NOTES ON THE EXCURSION OF 1885. 

 By Rev. W. S. LACH-SZTRMA. 



I esteem it a great favour that during the year of my 

 presidency of our Penzance Natural History and Antiquarian 

 Society, I have been permitted to assist in conducting the Roj^^al 

 Institution of Cornwall over some of our antiquarian curiosities 

 of Penwith. In answer to the Secretary's suggestion, I venture 

 to put down a few thoughts in addition to those which it was 

 my privilege to read to your society on the spot. 



Our visit was well timed, for fortunately only a few days 

 before the interesting granite menhir at Q-ulval had been dis- 

 covered. This menhir, built into the church-wall, was probably 

 once crowned with a cross. The pattern carved on it, as I men- 

 tioned, appeared like one common in Roman Villas, and may 

 mark one of the many signs we have of the survival of Roman 

 influence in the Romano-British period of Cornish History.* 



The church of Gulval itself is more interesting than 

 generally appears. It is one of the oldest mediaeval parish 

 churches in Penwith, and some of the walling is believed by 

 competent authorities to be very ancient. The following notes on 

 the probable history of S. Gudowal or Gulval I gave at the spot. 



The origin of the name Gulval is obscure. It is usually 

 associated with S. Gudowal or Gurval, a bishop of the sixth 

 century : he was bishop of S. Malo. There are grave doubts 

 about his biography, which is supposed to be fictitious. His 

 festival is on June 6th, and Gulval feast is on November 1 2th. 

 Has not his supposed connection with Gulval been an after- 

 thought. He does not seem to be the real S. Gulval. 



* The inscription is very obscure. It was at first thought to be la, but 

 recent investigation leads one to think it may be Unui. 



