While the history of mankind on the European peninsula has lasted for some seven or eight hundred thousand years, resettlement of the British isles resumed during the height of the Ice Age, c. 10,000 BC.

      Because it has been sparsely populated in modern times, Cornwall retains a huge amount of traces of early prehistoric sites, such as the famous Lanyon Quoit, built following the so-called 'Neolithic Revolution' that began in 8000 BC and resulted most notably in sites such as Stonehenge and Avebury from 3000 to 2000 BC.

      As with most of the British Isles, Cornwall was populated by the ethnic group(s) which have since become known as the Celts.

      Although populated during Roman times, Roman influence in the peninsula was not as extensive west of Exeter (Isca) as through the rest of the south coast. The difficulties of reaching Cornwall, other than by sea, was also important to the survival of Celtic culture following the spread of the Angles and Saxons.

      The kingdom of Dumnonia (and its sub-canton, Cornubia) was eventually overrun by the Saxons of Wessex but, as in Wales, the slow procession westward meant that Cornwall long remained distinct from the rest of England.

      As English influence spread little by little throughout the so-called 'Dark Ages', following the departure of the Romans, so the Celtic Church experienced a renaissance which has since been referred to as the 'Age of Saints'.

     An inter-Celtic culture was fostered by migrant missionaries from Ireland in particular, who settled in Cornwall as well as in Scotland, Man and elsewhere throughout the British Isles.

      The Battle of Durham Down (near Bristol) in 577 separated the Celts of Wales from those of the South West, and in 936 Athelstan established the river Tamar as the boundary between the Celts and Saxons, which became the boundary of modern day Cornwall.

      Before the invasion of William the Conqueror in 1066, Cornwall lost its status as an independent see in 1050. Following the Norman invasion, Cornwall became an Earldom and then a Duchy, with the diocese governed by the bishops of Exeter.

      The Duchy created a status of semi-independence, and operated a system of tenancy quite different to that of the rest of England - with rents at market rates rather than bonded tenure.

      Prince Arthur, son of Henry VII and Duke of Cornwall attempted to enforce strict rules over the tin mines of Cornwall, which led to full rebellion in 1497, following which the rights of tinners were extended and enhanced.