Cornish Mining World Heritage Site

myCornwall
Rag pubonan a gar Kernow
for everyone who loves Cornwall
Vol.2 Issue 8 October/November 2011 £2.95
the
Rise and fall
of empires
CORNISH
MINING
issue
How our mining changed
the world
setting the scene
45 local movie locations
going
underground
Digging for a living
plus
George Eustice
Cornish Knockers
John Piper
Polgoon Vineyard
Miracle Theatre
100
ways to enjoy
Autumn
• Cornish World • Art • Outdoors •
Food & Drink
• Events
myCornwall magazine
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Mark Pugh
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For everyone who loves Cornwall
Foreword
This edition of myCornwall magazine has been
produced in association with the Cornish Mining
World Heritage Site team. If you take a look through
the pages you’ll find a wealth of fascinating features
about Cornwall’s industrial heritage plus many of our
more familiar sections.
I’m sure you’ll enjoy the result.
.Mark Pugh
Editor
myCornwall magazine
The myCornwall
Pugh, Sean Brk team emerges: Mark
ov
Clint from Geev ic, Bill Oakley with
or mine.
Dear Readers,
The Cornish Mining World Heritage team is delighted to be working with MyCornwall as part
of our ‘Discover the Extraordinary’ project, funded by the Rural Development Programme for
England (RDPE).
To date over £1million has been invested in enhancing the visitor experience in the World
Heritage Site and the project has enabled eleven Cornish Mining WHS partner attractions to
benefit from substantial improvements to their visitor facilities and public presentation. With the
public presentation of the WHS now enhanced and updated, the next phase of the programme
can begin – marketing the WHS to tourism businesses and out of region markets.
Without any doubt, Cornwall is special. It possesses a distinctive landscape and culture forged
by elemental forces and the passage of time, which have left a beautiful, rugged coastline and
an interior comprising a magnificent patchwork of moors, hidden valleys and fertile pastures.
The Cornish Mining World Heritage Site is comprised of ten areas across Cornwall and
reaching into west Devon - the largest WHS in mainland UK. These are living landscapes, that
have been further shaped by the actions of men and women over centuries.
To understand the sense of place in these areas, you need to visit; to look deep into their
heart, reach back through time itself and unearth the stories of a people whose mining culture
shaped the world.
We hope that this special edition will give you a taste of the extraordinary and compelling
story that warranted its designation as a World Heritage Site. Each of the areas have their
own chapter to tell in a truly compelling story. A story that starts on our doorstep yet ultimately
reaches around the world, to South Australia, Mexico, North America and South Africa, as
generations of miners exported their labour, expertise and culture around the globe.
To ‘Discover the Extraordinary’ story that Cornish Mining played in shaping the Cornwall and
West Devon of today, you can explore the sheltered wooded valleys of the Tamar or Luxulyan,
or the windswept moorland of the Caradon Mining District on Bodmin Moor.
Investigate the former industrial ports of Charlestown, Hayle and Portreath - testimony
to the global trading links forged by the mining industry - and Redruth and Camborne, the
world capital of Cornish Mining, home of the Robinson shaft and the soon-to-be-completed
Heartlands Project.
Drink in the special atmosphere of Gwennap Pit, where John Wesley led services, and the
Wendron Mining District, before hitting the Tregonning and Gwinear area, where China Clay
was first discovered. And don’t miss the iconic cliff top mines of St Just, that hug the dramatic
Atlantic coastline, but stretch far out under the sea.
Go on…Discover the Extraordinary story and legacy of Cornish Mining.
Content contained in myCornwall
magazine is copyright of the magazine
The Cornish Mining World Heritage Site team
Supporting Pentreath
Media Intern Programme
myCornwall provides work placements
for clients of Pentreath, a charity which
helps people recovering from mental ill
health. To find out more, please contact
Pentreath on 01726 862727
myCornwall supports schools in Cornwall through
the myCornwall work experience programme.
To find out more about our programme please
contact Morag at [email protected]
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myCornwall magazine
Contents
6 News
Catch up with the latest goings-on in Cornwall News
11 COMPETITION
Win a stay in a great B&B
11 myCornwall.tv
From Wasson to learning the Cornish language.
12 Letters
Your views on current issues
14 Cornwall in focus
Out &
An essential moment captured by the lens
About
17 Things to do this month
Why not enjoy the Mineral Tramways and more...
