Head of John the Baptist - Penzance SW474300

Head of John the Baptist above a doorway in Penzance. The name Penzance (Pensans) means 'holy head' and this refers to the area around the harbour where the first church was established and around which the town grew. However, this name was also referred to in the town's old symbol - The severed head of John the Baptist.

The symbol has now largely been dropped although it does appear in certain ceremonial regalia and there are still a few (such as this one) dotted around the town.

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