to the record o the cemetery, but is not
intended to proide a ull measured record o the site with its eatures and their chronological
and other relationships.
1he history and social context o the Congregationalist cemetery in particular is little known,
probably largely because no comparable Congregationalist groups surie to proide the
current i physically remote interest and impetus or research sustained or the Jewish ground
by the Jewish community and the Board o Deputies o British Jews in London. No
systematic recording o the site, or study o the documentation o its community, is known.
1hese actors contribute to the lack o awareness and understanding o the combined site in
the district. Moreoer, in practical terms, the absence o a ull ground surey makes it diicult
to monitor condition, undertake management, and record damage. It also greatly increases
ulnerability to irretrieable loss o knowledge and appreciation o eatures, particularly in the
Congregationalist cemetery, should these be damaged or lost, or example through
displacement or thet o memorial stones.

38
8.2.8 A Scheduled Monument at high risk
As noted in Section 2.1.2, the cemeteries hae been identiied as a Scheduled Monument at
high risk, due to the actie damage and threats aecting the site - neglect, instability, collapse
and andalism o enclosure walls, building remains, and memorials, and disturbance o
structures and ground by tree growth ,see urther Section 8.3, below,. 1he scheduled status o
the site means that to secure its protection legal constraints would apply to any ground
disturbing conseration works proposed, and the agreement and support o Lnglish Ieritage
would be essential to the deelopment o any management plan.
8.2.9 Natural diversity at the site
1he natural history and diersity o the cemeteries are not thought to hae been systematically
studied or recorded. Natural eatures and orces combine with human actiity to shape the
historic enironment, and will be aected both by present care or benign neglect, and by any
uture management. Natural or semi-natural eatures noted during the ieldwork or this
assessment, in mid May, include,
Across the Jewish ground, its north boundary bank and the north part o its east hedge
bank, unimproed grass rich in natie wild lowers -proliic bluebell, primrose,
primrose and iolet, and also orchid, campion, sorrel, plantain, with some inasie
species - three-cornered-leek, and alexanders along the south edge
Bluebell and erns present in much o the Congregationalist ground, and on its south
and east hedge banks, though iy and sycamore are widespread and increasing here
Bees and butterlies in the Jewish ground, and nesting birds in the hedgerow trees
Mature oaks, shown on the 1880 OS map, and stumps o these, in places on the
external hedge banks
Other old trees including sycamore and holly on boundary banks, as well as sel sown
trees and inasie saplings, mostly sycamore, oer nearly all the Congregationalist
ground
Possible limited eidence or ornamental planting, with a yew like tree in the
Congregationalist ground
Lichens and mosses on graestones, the Jewish headstones in particular supporting
grey, green, yellow and orange lichens
Local shillet or slaty rubble stone in walling and bank reetments, and cut slate orming
most headstones, with granite, probably rom adjoining inland parishes used mostly or
grae kerbs and wall copings, and some limestone or sandstone graestones

Potential impacts on animals, plants and stones are thereore a major actor or consideration
in the context o the cemeteries` management. Natural diersity can be expected to contribute
greatly to the experience o isiting the site, and to be alued as such ,see coer photo,.
A ery important aspect o this issue is that the diersity o the site at least in terms o ground
coer is ar greater where periodic egetation control has been undertaken in recent decades,
that is, in the Jewish cemetery, with its lower rich ground.

8.2.10 Potential for increasing public appreciation and enjoyment of the cemeteries
laith groups and indiiduals may hae strong personal connections with the cemeteries and
should be able to enjoy isits to them. 1he complex remains at the grounds, their signiicance
in terms o the history o the district, and associations with other local sites, together with
their natural diersity which is lacking in the surrounding area, could potentially also be o
wider interest to the public, proiding that the experiences o isitors with religious ainities
or amily relationships with the people buried here are respected and i possible enhanced.

39
8.3 Current damage and potential risks
1his summary o the damage and threats aecting the cemeteries incorporates preious
indings, notably those made at the time o the scheduling in 2002, with any releant earlier
records o condition, and urther obserations made on the site isit or the present project.
8.3.1 The approach to the cemeteries, and their immediate setting
Recent and ongoing unsympathetic treatment of the associated bay in front 1he
MPPA in 2002 ound that the erge in ront o the cemeteries, site o the roadside bay
proided to gie access to their entrance, had been planted with shrubs and coniers, and
was used or a large sign, he noted that this could potentially lead to urther similar damage
or degradation to the original approach. 1his area is speciically included in the scheduling
,see lig 22,. In 2010 the planting and signage seemed to hae been remoed, and a cycle
way running past appeared to be potentially beneicial, encouraging more people not in
ehicles to pass by the cemeteries ,though there is no oicial access to them rom the
adjoining original entrances at present,. Ioweer a large gas installation has been placed in
the deeper part o the bay just east o the entrance to the Jewish cemetery ,lig 13,. 1he
bulky unctional design o this is highly incongruous in the bay closely associated with the
cemeteries ,it also emits a humming noise, though at any distance this is drowned by the
sound o passing traic,.
Recent intrusion on the north margin of the scheduling 1he gas installation already
mentioned has been set within the constraint area o the Scheduled Monument. 1he scarp
orming the north side o the cemeteries and the roadside bay below this on the NNL is
speciically included in the protection ,Lnglish Ieritage 2002,. 1he box-like structure
stands inside the bay, only 1.6m rom the base o the scarp. 1he concrete platorm it stands
on extends to 1.2m rom the scarp, and the cut or it is only 0.85m rom this, in the spread
material at its oot.