18 The Issue
Two opinions on one subject
20 Overground, underground
Learn about what it was like to be miner,
and what you’ll experience as a mine visitor
26 Cornwall Mining World Heritage Site
Where they are and what they have to offer
28 Camborne and Redruth
A story of two old rivals
44
32 On Location
Cornwall in the movies
36 The Film Festival
What’s on and where
38 Seasonal Shopper
Fantastic products on display
41 Shopper Extra
Highlighting some of Cornwall’s best businesses
42 myCornwall Loves
The late Randle Hurley
44 What mining means to...
Cornwall’s soul exposed
Cornish World
48 What’s Cornwall done for us?
Read about the amazing inventions and people
49 Mysterious Cornwall
The Knockers
50 Unseen Cornwall
The mining landscape - then and now
54 Local Heroes
John Wesley and the Preaching Pits
58 The Story of Tin
A theatre’s new project explained
60 Great families of Cornwall
The Williams family
65 Cornish Surnames
The origins of ‘Combellack’
66 All Around the World
An update on the Cornish worldwide
68 Kernewek
Learn Cornish - Lesson Eleven
70 myCornish World
Ralph Thomas - Australia
Ar t
73 Art News
A look at some of the best exhibitions around
75 Pure Cornish
Garstin Cox
76 John Piper
Inspired by landscape
78 Craft
Glass maker Naomi Singer
81 Theatre and Performance
Those ‘Must See’ performances
Food & Drink
83 Bites
Cider and Saffron Cake - Yummy!
84 Fork to Fork
Among the grapevines with Polgoon
87 myCornwall reviews
The Royal Duchy Hotel, Falmouth
Outdoors
78
89 The Forager
Edible delights from the wild
90 Tregenna Walks
Exploring the 72 acre site
91 Cornish Gardener
Advice on gardens to visit
92 Trust the Trust
The National Trust does more
than save country homes
94 Wheal Martyn
Clay country exposed
98 Eden’s Ideas
Events
102 Reviews
The best books, music and events
106 Wasson
Your essential events guide
114 The End Column
Simon Reed covers out for harvest traditions
Social Media
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become a Facebook friend at www.facebook.com/propercornwall
We now have more than 3,500 friends, so you won’t be alone...
Over
Under
L
iving in Camborne I have always been aware of this small town’s mining legacy and
have often wondered how different the streets would have been in their thriving,
industrial heyday. My appreciation for Cornish mining and it’s impact on the world
was limited, going no further than the empty engine houses which dot the hills and frequent
the horizon. How, what or why the thousands of Cornish men and women risked their lives
remained a mystery, and I was yet to discover a 5000 year-old story full of drama, danger,
bust and boom. I could have guessed that going down thousands of feet underground would have involved
a great deal of danger, but some things really need to be seen to be believed. The Victory
Shaft at Geevor Tin Mine descends vertically before shooting out underneath the sea bed
at a near unimaginable depth of 2,100 feet. Men working there often reported hearing
boulders rolling around above them and, in what is now the main museum building, you
can see images of divers attempting to fix a breach.
myCornwall’s Bill Oakley explores Wheale
Mexico
Glossary of Mining Terms
Beam Engine
A steam powered engine used to
power water pumps, winding gear and
jaw crushers.
Engine House
A building designed to contain steam,
gas, oil or electric engines on a mine.
Lode
A linear zone of mineralization
underground, referred to as a vein, rake
or seam in other parts of Britain.
Ore
A mineral or mixture of minerals which
could be worked for sale.
Stamp
A mechanical device for crushing orebearing rock to a fine pulp.
Stoping
The removal of the wanted ore from an
underground mine leaving behind an
open space known as a stope.
Wheal
A Cornish mine.
The shaft reaching out under the seabed is one of hundreds lying under my feet at the site,
all ingeniously illustrated by a 3D model on show in the museum that depicts every tunnel,
at every angle, running down to formidable depths as they follow the lodes (seam) of tin.
The model is a marvellous demonstration of the extent to which the area was mined and I
can only imagine the ground beneath my feet to be a labyrinthine maze, turning the land
into something like a Swiss cheese. This is my introduction to an unseen world and it is as
fascinating as it is baffling.
I am also astonished to discover that for every one ton of ore excavated, only two percent
of tin would have been gained. To extract this relatively minuscule amount you need force.
At King Edward Mine, originally a training school for miners, this came from the formidable
Californian Stamps that, fully operational, can still crush the ore into a fine dust. This is
then mixed with water and poured across shaking tables to exploit tin’s heavier properties.
Lighter waste drifts away and seeing this canny method at work is another marvel which
would have remained a mystery, were it not for working machinery that you can hear, smell
and touch.
