CHAPTER XVIII.
PENZANCE
Penzance, the Holy Headland—Madron—A disciple of S. Piran—Madron Well—The Feast—Climate—The Irish Colonisation—Penwith—S. Breage—Tregonning Hill—Pencaer—Movements of S. Breage—Cross of coagulated blood—Frescoes—Former extent of Breage—Sithney—Germoe Church and Chair—Germoe's story—Pengersick Castle—The Millatons—The Giant's throw—Godolphin Hall—Skewis and Henry Rogers—Clowance—The Irish invaders—Gwinear—Ludgvan—The flower farms—S. Hilary—S. Michael's Mount—Submerged forest—Castel-an-Dinas—Chysauster huts—The "Rounds"—Newlyn—The Breton Newlyna.
PENZANCE, the most western market town in Cornwall, is of comparatively modern growth. Formerly it was but a fishing village, occupying a promontory now distinguished as the quay, where stood a chapel dedicated to S. Anthony. The name signifies the Holy Head, or Headland, and there was probably a chapel on the projecting finger of land long before the time of S. Anthony of Padua (1231), whose cult was fostered by the Franciscan Order. It is not improbable that on this headland there may have been a camp, in which case the dedication is merely a misconception of An-Dinas. The town arms are S. John the Baptist's head on a charger, also through misconception, the Holy Head being supposed to be his.
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