The meaning of the name Menheniot has been a much debated subject but the Cornish historian Charles Henderson came up with the idea that it could mean 'Sanctuary of St Neot'.

Throughout history there have been many links between these two delightful villages, the people of Menheniot having been substantial donors to the famous stained glass windows in St Neot Parish Church. In one of these windows appears the name, and possibly the portrait of St Lalluwy, the patron of Menheniot's Parish Church.

Today, Menheniot is a busy, thriving community, sprawling over 7,000 acres of agricultural land alone, which has grown considerably over the last quarter of a century with the building of new housing developments, such as Fourgates, Trewint, Hartmeade, William Laundry Close, named after a former headmaster, and most recently the Sunnybanks estate. In the centre of the village are the Henry Poad Trust Alms Houses given to the parish in 1952 for the elderly, and renovated by Caradon in 1969.

The developments have meant an influx of new families but rather than looking upon this with suspicion, the 'old' Menheniot people have welcomed some new blood into the fold.

None more so than 79 year old Henry Thomas, a parish councillor for the last 28 years, the last 22 spent as chairman, who retired prior to the May elections. He says that looking back over his chairmanship he feels the most important aspect has been the development of the village and the many advantages and fresh ideas some of the new people have brought with them. 'This has been very important to our community and I have welcomed it' he said.

Silver

But this is the not the only boom in Menheniot's population. The first was halfway through the last century when lead and silver was mined in the parish doubling the number of inhabitants from 1,200 in 1841 to 2,600 by 1861. Unfortunately this new found prosperity was short lived, and the number of inhabitants fell away, together with the extra pubs which had sprung up, when the mines became uneconomic. It is said the silver mine is the deepest in the country.

However, other forms of mining have been important to the employment of local people. The quarry, originally known as Clicker Tor and owned by Betty and Tom, closed about 20 years ago after flooding, when it was then run by Amalgamated Roadstone. Situated at Station, much of the stone was taken away by rail, which was probably responsible for Menheniot having its own station. About 30 years ago, the royal train, carrying Queen Elizabeth, pulled into a siding next to the quarry to give the royal party a rest after a visit to the county. A telephone line had been connected to the train from Deer Park, in recent years the home of marine adventurer Chay Blyth and his Challenge business, in case of any emergency.

Popular

Also situated at the Station is the well known Hay Loft Restaurant on the edge of the A38, and further in, next to the railway bridge, is the popular Sportmans Arms.

Since 1961 the tradition of quarrying in the parish has been carried on by the Crocker family, the late Bill Crocker starting the Roseland Plant business at the Old Foundry at Roseland. It then moved to Wheal Honey, but today the headquarters is based at the busy Lean Quarry complex. Directors of this well known family firm are brothers David and Geoffrey Crocker and their brother-in-law Kevin Williams, whilst the company secretary is David's son Richard, who has just become Menheniot's newly elected Caradon Councillor.

Like most villages, Menheniot had its own police station with dungeons, but it is now the private home of local painter and decorator John Collins and his wife Linda who have lived there for the last 26 years. It is named Peel Lodge after Sir Robert Peel, founder of the British police force.

The de Tregrilla family name changed to Trelawny through the female line, and they had Pool Hall built just on the edge of the main village in the 15th century. The eldest son later moved to Trelawne, near Looe, and the younger son built Coldrenick in 1580, which to this day has remained the Menheniot seat of the Trelawny family. The house was inherited by Henry Sneyd from his grandfather, Rev Frank Trelawny, but the house itself was demolished about 30 years ago, the Sneyds now living in the converted stable block.

Tregrilla Vean is the home of Richard and Jan Gendall who have done much research about local history, particularly about the de Tregrillas. Richard is an honorary research fellow at Exeter University for the Cornish language and Jan is a folklorist.

Benefactor

The Trelawny's at one time passed to the name of Jago, again through the female line, but General John Jago added Trelawny to keep the name assured for future generations. Along with the Trelawny family he was a great benefactor of Menheniot and gave amongst other things, an ornate granite drinking trough which stands next to one of the church's entrance gates, but it has long since dried up and is now the home of the village map and notices. He also presented the church clock in 1907.