Similarly tactile experiences can also been found at Geevor. Supplied with your own hard
hat, the site is set up to let you explore in your own time. Detailed and informative guides
are available, but you are by and large left to wander around on your own where it seems
at every corner there is something to spark your interest. I am genuinely astonished at how
much there is to see and do.
The Hard Rock Museum begins by charting the formation of the surrounding landscape of
St Just, explaining how valuable mineral deposits came to be. In the life-size example of
‘stoping’ you can hear a deafening demonstration of a mine at work and I have it on good
authority that this was around the same volume as The Who at Woodstock! A final feature
which really struck me as significant were the few examples of tin and its many uses –
from solder in microchips to the ubiquitous food can. These familiar objects may seem
far removed from a one thousand foot hole in the ground, but they serve as an important
reminder of what caused men to risk their lives, and why Cornwall became such a driving
force in the Industrial Revolution.
• Continues in the magazine
For more information please visit www.cornishmining.org.uk/mycornwall
Top: Compressor drills would have needed constant sharpening by
Geevor’s resident blacksmith. Middle right: Docket forms still hang as if
left yesterday.
Bottom left: The Compressor House demonstrates how miners would
have followed the tin lode. Bottom right: Conveyer belts carry ore in one
of many processes to extract the valuable tin within
All photography by Sean Brkovic
Out & About
CornWall
& West Devon
Mining Districts
and attractions
Yn-mes hag a-dro
Tamar Valley & Tavistock
Caradon Mining District
Luxulyan Valley & Charlestown
St Agnes Mining District
Gwennap, Kennall Vale and Perran Foundry
Camborne & Redruth Mining District
Wendron Mining District
Port of Hayle
Tregonning and Trewavas Mining District
•
St Just Mining District
Continues in the magazine
One World Heritage Site - Ten Areas
St Just – Mining District
Botallack Count House
Built during the 1860s at the height of
the mining boom, the Count House
stands near the Crowns Mine. It’s
where the miners collected their pay.
New: WHS Audio Trail.
Geevor Tin Mine
Located between St Ives and Land’s
End, the mine is one of the largest
preserved mine sites in Britain.
Geevor’s collections and guides bring
the story of Cornwall’s rich industrial
past to life. New: Extension of the
underground tour and a new WHS
exhibition and audio trail.
Levant
On its dramatic clifftop, the surviving
buildings and ruins offer a window onto
another world where men and women
toiled to extract the riches of the earth
from beneath the crashing waves.
Discover the extraordinary story of how mining changed Cornwall’s
landscape and people forever. Listed here are many of the
attractions within the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site.
Wendron
Poldark Mine
Provides a fascinating view of tin mining and the Cornish overseas. A real 18th century
tin mine and Heritage Museum. New: Museum redisplay and a Cornish Miners overseas
exhibition, a new audio visual facility and improvements to public areas, restoration to a
winding engine, refurbishment of the beam engine, improvements to the underground
experience.
Hayle Mining District
Luxulyan & Charlestown
Hayle
Taking its name from heyl, the Cornish
word for estuary, the town’s proximity
to the mining centres of Redruth and
Camborne made this town one of the
most important mining ports and steam
engine manufacturing centres in the
world.
Wheal Martyn
Set in 26 acres of woodland walks,
nestled in the historic Ruddle Valley
within two former clay works, Wheal
Martyn gives a fascinating insight into
Cornwall’s important billion pound
china clay mining industry.
New: Interpretation and displays.
St Erth and Hayle Foundry Walk
Visitors can park by the church adjacent
to the bridge over the River Hayle at St
Erth.
Follow the path to the river and continue
along the riverside path to the RSPB
Sanctuary at Ryan’s Field. A beautiful
walk that is well worth a visit.
For more information please visit www.cornishmining.org.uk/mycornwall
Yn-mes hag a-dro
The Capitals of
Cornish mining
Bob Richards explores the rich history of Redruth and Camborne,
the two old rivals at the heart of Cornwall’s mining country.
The Story
of Cornwall
The Cornish Studies
Library is home to the
Tregellis Tapestries, 58
embroided panels telling
the story of Cornwall
Camborne:
“The town has of late years started into much consideration and being situated at the heart of the
mining district, its population and trade may be expected to increase in proportion to the prosperity
of the mines and the current value of their treasures. As a growing rival to Redruth it is already
become a post and market town. Its market, which is considerable, was established in 1802. Its
commodious market house was erected at the expense of Lord de Dunstanville. It has four fairs for
cattle which are held in the Churchtown on March 7th, Whitsun Tuesday, June 29th and the second
Tuesday in November.”
Redruth:
“This respectable market town is very populous, lies in a bleak and exposed situation and
consists principally of one long street, commencing from the eastward from a steep eminence.