ig 1 1be roaa.iae ba,, at tbe evtravce to tbe ]eri.b ceveter, ;rigbt of pboto), ritb ga. iv.taatiov affectivg
tbe approacb ava .ettivg of tbe .ite ava etevaivg bac ivto tbe .cbeavivg

40
Partial collapse of front of scarp forming north side of cemeteries. On the isit in
2010 part o the surace o the steep scarp aboe the roadside on the north, roughly below
the junction o the two cemeteries, was ound to be slumping, with resh earthy material
alling away oer an area some 3m square, to accumulate in a heap about 1.5m aboe road
leel ,lig 19,. 1here is a danger o more widespread slumping, and perhaps also an
associated risk o the authorities responsible or road maintenance undertaking
unconsented inappropriate works to address it.
Dumping and neglect in margin and immediate setting on the east and south. In
2002 the MPPA ound some dumping or ly tipping eident around the site, particularly
waste thought to derie rom light industrial units east o the Congregationalist cemetery.
Rubbish was also isible by the east boundary in 2010, mostly outside it but also inside
where the walling is tumbled ,lig 12,. 1his directly aects the 2m wide protectie margin
included in the scheduling around the east and south, and the immediate surroundings o
the site, and is also likely to encourage neglect or abuse o the interior o the ground.
Potential for further development adjoining and extending from the west of the site.
At the time o writing the area immediately west o the cemeteries is or sale with a notice
on the ground adertising it as suitable or deelopment. 1hough part leelled by machine
this remains largely open and is currently the only substantial open area in the setting o the
cemeteries, not currently under buildings or road ,lig 20,. Lying low beneath the spur
occupied by the cemeteries it is isible rom both grounds, and would be much more so
should control o the inasie woody growth there be undertaken as recommended.
Deelopment o the area may result in the introduction o incongruous structures and,or
hard suracing, and may inole a signiicant increase in the already quite seere traic
noise, and so there is a clear potential risk o aderse impact on the experiences o isitors
to the cemeteries, and o degradation to their immediate setting.
8.3.2 Jewish cemetery
1he Jewish cemetery is generally in air condition as a result o the periodic maintenance
undertaken, this haing established optimum and potentially stable ground coer, and haing
presered an air o belonging, which is likely to hae had urther, indirect beneit, making
andalism or thet less likely. Ioweer the site remains subject to signiicant risks - some
associated with the presence on its east and south o the Congregationalist ground with its ar
more extensie and seere damage and threats ,see Section 8.3.3,.
Decay, wear and collapse of enclosure walling or hedge banks. 1he MPPA in 2002
noted the potential instability o the walling at the entrance on the north west o the Jewish
cemetery, and actie wear to part o the hedge bank on the east ,Lnglish Ieritage
scheduling documentation,. 1hese risks continue to aect the boundaries in 2010. Also, a
track has been worn up the steep scarp to the roadside orming the outer ace o the north
boundary east o the entrance, this could de-stabilise the scarp there, though it does not
appear ery resh and may not hae been used since the most recent remoal o the lock
rom the entrance gate.
Decay and collapse of structural remains inside the north west entrance. Damage can
be expected with small to medium sized sycamores rooted in the walling on the east inside
the entrance, associated with rare remains o an early obe. Serious de-stabilisation was
already apparent here in 2002 ,Lnglish Ieritage scheduling documentation, and the walling
is currently bulging.
Iorcing of access through the north west entrance. In 2010 the gate in the ormal
entrance here was unsecured, and in daily use by people passing through it to make use o
the Congregationalist cemetery as rough ground ,see urther under 8.3.3 below,. Remains

