Shared description
Menacuddle and St Austell River
To the west of the B3274 (Bodmin Road) as it runs northwards out of St Austell is an area of landscaped gardens around the ancient Holy Well of Menacuddle.
The little building known as the baptistry dates from the C15th and is built over the ancient Holy Well which is now in a sunken trough against the eastern wall of its interior.
The baptistry is EH Grade II* listed - see Link
It is set in ornamental gardens which were laid out by Charles Rashleigh (the founder of nearby Charlestown) in the late C18th. Also within these grounds is an ancient "chair" carved from granite and variously known as the "Druid's Chair" or "King Arthur's Seat". Its origin and age are unknown.
The St Austell river flows from north to south through these gardens and is a milky white colour caused by kaolin washed out from the China Clay workings to the north of the town. It is often and historically known as the White River for this reason. However at one time it was also known as the Red River due to washouts from the tin mining that used to be common in the area.
See also Megalithic Portal: Link
The derivation of the placename "Menacuddle" is not agreed upon - the following is from the information board at the site:
"Many historians have attempted to pin down the meaning of the place-name 'Menacuddle'.
A.L.Rowse (1903-97) for instance proposed a link to the Cornish for stone (maen) and suggested it meant 'the stone or rock wall'. However a French history of Breton saints makes an intriguing link between saints Méen and Austole, both of whom were said to have travelled from Wales, through Cornwall to Brittany. It seems beyond coincidence that these names should have become attached to neighbouring parishes in Cornwall. St Méen was a renowned healer so it seems entirely appropriate that he should be commemorated in the name of a healing well to the north of St Austell.
'Menacuddle' according to the 1902 Journal of the Royal Institution of Cornwall combines Méen and 'Cuddigle' to signify the cell or retreat of Méen."
Wikipedia on the other hand rejects the saint hypothesis, though referring to an entirely different (non-existent) saint, viz:
"Its name is recorded as Menequidel in 1251 and Menedcudel in 1284 and comes from the Old Cornish 'mened' and 'cuydel' and it means hillside with a small wood. The name does not include a saint's name, and there was no St Guidel. The site has also been known as Pinni-menny."
So you can form your own opinion on the matter!
The little building known as the baptistry dates from the C15th and is built over the ancient Holy Well which is now in a sunken trough against the eastern wall of its interior.
The baptistry is EH Grade II* listed - see Link
It is set in ornamental gardens which were laid out by Charles Rashleigh (the founder of nearby Charlestown) in the late C18th. Also within these grounds is an ancient "chair" carved from granite and variously known as the "Druid's Chair" or "King Arthur's Seat". Its origin and age are unknown.
The St Austell river flows from north to south through these gardens and is a milky white colour caused by kaolin washed out from the China Clay workings to the north of the town. It is often and historically known as the White River for this reason. However at one time it was also known as the Red River due to washouts from the tin mining that used to be common in the area.
See also Megalithic Portal: Link
The derivation of the placename "Menacuddle" is not agreed upon - the following is from the information board at the site:
"Many historians have attempted to pin down the meaning of the place-name 'Menacuddle'.
A.L.Rowse (1903-97) for instance proposed a link to the Cornish for stone (maen) and suggested it meant 'the stone or rock wall'. However a French history of Breton saints makes an intriguing link between saints Méen and Austole, both of whom were said to have travelled from Wales, through Cornwall to Brittany. It seems beyond coincidence that these names should have become attached to neighbouring parishes in Cornwall. St Méen was a renowned healer so it seems entirely appropriate that he should be commemorated in the name of a healing well to the north of St Austell.
'Menacuddle' according to the 1902 Journal of the Royal Institution of Cornwall combines Méen and 'Cuddigle' to signify the cell or retreat of Méen."
Wikipedia on the other hand rejects the saint hypothesis, though referring to an entirely different (non-existent) saint, viz:
"Its name is recorded as Menequidel in 1251 and Menedcudel in 1284 and comes from the Old Cornish 'mened' and 'cuydel' and it means hillside with a small wood. The name does not include a saint's name, and there was no St Guidel. The site has also been known as Pinni-menny."
So you can form your own opinion on the matter!
by Rob Farrow
Created: Mon, 5 Jan 2026, Updated: Thu, 8 Jan 2026
11 images use this description: (all images taken in 2026)
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