It has nothing remarkable but its antiquity from its ancient name Dre-druth, or the Druid’s town.
It is supposed to have existed before the kingdom was divided into parishes, some old writings
having this expression: “in the parish of Uny juxta Dre-Druth.” The town however derives its whole
importance from its centrical situation with respect to the mines, the working of which has increased
the population of Redruth more than sixfold in the last century. The market has much declined within
thirty years owing to markets being established at St. Day and Camborne.”
Both of these descriptions are taken from the publication: “The Circle, or HistoricalSurvey of Sixty
Parishes and Towns in Cornwall” by William Penaluna who lived from 1780 to 1864 and wrote this
work in 1819.
Penaluna himself was a Helston man, so had no real axe to grind over either town. He is well worthy
of note however, for his interesting life saw him as an entrepreneurial businessman participating at
the very dawning of the Cornish newspaper industry around 1800. He was declared bankrupt in
1817, bounced back and is described in Kelly’s Directory of 1856 as a bookbinder, stationer, printer
and publisher. To add to all of this he was married to a rather mysterious widow of possible Irish
origins.
• Continues in the magazine
Camborne Parish Church and Market House 1910
Fore Street, Redruth c1910
For more information please visit www.cornishmining.org.uk/mycornwall
Yn-mes hag a-dro
On Location
Pete London explores the history of film making in Cornwall
The 18th century property Antony House near Torpoint, was used as a set for Alice in Wonderland.
Out & About
From the age of silent movies to today’s block-busters, Cornwall has proved
a perfect place for film locations; its scenery, traditional buildings and unspoiled
harbours have all provided distinctive cinematic settings. The earliest motion picture
featuring the Duchy was probably The Wreck of the SS Paris, an 1899 documentary
which included scenes of the Lizard’s Manacle Point, but the film industry really
began to embrace Cornwall at the end of the 1920s.
In 1929 The Woman He Scorned was shot partly in St Ives and Mevagissey, a classic
love triangle with a tragic end featuring one of the silent screen’s most popular
stars, Polish actress Pola Negri. Providing a glimpse of attitudes past, the Western
Morning News reported disruption of shooting on the Sabbath by Mevagissey’s
irate church-goers. That year too Alfred Hitchcock filmed his final silent movie The
Manxman, mostly at Polperro and in north Cornwall although as its title suggests, the
story supposedly concerned a small fishing community on the Isle of Man.
One of the earliest talkies to use footage of the Duchy was Hammer’s 1935 Marie
Celeste with Bela Lugosi, in which Falmouth’s waterfront appeared. Four years
later London Films’ The Thief of Baghdad, an exotic fantasy produced by Alexander
Korda, featured a mechanical flying horse, an all-seeing magic jewel and a huge
djinn, together with some beautiful settings: Sennen Cove, Gunwalloe, and Kynance
Cove where boy thief Abu is washed up with his wrecked boat. Later in 1939 Alfred
Hitchcock returned to Cornwall, shooting several scenes for Jamaica Inn at Bolventor
and across Bodmin Moor. Despite a cool reception from the critics the film at least
served to introduce Maureen O’Hara in her first screen role.
Cornwall’s wartime years saw filming of several genres. In 1941’s light comedy The
Ghost Train with Arthur Askey, travellers become stranded at an isolated railway
station; during the night the legendary phantom locomotive approaches fictitious
Fal Vale Junction was actually Liskeard station. Next of Kin, a propaganda film
which included scenes of St Austell and Mevagissey, warned against loose talk. A
true story was told in Ealing Studio’s The Foreman Went to France, shot at various
Cornish locations; an aircraft factory worker is sent to stop the invading Nazis
obtaining vital equipment.
Fans of Stewart Granger or Margaret Lockwood enjoyed Love Story, a 1944 romance
about two people with painful secrets, which included footage of the Minack Theatre.
In Ealing’s 1945 Johnny Frenchman, fishermen from a small Cornish port are rivals
with their counterparts across the Channel. Differences are heightened when it’s
learned a Breton fisherman intends to marry a Cornish maid, but then war comes;
everyone must rethink their differences and unite against a common enemy. The
port was provided by Mevagissey.
A variety of films which were partly shot in Cornwall
Post-war, the film industry visited more often. In 1948 Disney arrived, shooting on
the River Fal and Helford Passage for their pirate adventure with Bobby Driscoll and
Robert Newton, adapted from Stevenson’s Treasure Island. That year too Miranda
appeared, a light comedy starring Glynis Johns in the title role, as a mermaid caught
off the Cornish coast by hapless Griffith Jones. Carlyon Bay doubled as a tropical
beach while Looe and Polperro also featured. 1953’s truly Hollywood romp Knights
of the Round Table with Robert Taylor and Ava Gardner dispensed with adherence to
legend let alone historical accuracy, and included scenes of Tintagel; local people
were recruited as extras.
