Goonhavern ()Place-names in the Standard Written Form (SWF) : List of place-names agreed by the MAGA Signage Panel . Cornish Language Partnership. is a village in Cornwall, England, in the civil parish of Perranzabuloe. It is located along the A3075 road, about two miles east of Perranporth.Ordnance Survey: Landranger map sheet 200 Newquay & Bodmin
As well as a village store and post office, a garden centre and several campsites, there is a public house named 'The New Inn' in the centre of the village. Until recently, a model village was a visitor attraction beside the B3285 southeast of Goonhavern.Ordnance Survey: Explorer map sheet 104 Redruth & St Agnes A traditional village show is held in the community hall in July, with prizes awarded for the local produce, flower arrangements, art, craft and photography.
The name Goonhavern comes from the Cornish words goon, meaning 'downs', and havar, meaning 'summer fallow land'.Akademi Kernewek place names - Goonhavar
History
A railway branch-line to Perranporth and St Agnes ran through Goonhavern from 1905 but the line was closed as part of the Beeching cuts and today there is little sign of its route through the village centre.
On 12 July 1940, during the Battle of Britain, three bombs were dropped on Rosehill Farm near Goonhavern, killing a bullock.
Cornish wrestling Goonhavern has hosted Cornish wrestling tournaments for prizes in venues such as the field by the New Inn.The Royal Cornwall Gazette, Falmouth Packet, and General Advertiser, 18 October 1878, p1.
John Collings (1783-1869) from St Minver was a celebrated wrestler in his early life.Death of a Cornish wrestler, Cornubian and Redruth Times, 17 December 1869, p4.Death of a wrestler, Western Times - Tuesday 21 December 1869, p. 6. He also had a famous wrestling brother called Thomas.Death of a Cornish wrestler, Royal Cornwall Gazette, 18 December 1869, p5. He lived at Porteath.1841 Census: Transcript of Piece HO107/152 (Part 5): Book 12 Folio 10, p. 12.
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