41
o two broken bolts and padlocks were isible. Public access to the site may be considered
an important aim, subject to consultation with the Jewish community, and unauthorised
access may not necessarily result in damage. Ioweer in the present circumstances, with
the general neglect o the cemeteries, and lack o superision, it adds signiicantly to the
risks o andalism, thet, and - in the more hidden and abandoned Congregationalist
cemetery reached through this one - erosion, burning and dumping ,see under 8.3.3,.
Scrub and tree growth and root action was considered in 2000 to be a serious threat to
the cemetery, haing dislodged many` Jewish graestones by then ,Dawkins and Pearce,
additional notes in Simmons and Pearce 2000a, 101-102,. 1he MPPA noted woody growth
to be a serious risk to the interior as well as the boundaries o this ground, which had
already dislodged some graestones and could cause urther displacement or splitting. 1he
small size o the plot and the extension o burials to its edges means that graes are
aected by the roots o the sel sown sycamores spreading and growing on the enclosing
banks, and root action may be responsible or the toppling or cracking o stones. In 2010
this threat appeared to be still present though ery much less seere than in the
Congregationalist ground. 1he interior was mostly ree o trees or scrub, but a substantial
young oak had established itsel in the centre o the ground towards its western side, and a
sycamore sapling was growing in the north east corner.
1he flower rich grassland is potentially vulnerable unless appropriately timed and
careul periodic cutting is maintained to renew it and preent loss to trees, scrub or other
inasie growth such as the alexanders currently spread along the south edge. 1here may
also be a danger o encroachment by three-cornered-leek at the expense o bluebell,
threatening the historically signiicant predominance o this species.
Localised erosion of the ground surface A narrow track, 0.5m wide, runs rom the
entrance to the centre o the east boundary and on oer this into the Congregationalist
cemetery, its surace showing some wear though mostly still grassy. A low linear mound,
possibly an unmarked grae, on the line o the eroding track in the north east o the
cemetery, could be aected, showing a potential risk to burials rom associated erosion.
Vandalism or theft of gravestones 1here is a threat to the Jewish cemetery o deliberate
damage, displacement or thet o graestones. 1here is eidence or loss or thet o
graestones here prior to the scheduling, in the 1992 diagram o the Jewish graes which
indicates known ormer positions o ten where the headstone was missing by that time,
though some stones may hae been moed or oergrown within the cemetery. 1he MPPA
in 2002, noting the wear oer the hedge bank orming the shared boundary o the
cemeteries, suggested this could acilitate the spread o deliberate damage rom the already
andalised Congregationalist cemetery ,see urther under Section 8.3.3,. 1he scheduling o
the site now aords legal protection, but its lack o security or superision together with its
neglected condition, and perhaps the presence o headstones now lying on the ground
rather than standing, means it remains exposed to these threats.
Weather and pollution damage, and lichen growth \eathering, and pollution damage
presumably deried rom the traic on the adjoining road is mentioned by Dawkins and
Pearce as aecting some o the Jewish headstones ,Pearce and lry 2000, 102,. 1his has
been addressed to a large extent by the detailed recording o the inscriptions on the stones
here, meaning that ulnerable inormation has been recoered. Ioweer there is an
ongoing risk o loss o unrecorded details such as style or maker`s names o stones,
particularly to the stones now lying down exposed to all weathers, rather than standing.
Lichen growth was also ound to be a signiicant threat in this lighter cemetery in 2010,
obscuring inscriptions or parts o them on many headstones though apparently not
damaging the abric.

42
Loss of unrecorded features, details or relationships A general threat to eidence or
eatures or their details or relationships between them was noted at the time o the
scheduling, the graes ,apart rom the memorial texts on the graestones, and boundaries
and other structural remains being unsureyed and not systematically described or
photographed, and so ulnerable to loss o knowledge without record, should they be
aected by the threats outlined aboe. In 2010 the reality o this threat was clear, with
cracked and displaced graestones, a small broken ragment o a headstone lying ex-situ
,lig 14,, gradual deterioration or obscuring o stones due to weathering, lichen growth or
absorption o allen ones in the tur, and potential or conusion between transcribed
stones where these are lying between rows rather than standing in them, or urther shited,
as well as the low linear mound, possibly a grae, exposed to wear in the north east o the
cemetery, already mentioned.

ig 11 Di.pacea fragvevt of a beaa.tove ,ivg ov tbe gra.. iv tbe ]eri.b ceveter,, iv.trativg tbe gevera
rvverabiit, of tbe .ite to o.. of revaiv. ava of irretrierabe voreage ;tbe .cae i. 2:cv ovg)
8.3.3 Congregationalist cemetery
As noted in Section 8.1, the condition o the Congregationalist cemetery is generally ery
poor, and rapidly deteriorating. 1he site has many, interrelated actie and potential risks,
impacting on highly sensitie and unrecorded cemetery remains with ongoing loss o
irretrieable remains and inormation.
Decay, wear and collapse of enclosure walling or hedge banks was described by the
MPPA in 2002 as a major actie risk at this site, large scale collapse or instability aecting
the cemetery`s boundaries. In 2010 the most serious damage was ound along the east wall,
where much masonry has bulged or collapsed inwards or out, with extensie displacement
or loss o the high quality granite coping stones potentially ulnerable to thet ,lig 15,, and
where a breach has been made or access south o the mortuary chapel. Paths had also

43
been worn oer the south hedge bank at its centre and west end, and as already mentioned,
in the hedge against the Jewish cemetery, north o its centre.