1953 also saw the romantic thriller Never Let Me Go, in which a Moscow-based
American reporter marries a Russian dancer but has to leave the country without her;
whatever the cost, he resolves to rescue his young wife. The big cast included Clark
Gable, Gene Tierney and Kenneth More, while Mullion harbour became a Russian
fishing village and clips were also used of Mevagissey and Newquay. 1957’s
historical drama Dangerous Exile with Louis Jourdan, Belinda Lee and Keith Michell
featured Porthluney Cove, Carrick Roads and Caerhays Castle. At the end of the
decade the low-budget sea-monster movie The Giant Behemoth appeared, its star
a chilling stop-frame terror which rampaged across cardboard London; Looe and
Polperro provided the coastal and harbour scenes.
• Continues in the magazine
Yn-mes hag a-dro
10
th
A scene from the new Cornish black comedy “Weekend Retreat,” directed by Brett Harvey.
Penn-bloedh Lowen, Gool Fylm!
Cornwall
F i l m
F e s t i va l
Tilda Swinton stars in the acclaimed film adaptation of Lionel Shriver’s “We Need to Talk About Kevin.”
Pub quiz question: How many film festivals of the thousands
worldwide celebrate films of all genres, for all ages, and also support
Cornish heritage and culture?
Answer: Just one. And it’s about to turn 10 years old.
A
true community event, the Cornwall Film Festival was
hatched in 2001 as a short-film fest by local filmmakers
and attracted several hundred attendees. Ten years on, the
Festival is a registered charity, its audience has grown to
several thousand, and it remains the region’s only major film festival.
Where else could filmmakers compete for an award called the Golden
Chough?
These days the three-day event – November 4th-6th this year –
includes not only shorts by Cornwall-based filmmakers and students,
but also British and international feature films, documentaries, juried
competitions, professional development workshops, talks and
parties. And the annual Govyn Kernewek commission for a short film
in Cornish continues to be supported by MAGA Cornish Language
Partnership and Awen Productions – though it may prove difficult
to top last year’s production, Skynt, the first-ever Cornish-language
musical!
“Far from the bright lights of metropolitan areas, the Festival brings
the wider world of cinema to Cornwall,” said CFF director Donna
Anton. “Local filmmakers and students can network with industry
professionals from elsewhere in the UK. And many of the shorts and
features – a mix of independent, art-house, foreign-language and
well-regarded mainstream titles – would not otherwise be screened
in a cinema in Cornwall.”
In 2010 director Mike Leigh agreed to become the CFF’s first-ever
patron, to honour the memory of his great friend, executive producer
Simon Channing Williams (Topsy-Turvy, Vera Drake, The Constant
Gardener), who lived in Marazion and was a keen supporter of the
Festival. Continues in the magazine
Animators Greg (left) and Myles McLeod. (Photo © Lucy Barribal)
CFF patron, director Mike Leigh. (Photo Simon Mein © Thin Man Films Ltd.)
Yn-mes hag a-dro
Seasonal Shopper
Summer House Gallery
Kate Richardson’s much loved originals
and prints are now available from the
newly opened Summer House Gallery
in Marazion. A part-time occupational
therapist, Kate’s pieces are often borne
from angst or elation in a style which is
largely self-taught. Prints are available
from £30.
www.summerhousegallery.co.uk
(under construction)
[email protected]
01736 711 400.
Scilly Flowers
Send a beautiful gift of island-grown scented
narcissi this Christmas. The flowers are sent direct
from the Isles of Scilly and with prices starting from
just £9.50 including postage and packing, there is a
gift box to suit any occasion.
Order online at www.scillyflowers.co.uk or call 01720
422169.
Crumpetty Tree
Crumpetty Tree is a new Cornish based
illustration company created by Charlotte
Strawbridge and Jim Tomson. Inspired
by her family’s eco-move to Cornwall
(featured in the BBC2 series ‘It’s not Easy
Being Green’) Charlottin wants to run
Crumpetty Tree in a way that is as ecofriendly as possible.
www.crumpettytree.co.uk
Bys Kernowyon
John
L ocal
Heroes
and the preaching pits
W
hen exploring the historic mining sites of Cornwall it is inevitable
that one will come across large circular hollows in the ground,
whose stepped and circular appearance seem to form purposebuilt amphitheatres. The reality is that these amphitheatres are
natural depressions created by mining activities and the stepped appearance
has been added by those who used these depressions for what became
known as the Preaching Pits.
