CORNWALL ASSOCIATION OF LOCAL HISTORIANS
Chairman’s Letter
‘I need a message from the chairman,” is a familiar email from the editor of the newsletter, and I wish to say a very big thank you to Robert Lyle for the way in which he has edited the CALH newsletter. As retiring chairman I would also like to thank the officers and members of the committee for all their hard work and attention to detail involved in the Association’s various activities throughout the year. Special thanks to our retiring Journal editor, Pam Lomax, for the innovations she has made to the journal both in content and design.
Members will read of Carole Vivian’s offer to stand for election as chairman at the AGM in February 2013. I for one am deeply grateful to Carole, and suspect that the election will be uncontested!
The most exciting, and disturbing, news of 2012 has been the progress made to establish a Cornish Heritage Centre with the Cornwall Record Office and the Cornish Studies Library sharing not only a site but a building. I write ‘exciting’ as we still do not know what to expect, and ‘daunting’ because of the reality that the two organisations will have to move from their long-established bases to a totally different environment, in that while they need to retain what is best in their respective services they need to find and adapt 21st century applications to meet the needs of users, depositors and searchers.
After more than 40 years both will again be on one site. It is my personal hope that the Record Office and Library will be able to
NEWSLETTER
January 2013
Our Place on the Internet
www.calh.co.uk
work as closely together as they did in the 1960s, when the ‘local history’ library was housed on the Old County Hall site a few yards from the CRO. There was a regular exchange of information, queries and users between us and with Les Douch just down the road at the RIC It was as a result of the 1974 Local Government Act (and the whim of Ashley Rowe) that the ‘CSL’ came into being in Redruth.
It is important that members of CALH and other societies who have an interest in the new Centre are allowed to have some real consultation, rather than receive ‘presentations’ explaining ‘this is what you will get’. I say no more in case I am dubbed a ‘grumpy old archivist’!
I end by wishing you all a happy, and if possible prosperous New Year, and thank you for putting up with me as your chairman. Your Chairman
Colin Edwards
(01872) 501 727
Courtney Library Members Only
The Courtney Library in the Royal Institution of Cornwall in Truro, one of our premier research facilities, is now a members only library.
You must belong to the RIC (£30 pa), be a researcher with a letter from an institution or a student to access the library.
RIC Chairman Peter Stethridge says the change was made last June at the same time that an admission charge was re-introduced for the museum itself.
He says the RIC is preparing the catalogues for digitisation, which will be available on the Internet for free.
RIC membership will give you free access to the museum, use of the library and other benefits.
The Courtney is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 10-1 and 2-4, and Saturday 10-1.Closed Bank Holidays.
You must make an appointment to use the library. Tel: 01872 242-786
Rail Workers Records Available
The National Archives has made records of railway workers available on-line, some through Ancestry. Before the rails were nationalised in 1947, there were many rail companies, each of which had its own system of record keeping. A great many have been lost.
You must know the railway company the person worked for as there is no alphabetical name index available. Check http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/looking-for-person/railwayworker.htm
Records run from 1740 to 1967. However, most personal records after 1947 are still held by the railway companies.
Carole Vivian Stands up for CALH
I write as your chairman-elect (although I would be quite happy to see someone else stand). As you will be aware, the society has been undergoing difficult times as members seem so reluctant serve on the committee. For this reason, I have agreed to take on the job of chairman, with Colin Edwards as my vice-chairman, provided you all agree.
My coming back on to the committee will not solve our main problem which is the finding of a new editor to replace Pam Lomax. I have managed to persuade Jeremy Rowett Johns to take on the job for one edition, which will see us through the spring. However, I must warn you he may not be able to get the next journal out until he has finished his April commitments to the Polperro Family History Society and their journal, of which he is editor.
With this in mind, could you please send articles (however short) for the next journal to me (address and E-mail below) and, once we have amassed enough material, I will send it on to Jeremy (who lives out of Cornwall) for him to edit.
Our events secretaries, John and Hilary Ballard, are prepared to continue organising wonderful days out for us but your suggestions of places to visit would be welcome, especially if you also offer to help organise the day. I have my fingers crossed that the rest of the committee will stay on board, at least for the present, and that others will join us with a view to serving as officers at a later date.
I have been a member of the society almost since its founding and have derived great enjoyment from my membership over the years. I believe that CALH still has an important part to play in encouraging people to take up the hobby of local history and also to share their findings and knowledge with others via the journal and outings. With your help, CALH will play its part in promoting the history and heritage of Cornwall for many years to come.
Carole Vivian
Trelawne Barton, Looe, PL13 2NA
Tel: 01503 272309 E-mail:
Cornish Language History Saved
We are delighted to announce that we have been awarded a grant from The National Manuscripts Conservation Trust to conserve two pieces of Cornish language history: William Scawen’s (1600-1689) ‘Antiquities Cornubrittanic’ and William Borlase’s (1695-1772) ‘Memorundums on the Cornish Tongue’. Our project partners, PZ Conservation, who are based in Penzance will clean, digitise and repair the documents.
It has been a busy few months for the staff and volunteers in Truro and Redruth, with lots going on throughout the autumn: cataloguing and digitising collections; helping researchers; running workshops for groups, schools and families; hosting work placement students and contributing to the new building project. Regular updates on what is going on can be found on our new Archives and Cornish Studies Facebook page , which was launched in October.