ig 1: 1be bovvaar, ov tbe ea.t of tbe Covgregatiovai.t ceveter, .ovtb of it. cevtre, .borivg iv.tabiit,,
bvgivg ava partia coap.e of tbe raivg ava it. gravite copivg, ritb tree ava ir, grortb
Inappropriate repairs to walling and failure of fabric of these Inappropriate repair
aimed at securing the east wall was identiied as a risk related to the aboe at the time o
the scheduling, in that inappropriate modern materials and methods could be introduced
through well-meaning eorts to counter decay, as shown by work with cement based
mortar south o the mortuary chapel. 1he subsequent designation o the cemeteries as a
Scheduled Monument should hae countered this risk in that any repairs would now
require Scheduled Monument consent. Ioweer there may be potential or well-meaning
but unconsented repair, and it is also possible that the existing repair abric with cement
based mortar will deteriorate or all, as it is non-lexible and liable to cracking.
Decay and collapse of the north east entrance is also ongoing. 1he MPPA recorded in
2002 the rampant growth o iy here, obscuring and destabilising the remains, and also
noted the ulnerability o the probably original door, speciically including it in the
scheduling. In 2010 the brick arch oer the entrance appears unstable with iy and tree
roots, and the door is decaying and broken, its centre lost or displaced ,lig 18,. 1he
reetments lanking the steps within are seerely destabilised by tree roots and iy, that to
the west in particular bulging out greatly oer the steps. 1he steps themseles are deep in
lea litter and may be stable at present, but are ulnerable to thet, particularly since the
doorway is insecure.
Lrosion, root, ivy, and tree fall damage to the mortuary chapel was isible in 2010
with a path into the cemetery wearing down its south east corner, woody growth coering
or rooted in much o its walling and aecting its interior, and a allen tree lying oer its
north end ,lig 9,.
Scrub and tree growth and root action 1he extensie action o the root systems o
prolierating trees across the interior o the Congregationalist ground was so adanced by
2000 that it was considered to be eectiely destroying` it ,additional notes by Dawkins

44
and Pearce, in Simons and Pearce 2000a, 102,, and the impacts eident on the 2010 isit
are indeed aried and widespread. 1he sel sown trees here are obscuring graes, grae
rows, the original path, and een in places the cemetery boundaries, and the relationships
between these eatures. 1rees are growing on graes and on at least one memorial,
embedding stone in wood ,lig 16,, greatly limiting restricting moement around the
cemetery, and blocking iews. 1heir roots are breaking and displacing graestones, and
causing subsidence o graes. Altogether the extent and leel o actie damage and risk is
extremely high, and the aderse impact on perception and appreciation o the site as a
cemetery is seere.

ig 1 Ove of tbe earier .ate beaa.tove. iv tbe Covgregatiovai.t ceveter,, aatea 11, .ti .tavaivg iv tbe
ea.t eva of a ror of grare. bvt evbeaaea iv ove of tbe vav, tree. ivraaivg tbi. grovva
Impact from tree fall 1he substantial allen tree lying oer part o the mortuary chapel
and the entrance steps below in 2010 indicates a potential wider risk o damage rom tree
all to the ground`s grae and other structures. 1here could also be a danger to isitors
rom unsae trees.
Vandalism or theft of gravestones By the time o the scheduling in 2002 andalism had
signiicantly aected the Congregationalist cemetery with its more permeable outer
boundary and more adanced neglect.
Although the scheduling proides legal protection, the lack o security and superision at
the site, and lack o community awareness o and identiication with it, means that both
andalism and thet could continue. lor this cemetery these threats are thought to be
particularly serious in terms o their implications or loss o knowledge as well as their
extent, as little recording o the graestones` inscriptions has been undertaken. In 2010
there was eidence o recent andalism, particularly in the northern part o the cemetery
eroded by requent casual use ,see below,. In general across the ground damage appears to
be worst at the more ornate graes with breakage, shiting or loss o iron railings, stone
slabs, etc ,lig 10,. 1his makes the damage more readily apparent, and so may encourage
imitation.

45
Weather and pollution damage Some o the Congregationalist headstone inscriptions are
no longer legible due to weathering or atmospheric erosion, as in the case o the Jewish
cemetery, pollution rom the busy main road running along the north to the north may be a
actor contributing to this.
Subsidence or collapse of grave coverings or markers In 2002 the MPPA ound at least
two graes with exposed brick-lined cuts, one with displaced corroded iron sheeting which
may ormerly hae coered it, indicating potential or wider instability in the cemetery, i
others hae similar coering which could collapse.
Loss of unrecorded features, details or relationships 1he potential risk o loss o
eidence or eatures or their details or relationships between them is ery great or the
Congregationalist cemetery, as its headstone inscriptions as well as the graes, boundaries
and other eatures are unsureyed and not systematically described or photographed, and
so exposed to irretrieable loss without record to the threats outlined aboe ,lig 1,.

ig 1 ove of tbe vav, revaiv. rvverabe to o..; orergrorv grare .trvctvre ritb cro.. faev or pv.bea orer
iv frovt of it, ov tbe re.t iv tbe Covgregatiovai.t grovva b, it. ;vvctiov ritb tbe ]eri.b ceveter,
Irequent use of the ground as waste, causing erosion, burning and dumping. 1he
neglect and dense tree coer o the Congregationalist ground, its isolation by roads and the
generally disused rear sides o commercial premises, and its situation outside but close to
busy towns, hae led to its use as a revaerov. or rough campsite. On the isit in 2010 it
appeared that this is a daily occurrence, though o course it may be seasonal or temporary.
In the northern part o the ground, between its ruined chapel and the access path worn
oer the hedge rom the Jewish cemetery, an area some 20m across is eroded by use so that
its surace is bare o egetation, and has an improised shelter using wooden pallets,
rubbish, traces o ires, and a concentration o broken or displaced graestones.
Potential for personal risk to cemetery visitors As noted by the MPPA in 2002 the
exposure o seeral grae cuts may hae saety implications. Reuse, brambles and tumbled
masonry or headstones may also adersely aect isitors` experience or saety.

