COLUMB-MAJOR (ST.), a market-town and parish
in the hundred of PYDER, county of CORNWALL, 32
miles (S. W. byW.) from Launceston, and 245 (W. byS.)
from London, containing 2493 inhabitants. This place
takes its name from ah ancient church erected by the
founder of Bodmin priory, and dedicated to St. Columba,
and its adjunct, to distinguish it from a smaller town of
that name in the same hundred. The town is situated on
the summit of an eminence which is supposed to have
been occupied as a Danish fortification, and is surrounded
by extensive tracts of fine meadow land: the houses
are in general well built, the streets are roughly paved,
but not lighted, and the inhabitants are well supplied
with water. The market, granted to Sir John Arundel in
1333, by Edward III., is on Thursday, for corn and provisions;
there is also a market for butchers' meat only, on
Saturday: the market-house is an ancient building in
the principal street. The fairs are on the Thursday
after Mid-Lent Sunday, for cattle and sheep, and on the
Thursday after November 13thy for sheep only. It is in
contemplation to construct a canal from Mawgan Forth
to this place, the expense of -which is estimated at £7000.
The county magistrates hold a petty session for the hundred
once a month. The living is a rectory, in the
archdeaconry of Cornwall, and diocese of Exeter, rated
in the king's books at £53. 6.8., and in the patronage
of Walker, Esq. The church, dedicated to St.
Colmnba, is an ancient and venerable structure, with a
lofty square embattled tower crowned with pinnacles;
within are several interesting monuments. There are
places of worship for Independents and Wesleyan Methodists.
In 1628, James Jenkins, Esq. gave by will
£200, which has been invested in the purchase of land,
producing £25.5. per annum, for distribution among the
poor. About two miles to the south-east of the town is a
large elliptical encampment, called Castle an Dinas, defended
by a double vallum, and having only one entrance;
the longer diameter of the inner area is one thousand
seven hundred feet, and the shorter one thousand five
hundred j within it are two tumuli, one of which is
surrounded by a small ditch: it is supposed to have
been erected by the Danes, and to have been the residence
of one of their chiefs.