During the mid-18th century the early Methodists, including the man who
founded the Methodist Church, John Wesley, were unable to buy land and
build chapels due to his followers being considered outside the Church of
England. In Cornwall, Methodism had begun to grow amongst the mining
communities because of the messages of self-improvement preached by
John and his brother Charles.
Before coming to Cornwall, both John and Charles had travelled to Georgia
in North America, which at the time was a British Colony. The pair had set
sail on the ship ‘Simmonds’ in late 1735. The ship arrived four months later.
The stay was not the happiest of adventures for the pair. Charles was ill much
of the time and John was later forced to head back to England. Following his
brother’s departure for England, John had fallen for a female acquaintance by
the name of Sophy Hopkey.
Sophy wanted to settle down with John but he wished to carry on with his
ministry for a while longer. Eventually, after much deliberation, John decided
he couldn’t be with Sophy.
Sophy decided she would marry another man if John had no objection. Later
that same year John refused Sophy communion and this resulted in him being
charged with various offences including defamation of character. Eventually
John Wesley opted to head home to England.
In 1743 John and Charles Wesley both arrived in Cornwall and were
welcomed into the mining communities with the messages they preached. By
1750 the Methodists had established themselves in more than thirty mining
communities in West Cornwall along with a further four societies in the north
of Cornwall.
Methodism, a non-conformist church, suited the miners and the mining
towns. The pits and industrial structures allowed the Methodists to gather an
audience and preach without chapels, something that at this time was well
outside their financial capabilities and was certainly not allowed by the Church
of England.
John Wesley, who had been ordained as a priest in 1728 and was himself the
child of a priest, studied at Oxford University. John Wesley learned about the
plight of the poor through his visits to prisons and his charitable work giving
out food and clothing to the poorest communities. He worked with others from
the Oxford Christian group who, thanks to their use of methodical study and
prayer, became known as “Methodists.” Later the name was used to describe
those who followed John Wesley himself.
Many Cornish people adopted the teachings of Methodism as they felt it
made sense of the world around them. This brand of ‘God’s Word’ was seen
as something that wholly enhanced and embraced the communities of the
Cornish mining towns and villages.
During this part of Cornwall’s history communication between those living
within the communities and outside was practically all done by word of mouth.
The Methodists had an advantage over their Anglican brothers because of
their mobility. Unlike the Methodists, the Anglican clergy were attached to their
particular churches. The charismatic Methodist preachers had the ability to
move amongst the mining communities.
John Wesley founder of The Methodist Church
Opposite page -Jon Wesley Portrait by George
Romney 1789
Huge crowds were drawn to open-air meetings by the constantly travelling
Methodist preachers. John Wesley himself was reported to have preached to
hundreds of miners and their family members at the preaching pit of Gwennap
in West Cornwall.
• Continues in the magazine
For more information please visit www.cornishmining.org.uk/mycornwall
Bys Kernowyon
all
AROUND
THE
WORLD
•
America
20th Annual Gathering a Success
The 20th Annual Gathering of the California Cornish Cousins, held
from June 3rd - 5th, proved to be a great success despite a drop or
two of rain. Amongst the many pasties, guest speaker Chris Enss
shared stories and anecdotes on the theme of ‘Hearth & Home:
Cornish Women in the 1800s.’ Judy Sanders also created a popular
display featuring the story of Bal Maidens of Cornish mining lore.
California Cornish Cousins Newsletter, Volume 20.
Californian Mine to Commemorate Cornish Miners
Empire Mine in California are planning to commemorate the many
Cornish miners who worked there during the 19th century with an
Underground Tour. Detailing the full history of the mine, the tour will
include a number of fascinating pictures which not only provide a
glimpse into mining conditions of a bygone era, but also show the
considerable influence of Cousin Jacks and Jennies.
Continues in the magazine
Illustrations by Lolly Morris
Above: Miner with Donkey at the Empire Mine,
California.
For more information please visit http://www.cornishmining.org.uk/culture-map
Art
Below Rosehill 1965 (detail)
F
ishing and mining have so sculptored the landscapes of
Cornwall that the influence can be seen in nearly every
studio and gallery from Land’s End to the Tamar River.
Not all the resulting artistic works are as joyful as the art of
John Piper, whose work is fast becoming as much of the Cornish
landscape as the cottages and skylines that often appear in his
paintings.
For those who know the far west of Cornwall, especially the north
coast running from Land’s End to St Ives, the paintings John
produces capture a freshness unique to that stretch of land.