46
9 Recommendations
Oerall, the actie risks and threats aecting the cemeteries are seere, and as noted in the
scheduling documentation o 2002 the need to address these is urgent, though many threats
such as structural decay, erosion and tree growth are gradual ,and though related issues such
as lack o clear ownership and management hae long roots,.
Careul management and protection o the cemeteries, as well as protecting burial remains o
great indiidual, amily, aith group and wider human interest, would also hae high potential
or enhancing public awareness, experiences, and appreciation o the site, as a nationally rare
and complex monument, and a signiier o lost communities, both ormerly distinctie, yet at
the same time integrated with strong economic roles in the local town and wider region.
9.1 Development of a Conservation Management Plan
A management plan or the cemeteries is identiied as a pressing need` in the Lnglish Ieritage
scheduling documentation o 2002. 1o promote adoption o a comprehensie and integrated
approach to the aried and urgent needs o the cemeteries, and realise their potential, a
Conseration Management Plan ,CMP, ollowing the Lnglish Ieritage and Natural Lngland
guidelines or such sites reported in Paraai.e Pre.errea ,see Section .2.1, is recommended.
1he Sections below outline the work recommended to deelop a CMP or the cemeteries,
ollowing the ramework set out or this in Paraai.e Pre.errea and summarised in Section .2.1.
It should be noted that to proide a basis or this, as or any management actions, it will be
essential to identiy, and work with, the owner,s o the cemeteries ,see Section 9.2.1,.
9.1.1 Further recording and assessment
9.1.1.1 Archaeological and historical research and recording
Iull archaeological and architectural recording of the cemeteries is needed to
show the actual distribution and orms o their graes, enclosing boundaries and other
structures, relationships between these eatures, local topography, etc, and allow
plotting o aspects releant to the consideration o uture management, such as tree
growth, exposure to weathering, damage or collapse.
Safety assessment for potentially unstable structures should be included in the
aboe. 1he cemeteries` entrances in particular may be unsae, and the stability o many
grae structures in the Congregationalist ground needs assessment.
Iurther historical study of the Congregationalists is necessary, to increase
understanding and awareness o this community and its ground, and inorm any
management proposals. 1his would inole researching indiiduals or amilies
represented in the cemetery, the religious group and its practices, place,s o worship
and any other physical legacy, and the wider social and economic context. Sources
might include the archies o the Cornwall Record Oice, the Royal Polytechnic
Society o lalmouth, the Courtney Library o the RIC, 1ruro, and any records
elsewhere o the Congregational or United Reorm Churches, as well as publications.
Cornwall Record Oice has a substantial collection o records o the lalmouth
Congregational Church dating rom 180 onwards, reerence X850 ,Graeme Kirkham,
IL pers comm,. 1hese contain an account o the church's history rom 1663 with
contemporary annual chronicle, including collection lists, 180-1853, also register o
baptisms, 183-1853, and register o burials, 1808-1853 ,Access to Archies website,.

4
Research into relations between faith groups should also be considered to enhance
interpretation o the site. 1he juxtaposition o the cemeteries, and their location in an
area where Protestant non-conormity was historically strong, might be explored.
9.1.1.2 Ecological recording and evaluation
Studies showing the ecological resource and diversity of the site should be
undertaken, recording and ealuating any planted or other notable trees, wild lowering
and other plants, ungi, lichens, shrubs, birds, mammals, reptiles and insects, and
identiying any rare species. A tree saety study should also be carried out.
Integration of ecological and historical considerations using the aboe is needed
to show the wider enironmental interest and importance o the site, and the interplay
o natural and human actors which shape the landscape. It would also be necessary to
help balance any conlict in conseration interests which may occur, or example, lichen
growth enriches biodiersity but may obscure headstone texts.
9.1.1.3 Re-assessment of significance, and setting of overall vision and policies
Updating of the interim statement of significance ,Section 6, will be necessary to
include any releant indings o the urther archaeological, historical and ecological
studies.
Redefinition of issues and constraints may also be needed as the ecological study is
incorporated, or example measures may be required to aoid disturbing rare species.
Setting of an overall vision for the cemetery is recommended to present the
principles and aims inorming the management plan. 1he ision, with any management
proposals it generates, must ully respect legal controls, Ministry o Justice guidance and
other oicial guidelines and ethical constraints on the treatment o human remains,
graes and their setting, and should be deeloped in consultation with local people, the
Jewish community, and any indiiduals or groups connected through amily or aith
with the Congregationalists.
Specification of Conservation Management Plan policies applying the ision or
the cemetery should then ollow. 1hese may relate where appropriate to generic types
o remains such as the enclosing walls, or areas with shared aspects o historic and
ecological character such as bluebell rich grassland.
9.1.2 Management plan processes
Paraai.e Pre.errea sets out the Conseration Management Plan processes required to implement
policies and realise the ision or the cemeteries. 1hese include identiying and planning
groundworks and other management actions, with prescriptions, standards, and checklists, and
budgeting and programming consultations, works, presentations etc. ,Management actions
currently recommended or inclusion in these processes are set out in Section 9.2.,
9.1.3 Monitoring the plan in action
1he third stage o the ramework or cemetery Conseration Management Plans set out in
Paradise Presered is regular monitoring and reiew o the management plan and its
implementation. 1he monitoring would inole a programme o condition sureys, this would
require a thorough record o condition beore any management actions on the site, against
which changes could be identiied, emphasising the need or ull surey to proide a basis or
this ,see Section 9.1.1,. It would also include appraisal o the care o the cemetery by isitors
as well as any uture guardian or other supporting indiiduals or groups.

