Ladock

Ladock is a rural parish in central Cornwall, roughly equidistant between Truro and St Austell. The village sits in a gentle valley with its parish church of St Ladoca positioned on a hill above - a local landmark visible across the surrounding farmland. The church takes its name from a fifth-century Celtic saint said to have lived at nearby Fentonladock, and a quarter of a mile below the churchyard you can still find her restored holy well.

The present church dates largely from the late 15th and early 16th centuries, though traces of a Norman building survive on the north side. A major restoration in 1864 by architect George Edmund Street brought one of Cornwall’s finest artistic additions - an east window by William Morris, with further stained glass by Morris and Edward Burne-Jones. The carved bench ends and wagon roof are worth a closer look for anyone interested in church architecture.

Beyond the church, Ladock is a working agricultural parish with a quiet, unhurried character. The village sits within easy reach of both the north and south coasts, with Perranporth’s surf beach and the sheltered Roseland beaches each around a 20-minute drive. Truro, Cornwall’s only city, is roughly 6 miles to the southwest, making Ladock a practical base for exploring mid-Cornwall without the crowds of the coastal towns.