Veryan was originally mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 as the manor of Elerchi (now Elerkey in street names etc.),
which was derived from 'elerch', the Cornish for 'swan'.
The origin of the name is by corruption of "Symphorian" to "Severian" and then "Saint Veryan".
The church is one of the few in west Cornwall for which there is no evidence of its existence before the Norman Conquest.
The church was given by the lord of the manor of Elerky to the monks of Montacute in Somerset, c. 1110, but a later lord, John de Montacute, gave it to the Dean and Chapter of Exeter, ca.
1220, and they held it until 1859.
The parish church of St Symphorian has an unusual plan with a tower south of the south transept and a north aisle.
Parts of the church are Norman and others Decorated in style.

Melinsey Mill is situated within Veryan.
The mill itself was built in 1565 and now the site stands as a tourist attraction which serves food.

In the 19th century Veryan's vicar and local land owner Jeremiah Trist expanded the village's buildings.
He convinced parishioners to attend church on a regular basis, and built two schools and a series of round houses.
The school for boys was built in 1814 and is on the site of the present infant and junior school.
A "school of industry" for girls was also built, now a thatched house behind the New Inn.
The round houses were built between 1815 and 1818 by Trist, inspired by one in St Winnow.
There is a pair at the entrance to the village at Veryan Green and another two at village entrance on the Pendower road.
All four are thatched, while a fifth behind the school has a slate roof.
Trist installed crosses on each of the houses and they were said to deter the devil from entering the village.
The large house, Parc Behan, overlooking the church was also built by Trist as his dwelling: the vicarage was too small and in a bad state of repair.
Veryan was originally mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 as the manor of Elerchi (now Elerkey in street names etc.), which was derived from 'elerch', the Cornish for 'swan'. The origin of the name is by corruption of "Symphorian" to "Severian" and then "Saint Veryan". The church is one of the few in west Cornwall for which there is no evidence of its existence before the Norman Conquest. The church was given by the lord of the manor of Elerky to the monks of Montacute in Somerset, c. 1110, but a later lord, John de Montacute, gave it to the Dean and Chapter of Exeter, ca. 1220, and they held it until 1859. The parish church of St Symphorian has an unusual plan with a tower south of the south transept and a north aisle. Parts of the church are Norman and others Decorated in style.
Melinsey Mill is situated within Veryan. The mill itself was built in 1565 and now the site stands as a tourist attraction which serves food.
In the 19th century Veryan's vicar and local land owner Jeremiah Trist expanded the village's buildings. He convinced parishioners to attend church on a regular basis, and built two schools and a series of round houses. The school for boys was built in 1814 and is on the site of the present infant and junior school. A "school of industry" for girls was also built, now a thatched house behind the New Inn. The round houses were built between 1815 and 1818 by Trist, inspired by one in St Winnow. There is a pair at the entrance to the village at Veryan Green and another two at village entrance on the Pendower road. All four are thatched, while a fifth behind the school has a slate roof. Trist installed crosses on each of the houses and they were said to deter the devil from entering the village. The large house, Parc Behan, overlooking the church was also built by Trist as his dwelling: the vicarage was too small and in a bad state of repair.
Veryan