48
9.2 Management actions currently recommended
1he present study indicates, in addition to the urther studies already recommended to
deelop a CMP ,Section 9.1,, a number o actions or consideration under the management
plan processes, listed below. Note that the ull surey recommended in Section 9.1.1 should
be undertaken in adance o any groundworks, to record abric prior to any interentions,
identiy any ulnerable low earthworks, proide a guide to styles and materials to be used, etc.
9.2.1 Identification of, and consultation with, site owner/s
A major, initial requirement is to establish the ownership,s o the cemeteries and immediate
surroundings. 1his may be challenging in iew o the history o separate and obscure
ownerships here ,outlined as currently understood in Section 8.2.1,, but is essential to allow
the owner,s to be consulted on, and to take a lead in, any deelopment o a CMP and
management actions.
9.2.2 Repair or restoration of the boundaries
\orks on the boundaries should be undertaken as soon as possible to preent urther decay,
erosion or collapse, or thet, and also to restore the original ully enclosed character o the site.
9.2.3 Restoration of the formal entrances
Careul clearance o woody growth at the entrances, and securing o their doorways, was
recommended at the time o the scheduling in 2002. 1his would preent imminent collapse o
brickwork and masonry, and urther damage to the early door to the Congregationalist
ground, and with the repair o the associated boundaries, may be expected to greatly improe
security and enhance perceptions o the cemeteries as a alued and historic place, and so
reduce the risk o andalism more generally. 1he Congregationalists` doorway can be expected
to be lost in the near uture unless recording and restoration are undertaken ,lig 18,.

ig 1 1ier aorv tbe .tep. to tbe arcbea Covgregatiovai.t aoorra,, ove of tbe origiva featvre. potevtia,
offerivg ricb eperievce. of a.pect. of pa.t ire., bvt vor ai.v.ea, rvivov., vv.tabe ava po..ib, aavgerov.

49
9.2.4 Improvement to the security of the site
Proision o regular care is highly desirable to help secure the site against andalism or thet.
Repair o the boundaries and entrances would contribute greatly to security, but could not
realistically proide ull physical impermeability, as the enclosing hedge banks and walls are
mostly relatiely low, and secure encing may be considered inappropriate on aesthetic
grounds. Any potential or isits by a guardian, or or supporting indiiduals or groups, should
be inestigated and promoted ,see related recommendation 9.2.15, below,.
9.2.5 Consideration of the potential for improving and extending access
1his should orm part o the reiew o security, in ull consultation with the site owner,s,
religious representaties, local residents, and any other interested groups and indiiduals.
9.2.6 Revision of the use of the associated roadside bay
A reiew o the treatment o the bay was recommended in 2002 to enhance as ar as possible
the integrity o the site and its original approach. 1his appears to be particularly necessary in
2010 due to the presence o the gas installation which represents an encroachment into the
scheduled area, and may lead to related disturbance or isual intrusion in the uture.
9.2.7 Assessment of the stability of the scarp forming the cemeteries north side.
A proessional saety assessment o the scarp is recommended in iew o the signiicant
slumping aboe the road eident in 2010, i appropriate, measures to address this damage
should be careully considered, in liaison with the authorities responsible or road maintenance
or other interested bodies.

ig 1 vvpivg fre.b iv 2010 ov tbe cvt .carp forvivg tbe vortb .iae of tbe ceveterie., reqvirivg a..e..vevt