“I only paint and sketch that part of Cornwall,” explains John.
“Land’s End to St Ives, I don’t paint anywhere else.”
Why is this?
“I love the scenery, the buildings, the way the light changes. It all
gives me more than enough to work with.”
Does he get tempted to paint anywhere else?
“No, I don’t even take a sketch book on holiday,” John explains.
Depicted in much of John’s current work are scenes of miners
cottages, farmland, skylines and heathers found along that 24 mile
stretch of coastline. With its rugged, lichen-covered rocky outcrops
on the higher ground, the farm buildings and miners cottages little
changed over the centuries, it is no wonder that Salisbury-born John
has found inspiration amongst these treasures of west Penwith.
John spent his early years in Essex where he had no interest in art,
it was not until the family uprooted and headed to Cornwall that art
took a hold of the young John Piper. His earliest Cornwall days were
spent at Humphry Davy Grammar School, where he came under the
influence of art teacher Charlie MacCarthy and his assistant Denis
Mitchell who was heavily involved in the Modernist art scene in St
Ives.
Denis Mitchell encouraged John to visit Penwish Galleries, known
as ‘The Penwith’ at the time. On his first of many visits, it was the
works of Patrick Heron that drew his attention. “I loved Heron’s use
of vivid and contrasting colours,” recalled John. “I’d not seen this
kind of painting before.”
• Continues in the magazine
Wheal Martyn
Museum and
Country Park
Set within 26 acres of picturesque woodland and nature trails, the Wheal Martyn Museum
and Heritage Centre is the perfect place to enjoy the great outdoors and get back to nature.
Wheal Martyn, home to the UK’s only china clay mining museum, is set amongst the
Victorian remains of the former china clay works which operated until 1969. The café, shop
and discovery centre are set within the former Gomm clay works which worked until the
1920s.
The surrounding grounds of these two former clay works were dramatically changed from
its natural state as a result of china clay mining but once the clay works closed the wildlife
soon returned. The present day grounds provide beautiful walks and a nature trail which
leads to the summit of the site overlooking the present day working pit of Wheal Martyn.
The historic site is now packed with flora and fauna including a mixture of native and other
species which have escaped from cultivation such as the infamous rhododendron. The
nature trail which starts at the foot of an old china clay tip, once a sandy slope has since
been colonised, first by grasses and heathers and today you’ll see tended grassy, mossy
sward with various shrubs of gorse and rhododendron interspersed as well as young trees
such as oaks. This area is also home to wildflowers as well as mice squirrels and rabbits.
Much of the grounds are covered by woodland including mature beech trees, some young
oaks and even some evergreen holly. Further up site the deciduous wood is well developed
with fully grown rowan, sycamore, beech and oak and within the woodland birds can be
seen including the chaffinch, woodpigeon and tawny owl on occasions. Throughout the
well kept site you’ll find various vegetation including ferns, bracken, mosses and ivy in
addition to the established woodland. The unspoiled nature of the grounds offer a truly
relaxing stroll and showcase the natural re-colonisation of former industrial site with some
fascinating historic remains including the former Gomm engine house, flat rod tunnel and
crib hut which provide a sense of history and insight into the previous mining activity. Within
the woodland you will discover a Site of Special Scientific Interest, designated as such as
a result of the rock it contains; an area of exposed granite which shows a fine example of a
stage of kaolinisation normally only seen at the bottom of a clay pit. This is accompanied by
a fascinating selection of local granite in our ‘boulder alley,’ a real must see for geologists.
The settling pits found within the historic trail on site contain water habitats and various
aquatic and bug life including newts, water boatmen, pond skaters and frogs.
The changing seasons can be observed at Wheal Martyn as the bluebells appear in the
woods and daffodils throughout the site in the Spring followed by the spectacular show
of rhododendron in late May. The luscious green leaves of the trees bring a strong sense
of life to the site and of course the rusty colours that can be seen in Autumn as the leaves
begin to fall are wonderful. The museum’s return ticket allows you to come back as many
times as you like to observe these changes or simply to walk the
dog!
We are soon to welcome local wildlife artist Nik Elvy
to the site who will work with nature to capture the
beauty of the surroundings in her work, some of
which you will be able to observe on site in
the coming months.