Progress has been made with the building project since the last newsletter. Cornwall Council submitted its bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund for £9.8 million match-funding for the scheme, which will provide a new, sustainable home for the collections, improve access and create an exhibition space. It will also safeguard an historic building in the centre of a World Heritage Site and help regenerate the area around the old brewery site in Redruth where it will be built. We expect a stage one decision in April 2013.
Deborah Tritton
Archives Services Manager
Kim Cooper
Senior Librarian
Lecture on Great Civil War
The Stuart House Trust in Liskeard is presenting a public lecture on the Great Civil War by Bristol University’s Prof. Ronald Hutton. He will include special reference to Cornwall.
The lecture will be held in the Old Hall at Liskeard School & Community College on 17 January 2013 at 7 p.m. All are welcome.
New Accessions at CRO & CSL
New accessions to the Cornwall Record Office (CRO) collections include a cost book from Great Polgooth mine that is not only enormous but contains fascinating information about the daily running costs of the mine (CF/1/4884); records from cricket clubs in Mawnan and Scorrier (Acc 8919, AD2212); the collection of musician and composer, Kenneth Pelmear, including manuscript copies of his compositions (AD2193); interesting new parish council and church material which would help document life in St Minver and Gerrans ( PCMIVH,PCMIVL, P154, PCGERR/1/12) and a small collection about the Walkey family (AD2182), who ran Truro West End Drapery Stores in the first half of the 20th century.
Items in the collection include a post-WWI letter describing, tragic-comically, men arguing over false legs, as well as a glass negative of their premises (now better known as the Old Ale House).
The original copy of the 1835 Treligga Chapel injunction, where the congregation banned the minister from taking services, was also deposited (X1371). CRO also received additional material from Customs and Excise for the Falmouth area, including a letter book dated 1880-1887 which contains copies of letters about the crew of the Mignonette who were tried for cannibalism at sea (CE/F/82).
The Cornish Studies Library has a number of reports on the mining industry and one example is the Report to the Royal Commission on the Employment of Children. Dr. Charles Barham of Truro contributed to the Commission's findings with his report on conditions in Cornwall and Devon submitted in 1842. It contains accounts and statistics of working conditions, welfare, diet, wages and literacy levels of children working in Cornish mines.
The Library has also been given a large version of the books Harbour to Harbour and Harbour 2 Harbour, bound together as a single volume. It photographically reflects life in Porthleven today.
CALH Calendar of Events
17 January (Thurs) – CALH Committee Meeting, 4:45 pm – CRO, Truro.
19 January (Sat) – Deadline to Book to attend the AGM and Spring Conference – Crime and Punishment in Cornwall. Booking form on-line.
2-3 February (Sat-Sun) – AGM & Spring Conference – Crime & Punishment in Cornwall. Kilbirnie Hotel, Newquay.
1 March (Fri) – Deadline for the Spring Journal. Send articles to
11 April (Thurs) – CALH Committee Meeting, 4:45 pm – CRO, Truro.
29 April (Mon) – Deadline to Book for the Study Day at Trelawne Barton and Lanlawren House at Trenewan. Booking form available on-line. Event is Sat, 4th May.
4 May (Sat) – CALH Day Out at Trelawne Barton and Lanlawren House, Trenewan. Hosted by Carole Vivian and Lady Claudia Chilver. Booking forms on-line and with this newsletter.
June (Tentative) – CALH Day Out with Linkinghorn History Group on The Rillaton Manor. Tony Wood is working with the group to organize talks and walks. Details on-line at www.calh.org when the day is finalised.
4 July (Thurs) – CALH Committee Meeting, 4:45 pm – CRO, Truro.
10 October (Thurs) – CALH Committee Meeting, 4:45 pm – CRO, Truro.
19 October (Sat) – CALH Autumn Conference. Kilbirnie Hotel, Newquay. Details on-line when the day is finalised.
7 November (Thurs) – CALH Committee Meeting, 4:45 pm – CRO, Truro
Cornish Studies Library
28 January – 9 February (Mon-Sat) – Exhibition of photographs by Pencoys Camera Club.
12 – 16 February (Tues-Sat) – Exhibition by Cornwall Garden Society celebrating the Spring Flower Show first started in 1897.
19 February (Tues) – Learn more about the explorer, Richard Lander – Storytelling by Mark Harandon. Half-term activity for children including storytelling and crafts.
2 – 9 March (Sat-Sat) – Exhibition on archaeological work at Giant’s Quoit, Carwynnen.
2 March (Sat) – Cornish Studies Library remains open until 4 p.m. for St. Piran’s Festival in Redruth.
14 – 22 March (Thurs-Fri) – Arts and Crafts by Diversity.
Cornwall Record Office
2 – 4 January (Wed-Fri) – CRO Closed for Collection Work
12 January (Sat) – CRO Open Saturday – 10-1 pm.
5 – 8 February (Tues-Fri) – CRO Closed for Collection Work.
16 February (Sat) – CRO Open Saturday – 10-1 pm.
5 – 8 March (Tues-Fri) – CRO Closed for Collection Work.
16 March (Sat) – CRO Open Saturday – 10-1 pm.
2 – 5 April (Tues-Fri) – CRO Closed for Collection Work.
Newsletter Editor: Robert Lyle