50
9.2.8 Control of self sown tree and scrub growth
Clearance and control o woody growth is recommended both on the boundaries and within
the cemeteries, particularly in the Congregationalist ground where it is needed urgently and on
a large scale to preent urther tree inasion o the ground and root disturbance o the graes.
\ork would need to be carried out ery careully to protect old trees and any other important
wildlie habitats, and to aoid incidental damage to graes. Specialist tree saety checks should
also be undertaken.
9.2.9 Consideration of renewal of any early planting in the Congregationalist ground
Limited renewal may be appropriate should any o the trees here be ound to be planted
ornamental species.
9.2.10 Maintenance or restoration of grassy ground cover
Periodic, appropriately timed and careul cutting within the grounds is necessary, both as part
o the long term control o woody growth, and to protect and encourage the bluebells and
other species which indicate historic landuse and ecological diersity and enhance isitors
experience, and are ulnerable to being shaded out by dense scrub, iy etc.
9.2.11 Repair, restoration, or re-erection of gravestones
1he conseration needs o the stones in both cemeteries should be ealuated in detail
ollowing or as part o ull recording. Some will require specialist work, such as the 1835
headstone to James Nicholas and his wie Mary Ann near the centre o the Congregationalist
cemetery, which is ractured across and has lost its rear surace aboe the racture ,lig 11,.
9.2.12 Consolidation, repair or restoration of cemetery buildings
1he ruined cemetery buildings at the site, one in each o the two grounds, should be made
stable as soon as possible to preent dangerous collapse, and restoration or part restoration
may be appropriate.
9.2.13 Renewal of the original pathway in the Congregationalist cemetery
1he path through the Congregationalist ground, part eroded and elsewhere obscured and
oergrown, should be restored, both as an original eature, and as a means o proiding
renewed access without impacting inadertently on unmarked graes which will respect it.
9.2.14 Monitoring for any future erosion or vandalism
Monitoring is recommended to ealuate the eects o the aboe measures, and to allow and
inorm prompt and appropriate responses to any uture threats and opportunities.
9.2.15 Investigation of potential for encouraging or co-ordinating supporters.
\ork with any indiiduals or group,s who may wish to contribute to the recommended
recording and research, groundworks and care, superision, and monitoring o the cemeteries,
and in the deelopment o any other needs or aims that may emerge, is strongly recommended
to promote the long term protection and appreciation o the site. As aith groups using the
cemeteries or burial or congregations associated with them no longer exist, and as there are
many, complex pressures on the site, supporters aluing its history and remains would seem
essential to ensure its surial and use.

51
9.3 Other recommendations
9.3.1 Treatment of adjoining land as the immediate setting of the cemeteries
luture use o the area west o the site at Ponsharden, adertised on the ground as
deelopment land at the time o writing, can be expected to aect it in seeral ways. 1he area
immediately adjoins the cemeteries, and is oerlooked rom them ,lig 20,. 1he impact o any
proposed deelopment on the Scheduled Monument should thereore be ery careully
considered through any due process o assessment.

ig 20 1ier frov tbe ]eri.b ceveter,, .borivg bor it oreroo. or grovva to tbe re.t cvrrevt, for .ae a.
aereopvevt ava
9.3.2 Investigation of potential for strengthening links with associated sites and artefacts
Should the opportunity arise, urther work might include research into the desirability and
easibility o establishing links with other sites and arteacts associated with the Jewish and
Congregationalist heritage o the lalmouth area and west Cornwall as a whole.

linally, the concluding comments in the recent olume o research on Cornwall`s Jewish
history identiy the physical legacy o this as a heritage which can only be saed through
diligence and great care` ,Pearce and lry 2000, 306,. It is hoped that the present report will
help to show the nature and urgency o the care needed at both the Jewish and the
Congregationalist cemeteries at Ponsharden, which share aspects o their histories and ates,
yet represent separate, unique rich strands o our heritage.

52
10 References
10.1 Primary sources (in chronological order)
Anon, 188. Part of tbe Mavor of Pevr,v orr,v ,At CRO, re RI 2938,
A Law, 193. A Surey and Valuation o the Barton o Penwerris ,At CRO, re AD 894,,52,
Ordnance Surey, 1811. 2 vcb Drarivg Map ,microiche copy at IL,
Richard 1homas, 1814 artov of Pevrerri. iv tbe Pari.b of vaoc ,at CRO, re AD 89 4,,35,
1ithe Map and Apportionment, 1840. Pari.b of vaoc ,microiche copy at IL,
Ordnance Surey, 1880. 2: vcb Map lirst Ldition ,licensed digital copy at IL,
Ordnance Surey, 190. 2: vcb Map Second Ldition ,licensed digital copy at IL,
Andrews Auctioneers, Plymouth, 1913. Penwerris sale particulars ,at CRO, re \I,1,6452,
Ordnance Surey, 200. Ma.tervap Digita Mappivg
10.2 Publications
Barry, J 1991. 1he Seenteenth and Lighteenth Centuries 81-108 |vit, ava 1ariet, ed N Orme,
Uniersity o Lxeter Press
Coleman, B 1991. 1he Nineteenth Century: Nonconormity 109-128 |vit, ava 1ariet, ed N
Orme, Uniersity o Lxeter Press
Lnglish Ieritage, 200. Paraai.e Pre.errea Lnglish Ieritage: Swindon
lriedlander, L and lry, I 2000. 1he Disappearing Ieritage: the Synagogues and their Ritual
Arteacts 292-305 1be o.t ]er. of Corvra eds K Pearce and I lry, Redclie Press: Bristol
Gay, S 1903. Oa avovtb
Ioldsworth, C 1991. lrom 1050 to 130 23-52 |vit, ava 1ariet, ed N Orme, Uniersity o
Lxeter Press
Jacob, A M 2000. 1he Jews o lalmouth 49-68 1be o.t ]er. of Corvra eds K Pearce and I
lry, Redclie Press: Bristol
Kadish, S 2006. ]eri.b eritage iv vgava .v .rcbitectvra Cviae Lnglish Ieritage: Swindon
Miles Brown, I 1964. 1be Cbvrcb iv Corvra
Orme, N ,ed, 1991. |vit, ava 1ariet, Uniersity o Lxeter Press
Parkes, C 200. cbeavea Movvvevt. at Ri., Corvra ILS, CCC: 1ruro
Parkes, C orthcoming. cbeavea Movvvevt. at Ri. ava cbeavea Movvvevt Mavagevevt iv
Corvra; ...e..vevt of prioritie. ILS, CCC: 1ruro
Pearce, K and lry, I ,eds, 2000. 1be o.t ]er. of Corvra Redclie Press: Bristol
Peter, 1C 1903. Ca.ve, Coegiate Cbvrcb
Pigot and Co, 1823-4. ovaov ava Prorivcia Covvercia Director,
Pool, PAS 194. 1be i.tor, of tbe 1orv ava orovgb of Pevavce 1he Corporation o Penzance
Simmons, G and Pearce, K 2000a. 1he Jewish Cemeteries 100-15 1be o.t ]er. of Corvra eds
K Pearce and I lry, Redclie Press: Bristol
Simmons, G and Pearce, K 2000b. 1he People 196-28 1be o.t ]er. of Corvra eds K Pearce
and I lry, Redclie Press: Bristol