The grounds, combined with the heritage
of Cornwall’s hugely important china
clay industry make for an interesting
and relaxing day out with something
to appeal to everyone.
outdoors
Darvosow
Cornwall events guide
October
Cornish Mining World Heritage Sites
Current Exhibitions
Until
November
Saturday 1 – Sunday 2
Boscastle Food
and Arts Festival
Boscastle, Tintagel
A wonderful combination of local
food and art.
www.boscastlefestival.co.uk
12
Different Ways of
Seeing
Penlee House Gallery,
Penzance
The joint works of three artists
of the 20th century, each
united by their love for Cornwall
(pictured).
www.penleehouse.org.uk
Until
Until
October
7
Here Come The Girls
The Summer House
Gallery, Marazion
Exciting works from a range of
talented female artists.
www.summerhousegallery.co.uk
Until
October
Historic Falmouth
Artists’ Views
Falmouth Art Gallery
Watercolours, drawings and
prints showing Falmouth from
1734 to within living memory.
www.falmouthartgallery.com
October
29
Decalcomania
Newlyn Art Gallery
Twelve artists present film,
sculpture, audio and installation.
www.newlynartgallery.co.uk
Until
October
Eden Project
Harvest Festival
Bodelva, St Austell
Harvest produce and cooking
demos from top chefs. For full
details visit:
www.edenproject.com
29
Treasures from the
Earth
Helston Folk Museum
A touring exhibition aiming to
return artefacts to the localities
where they were found. 01326
564027
www.museumsincornwall.org.
uk
Sunday
30
Cornwall Crafts
Trelowarren Craft
Centre, Helston
A fantastic display of Cornish
craftwork.
www.cornwallcrafts.co.uk
Until
December
24
Exhibition:
UndergroundOverground
Geevor Tin Mine, Pendeen
Telling the story of the
underground mining areas
few people get to see. With
over 3,000 historic maps,
original
photographs
and
extensive plans, this is a superb
opportunity to discover the
stories of a fascinating industry.
www.geevor.com or call 01736
788662.
Saturday
Monday
3
–
Friday
2
1960s Week
Bodmin General Station
Special two-train service
reflecting the era of the 1960s
when steam was replaced
by modern diesels on many
Cornish branch lines. For
more information visit: www.
bodminandwenfordrailway.co.uk
Exhibition: Crafts
and Craftsmen
The Cornish Studies
Library, Redruth
Exploring unusual crafts from
across the country, including
West Cornwall by Derek Reay.
01209 216760
www.cornwall.gov.uk
Friday
Outdoor and
Active Day
Wheal Martyn, St Austell
Have a go on the mobile
climbing wall, try archery or cycle
the clay trails.
10.30am - 4.30pm
Activities priced individually.
01726 850362
ww.wheal-martyn.com
1
Fifteen Cornwall’s
Farmers’ Market
Extreme Academy car
park, Watergate Bay
Head chef Andy Appleton will
demonstrate how to get the most
out of the superb produce on
sale.
9am – 3.30pm
www.fifteencornwall.co.uk
Bob The Builder
Hall for Cornwall, Truro
The family favourite in a delightful
new show.
1pm & 3.30pm
£14.50, Family pack £48
www.hallforcornwall.co.uk
Monday
3
Lunchtime Lecture:
Falmouth Then and Now
National Maritime Museum,
Falmouth
Compare Falmouth ‘then and
now’ as you trace the town’s
history with historic photographs.
12.30pm
Book: 01326 214546
www.nmmc.co.uk
Monday 3 – Tuesday 4
Boconnoc
Michalmas Fair
Boconnoc House,
Lostwithiel
7
Tuesday 4 – Saturday 15
Expl-awe!
Newquay Zoo
A celebration of the strangest,
bravest or unluckiest journeys
and explorers of the world. Until
April 2012. For full information
visit:
www.newquayzoo.org.uk
8
Tree: Gwedhen
Lemon Street Gallery,
Truro
Kurt Jackson’s attempt
to capture and celebrate
characteristic plants of Cornwall.
www.lemonstreetgallery.co.uk
Until
November
Saturday 1 – Sunday 9
In support of the Royal British
Legion, get ahead for some early
Christmas shopping. For further
details call 01208 872594
7
Northern
Soul Cornwall
The Godolphin Club,
Helston
A night of classic Northern Soul.
Over 18s only. 8pm – 12am £3
For more info cal :07980943391
Exhibition: Invention
Cornwall Contemporary,
Penzance
Nancy Pickard’s third solo
exhibition including paintings,
ceramics, collages and metal
work. Until October 31.
www.nancypickard.co.uk
Saturday
8
TRE Project
Royal Cornwall
Museum, Truro
Old cine footage, digital content
and a programme of new
films screened in community
venues across Cornwall and the
Isles of Scilly. Until November
19th, find out more at www.
royalcornwallmuseum.org.uk
Get your event included here - send details to [email protected]