Overview

Amalebra is a small rural settlement in west Cornwall, in England and the United Kingdom. It is commonly described as a hamlet rather than a village because it consists of a small group of dwellings without a large commercial centre or its own parish church. The settlement lies about three miles (approximately five kilometres) south‑west of St Ives, a well-known coastal town, and is shown on Ordnance Survey maps at grid reference SW 495 365.

Name and origins

The place-name is recorded in Cornish as Amal a‑Bri, which is commonly explained as meaning "from the clay of the river Amal". Such names reflect the close connection between landscape features and settlement identity in Cornwall: rivers, soils and small natural landmarks often gave rise to local placenames. Amalebra lies within the civil parish of Towednack, and its population figures were included with that parish in the 2011 census.

Character and setting

Amalebra typifies a Cornish hamlet: a scattering of stone cottages and farm buildings set among small fields and lanes. The surrounding countryside is a mix of pastoral land and scrubland leading toward the coastal slopes that characterise this part of west Cornwall. Proximity to St Ives means residents can access seaside amenities and tourism-related services while living in a quieter inland setting.

Local administration and maps

Administratively, Amalebra falls under the civil parish of Towednack and the unitary authority of Cornwall. Its appearance on national mapping products makes it straightforward to locate using the British national grid system; for general guidance on grid references see material linked at SW 495 365. The settlement does not have its own parish council separate from Towednack.

Notable facts and context

  • Settlement type: small hamlet with agricultural roots (hamlet).
  • Nearby urban centre: St Ives, approximately three miles away.
  • Traditional language link: Cornish name Amal a‑Bri.
  • Mapping reference: SW 495 365.

For further local information and historical context, consult local parish records or county-level guides to Cornwall and its settlements, and mapping resources linked above. These sources provide the best starting point for understanding Amalebra's place in the landscape and community structure of west Cornwall.

See also regional material on Cornwall and rural settlement patterns for broader context: England, United Kingdom.