53
10.3 Websites
Access to Archies ,A2A,, database cataloguing documentary archies in local collections,
http:,,www.nationalarchies.go.uk,a2a,
1urnpike Roads in Lngland, http:,,www.turnpikes.org.uk,Cornwall20-20Ielston.htm

11 Project archive
1he IL project number is 2008206
1he project`s documentary, photographic and drawn archie is housed at the oices o
Iistoric Lnironment, Cornwall Council, Kennall Building, Old County Iall, Station Road,
1ruro, 1R1 3A\. 1he contents o this archie are as listed below:
1. A project ile containing site records and notes, project correspondence and
administration.
2. An inormation ile containing copies o documentary,cartographic source material.
3. Digital photographs stored in the directory R:Ìistoric Lnironment
,Images,`SI1LS.L-I`lalmouth Jewish and Congregationalist cemeteries
1his report text is held in digital orm as: G:Ìistoric Lnironment ,Documents,ÌL
Projects`Sites`Sites l`lalmouth Jewish and Congregationalist cemeteries`Report 2010R039
lalmouth Jewish and Congregationalist cemeteries.doc

54


55

ig 21 Moaerv vappivg .borivg tbe ocatiov of tbe ceveterie. at Pov.baraev, ava tbeir .vrrovvaivg.

ig 22 1be .cbeavea area, a. ae.cribea iv tbe vgi.b eritage aocvvevtatiov, ov tbe voaerv vap ba.e

56

ig 2 1be .ite captvrea ov tbe eage of a Dve of eea.` e.tate vap, 1, .borivg tbe ]eri.b ceveter, ov,
ritb aa.bea, po..ib, fevcea ivver bovvaarie.. ôte a.o 1be .ava`, .vrrovvaea b, tbe rirer ava tvrvpie
1bi. itev i. iv tbe cv.toa, of Corvra Recora Office. t i. vot to be reproavcea iv av, forvat ritbovt
pervi..iov frov Corvra Recora Office ;CRO ref R 2)

ig 21 1be area a. .vrre,ea for tbe a..et .tate iv 1 .borivg tbe ]eri.b grovva ;abeea b` ov tbe
pav) .ti .tavaivg aove, ritb a gate .,vbo aepictivg tbe evtravce iv tbe vortb re.t corver
pervi..iov frov Corvra Recora Office ;CRO ref .D 1,,:2)

5

ig 2: Ricbara 1bova.` 111 .vrre, for tbe a..ett .tate, tbe earie.t pav fovva aepictivg botb ceveterie.,
vavea bere a. tbe ]er`. ava tbe Di..evter`. vr,ivg Crovva.. ô ceveter, bviaivg. appear to be vaae
;ee a.o ig 2 for a co.er rier). 1bi. itev i. iv tbe cv.toa, of Corvra Recora Office. t i. vot to be
reproavcea iv av, forvat ritbovt pervi..iov frov Corvra Recora Office ;CRO ref .D 1,,:)

ig 2 1be .ite a. recoraea ov tbe vaoc pari.b titbe vap of 110, ritb tbe bviaivg iv tbe ]eri.b ceveter,
pervi..iov frov Corvra Recora Office ;CRO ref P,22,2,:)

58

ig 2 1be O vappivg of 10, recoraivg bviaivg. at botb ceveterie., ava a.o ivairiava tree. ov tbe beage
bav bovvaarie. of tbe grovva.

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