Cornwall is a ceremonial county of England, located in a peninsula bordered by the Celtic Sea, the English Channel, and the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. It has a population of 536,000, its administrative centre, and only city in Cornwall, being Truro, although the town of St Austell has the largest population. The Duchy of Cornwall is one of two royal duchies in England, the other being the Duchy of Lancaster. The eldest son of the reigning British monarch inherits possession of the duchy and title of Duke of Cornwall. The current duke is Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales.
This area was first inhabited in the Palaeolithic, and continued to be occupied by Neolithic and then Bronze Age peoples, and later (in the Iron Age) by Brythons with distinctive cultural relations to neighbouring Wales and Brittany. There is little evidence that Roman rule was effective west of Exeter. Cornwall was the home of a division of the Dumnonii tribe - whose tribal centre was in the modern county of Devon - known as the Cornovii, separated from the Brythons of Wales after the Battle of Deorham. From the early Middle Ages, British language and culture was apparently shared by Brythons trading across both sides of the Channel.
Cornwall is the traditional homeland of the Cornish people and is recognised as one of the Celtic nations, retaining a distinct cultural identity that reflects its history. Some people question the present constitutional status of Cornwall, and a nationalist movement seeks greater autonomy within the United Kingdom in the form of a devolved legislative assembly. Saint Piran's Flag (a white cross on a black background) is regarded by many as the national flag of Cornwall, and its motto is One and all (Cornish: Onen hag oll). Fifteen bezants (five, four, three, two, one) on a black shield are present on many cornish coats of arms.
Historically tin mining was important in the Cornish economy, with a peak during the 19th century when rich copper mines were also in production. Subsequently china clay extraction became more important and metal mining had virtually ended by the 1990s. Fishing and agriculture were the other important sectors of the economy. After the decline of the mining and fishing industries things did not go too well, such that today Cornwall is one of the poorest parts of the United Kingdom. The area is noted for its wild moorland landscapes, its long and varied coastline, its attractive villages, its many place-names derived from the Cornish language, and its very mild climate.
About the stamp
The stamp is part of the definitive series about which I wrote here.
References
Cornwall - Wikipedia
Sender: Mallory
Sent from ??? (Cornwall / United Kingdom), on ??.02.2014
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