Welcome to the official website for St Allen Parish Council
St Allen is a rural parish in Cornwall, lying between Truro to the south and Perranporth to the northwest. The main settlement is the village of Zelah. Zelah once had two public houses, one the Half Moon Inn that was demolished in the early 19th century and the Hawkins Arms named after the Elizabethan adventurer Sir Richard Hawkins, who fought against the Spanish Armada. Today the main A30 trunk road bypasses the village.
In the 13th and 14th centuries St Allen belonged to the bishops of Exeter, taxed and administered by the major centre of ecclesiastical power at Glasney College, Penryn. The College was dissolved by Henry VIII and the property sold off.
In the 19th century the parish provided for miners working at East Wheal Rose mine, which lies in the adjacent parish of St Newlyn East. The primary ore extracted was Galena (lead), with commercial amounts of silver and zinc. In July 1846 the mine flooded during a heavy thunderstorm, drowning 39 miners.
The church of St Allen is thought to have been constructed in the mid 13th century, with enlargement in the 15th century. It is dedicated to St Alunus, possibly a Breton bishop. The tower is believed to be 13th century. There were also several nonconformist chapels in the parish.
Today the parish is mainly agricultural, with wooded valleys and some forestry, and with development of solar farms.
NEIGHBOURHOOD PRIORITY STATEMENT
The Parish Council is looking for volunteers to join the Steering Group. Please contact the Clerk for further information.
