Cornish Graves was started in South East Cornwall under the umbrella of Phoenix 100; a group facilitated by the Caradon Hill Area Heritage Project.
Cornish miners, a hard-working and determined breed of men and women, left their native land when the mining boom collapsed in the 1800’s and travelled to the far corners of the world, where their hard rock mining experience was greatly valued. There is a saying that at the bottom of any shaft in the world there is a “Cousin Jack”
Our aim is to connect the descendants of Cousin Jack with their roots, enabling them to discover more about their family history and to visit the graves of their forebears via the internet. There is also a wealth of social history to be gained from the inscriptions on the headstones.
The funding to develop the website and purchase equipment to carry out the recording was from the Heritage Lottery Fund via the CHAHP. The recording and entering of photographs and details has been undertaken by volunteers. The work has only just begun and the amount of information available will grow rapidly over time.
We hope that in time all burials within Cornwall may be recorded in this way on this website.
For further information please contact: info@cornishgraves.org.uk