Pool Hall is now the home of Sir Godfrey Milton Thompson, co-ordinator of the medical services for the armed forces during the Falklands War, while the farm was taken over by John Bray in 1939. Since then it has passed to Fernley Bray, and is now farmed by his son Graham and daughter-in-law Iris, a busy couple, with Graham's services as an organist being called upon by chapels in the Liskeard and Looe Methodist Circuit, where Iris is a local preacher. They have two daughters, Helen and Sarah, and a ten year old son John.

An odd characteristic in Menheniot which these days conflicts with female emancipation, is the Jago Institute. It was given to the village in 1911 by Miss Lucretia Jago for the use of the young men of the parish in memory of her brother Edward. A Cornish Times reporter wrote after the opening ceremony 'The value of such a meeting place, for young fellows entering manhood, must be acknowledged to be great'. Today the Institute has about 60 members, who pay a membership of £5 per year, and women are still not allowed through the hallowed doors.

Welcome

The chairman is David Clue, who has been the village milkman for 33 years. The Clue's are a well known Menheniot family, having taken over the coach company from Arthur Lock about 35 years ago.

However, Jago Institute apart, there are meeting places in Menheniot to which all are welcome. There is the former old school which is now the Day Centre, often attended by students from Morley Tamblyn Lodge in Liskeard, and the renovated and refurbished Village Hall, largely the work of Mr George Walters, a now retired local builder, who has been responsible for much of the new development in Menheniot. The building firm is now run by son Scott.

Much of life centre's around the Parish Church, the new Vicar being Rev Philip Conway. About a year ago the Arthurs donated a beautiful west window in memory of their family. There is also the Methodist Church, built in 1905, which organises a well attended monthly lunch, and for the first time in its history it has its own minister, the Rev Anne Curnow.

The centre of any village is usually the pub and the shop, and Menheniot folk will tell you that both provide excellent facilities. The pub is the 17th century White Hart, where the mine hosts for four years have been Jon Thomas and Steve Buckley, and cellarman for the last 14 years is local man Keith Allen. The busy Spar Shop has been owned for 18 years by Gary Walters, treasurer of the village hall

The hairdressers close by has just been taken over by Wendy Woodman, who will soon be changing the name from Trudi's, to "Wendy's" .

One of the most outstanding things about Menheniot are its wonderful sporting facilities in the form of a brand new multi complex. Thanks mainly to the co-ordination of relative newcomer, Keith Goldsmith, who moved to Menheniot in 1982, more than £200,000 was secured from various sources in partnership, including £2,000 from the Parish Council and the same from the cricket club, and typical of the village's community spirit, pledged voluntary labour.

The complex includes the Clive Osborne Cricket Pavilion, opened in April 1998 by Sir Robert Hicks, the cricket ground, purchased from the Glebe Estate of the church, two tennis courts, facilities for basketball and hockey, and the all weather pitch, floodlit, for 5-a-side football. However, Keith says that although there are plenty of lads wanting to play they are still desperately in need of a team coach , and would like anyone who can help to come forward. The senior football club is doing well in the Duchy League and Menheniot's cricketers have always been legendary, producing excellent teams over many years. President is David Clue and young Michael Harrison, at only 14, has already toured South Africa with the Cornwall Under 13s.

Menheniot, which celebrated its 700th anniversary three years ago with a week of well planned events, also has a re-established Cherry Fayre, held during the annual carnival week, but week in and week out the villages pulses with many activities. Just a few, and there are sure to be some left out, are the WI, Scouts and Venture Scouts (yes, Jago Institute, they let in the girls), Cubs, Brownies, Guides, playgroup, ladies RBL, church groups, the Gardening Club with an annual local garden competition, the Pengover/Merrymeet horticultural show in the village hall, an intrepid band of thespians who entertain with excellent plays and pantos, and to make sure everything is kept in order, the Neighbourhood Watch, which formed in 1991 and has 40 street co-ordinators and over 300 members.