Posted 6th March 2010

Federation of Old Cornwall Societies – Local History Recorder Report Spring 2010

Post Box Survey

I would like to first report on the progress of the Post Box survey.  So far I have received contributions from 10 different societies, some have been from individual recorders or members, while others have been completed through collaboration between members.  One society recorder has recorded 111 post boxes in their area.   I have received contributions by post and email, and to date have photographs and recording sheets for about 350.  There is still time to get involved and record the post boxes in your area.  I hope to display all the material at the Summer Festival at Par, where you will be any to view the work.  I will give a full report on completion of the project.  

I would be interested to hear from any of you with suggestions for another project from the Summer Festival onwards.   Many public houses are closing due to the recession, some appear to close and re-open sometimes under a different name such as the one on Richmond Hill in Truro.  One suggestion would be to photograph and record all the public houses in your area (if your society has not already done so) and also possibly the pub signs.  Another project could be to record cast iron road and street furniture that is marked with local foundry marks.  I am open to suggestions; do you want another county wide project so soon after the post box survey?

Society Recorder Reports

Mr David Stark of St Austell OCS has been collecting a photographic report of developments in the area including an old printers premises at Polgooth, the newly constructed entrance to the hotel now named ‘The Cornwall’, a war time pill box at Spit beach at Par and a cottage being demolished at Holmbush.    Mr Stark also reports that a plaque erected on the remaining part of the former china clay cellars has been stolen and he is in contact with the owners Co-op about having a replacement provided.  This was once the site of a busy terminus of the St Austell and Pentewan Railway.  Mr Stark is also monitoring planning applications for his society and has recently responded to one relating to a development at Golphin Farm.

Mr Stark has also spent a great deal of time representing St Austell OCS in a project to product a St Austell Discovery Map and website.  The maps have been produced and freely distributed to encourage holidaymakers and residents alike to appreciate what St Austell and District has to offer (display map).

Mr Cedric Appleby for Penzance OCS reports on a recent historical survey of Penzance Harbour area by Nick Cahill, due to the proposed developments there.   He notes that the block on which the war memorial at Battery Rocks is built was also the block that the guns of the battery were mounted.  The south pier of the harbour built of granite has a history of extensions using the same material from medieval times and is listed Grade II.  Mr Appleby has enclosed copies of two photographs presented to Penzance OCS from their member Mrs Margaret Orchard, one shows an artist’s impression of the West Cornwall Dispensary & Infirmary c1874 by architect Oliver Caldwell and a second is a bronze sign dated 1897 which was removed from Penzance Promenade and has now been returned, albeit wrongly aligned.  It commemorated the opening of the new road to Newlyn, and takes the form of a direction marker pointing north.  Another piece of street furniture Mr Appleby records is an old granite trough that use to stand below the Humphry Davy statue, but was previously removed by the council.  It is now hoped that the trough will soon be returned.

Mrs Gillian Hocking of St Just and Pendeen OCS reports on a large list of gifts that they have received for your archives during 2009.  These include Oral History recordings, Videos of the Crying of the Neck and the closure of Land’s End Radio Station, photographs of the Midsummer Bonfire, as well as some essays and articles by Mrs and Dr Derrington.

Mr Brian Stevens of St Ives OCS reports on the many changes in St Ives due to having a more affluent society, he has taken photographs of the old Woolworths building, and re-photographed developments at Bahavella Farm, the properties had some years ago been in a ramshackle condition, but have recently been renovated for accommodation.  Photographs have also been taken of the recent flooding at Tregenna Place since the flood protection scheme has been completed!  Mr Stevens has also been collecting information on Delabole scantle slate roofing and has recorded water issuing into the harbour which was the overflow of a well where an Inn called the Pump and Sundial use to stand.  Mr Stevens is now waiting for the launch of Jonny Nance’s second Jumbo lugger rigged craft, these were unique to St Ives during the 1880-1920 period.

And finally the report of Mr Archie Richards of Madron OCS.  Mr Richards records a note about the proposed railway from Penzance to St Just that was never built. [ ed. note. A map of the proposed route of this railway can be seen at the Morrab Library in Morrab Gardens. Penzance.]  He records a boundary stone at Galvors inscribed with a Z on one face and a M on the other, marking the parish boundary between Zennor and Madron and also a boundary stone opposite the YMCA at Tredarvah Farm.  Mr Richards also noted that a plaque that once was fixed to Ennis Cottage at Sancreed, and is inscribed,  George Grenfell – Born here 1849 Missionary and Explorer’ had been removed due to rotten fixings.  The cottage is up for sale and it is hoped that the sign will be saved. [ ed. note. You can read his life story by clicking here  A number of stiles had also been recorded at Parc-an-Grouse, Trereife (Treeve) and Tregavarah.

Andrew G. Langdon, Local History Recorder

 "Cuntelleugh an brewyon us gesys na vo kellys travyth"

        (Gather up the fragments that are left that nothing be lost.)

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