CORNWALL ASSOCIATION OF LOCAL HISTORIANS
Chairman’s Letter
Here’s wishing you all a very happy new year. I hope I will meet up with most of you at one or more of our many and varied events planned for 2017. I started the New Year with my usual short break in Leicestershire, where I attended the annual conference of the Vernacular Architecture Group. The theme of this year's conference was "Seeing the Wood from the Trees", a look at the management of timber from source to building site. Over 150 members attended and the speakers ranged from Cathy Tyers (Historic England), who talked about the dendrochronological evidence for the age of timbers and where they had been sourced, to Maurice Howard, (president of the Society of Architectural Historians of GB), who talked about the fitting and finishing of Tudor and Jacobean houses. One fact that surprised me was that so much timber had been imported from Europe in the Middle Ages. Did you know, for example, that the famous portrait of Queen Elizabeth in all her finery, (known as the 'Armada Portrait') is painted on oak that was imported from the Baltics. Evidently Baltic oak is finer grained than English oak, and therefore preferred by artists in the days before painting on canvas became the norm.
Almost every speaker at the conference referred to the late Oliver Rackham, and that got me thinking how very lucky we were to have had such a renowned authority on the history of the countryside, and
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February 2017
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woodland management in particular, as our main speaker at a CALH conference - the AGM at Lostwithiel Community Hall in November 1991. I remember it partly because I had a terrible cold at the time. Veronica Chesher had managed to get Oliver down to give the talk and they were both to stay the night with me. I have to confess I didn't take in all he said during his talk as I was worrying about the meal I was to give them, and how 'rotten' I felt.
I remembered how, the following day, Veronica and I donned our jeans and wellies before going for a walk (or should I say brisk trot) round Trelawne Woods with the 'great' man. He was dressed in shorts and open sandals and moved at an incredible speed, whilst Veronica and I kept up as best we could. Periodically he would leave the path and dive into the undergrowth (oblivious to brambles and mud) to examine the remains of an ancient coppice tree, or a deep sunken access track, or part of the Medieval wood-bank. All the time he would be asking questions about the wood (not easy to answer when you are out of breath and full of cold). Sitting in the Leicester Conference Centre, hearing his name mentioned so frequently, made me really appreciate how lucky I had been to spend that time with him. AND ALL THANKS TO CALH. (Continued on next page)
(Continued from front page)
On my return home, the first thing I did was to look up the report in the April 1992 CALH Journal, which unfortunately is rather brief. So now I have begun to re-read his book on 'The History of the Countryside' which was published in 1986. As I turn the very readable pages I realise what a long way technology has come in the last 25 years. Not only can we now tell the year trees were felled but also where they grew. I also realise that my own knowledge on the development of the landscape, and the buildings within it, has expanded. Along with my waist!!!
Your Chairman
Carole Vivian
(01503) 272 309
Carolvivian309@btinternet
AGM Reminder
Our AGM and Spring Conference are scheduled for the 25th and 26th of this month. The AGM will be held on Saturday the 25th at 10:45 am at the Kilbirnie Hotel, Newquay. All members are invited to attend.
CALH Committee Meetings Cut
Your Committee has decided that it makes sense to reduce the number of committee meetings from five plus the AGM to four plus the AGM each year. Since members have to drive some distance whether the meetings are held in Truro or Liskeard, it was agreed the association’s business can be effectively dealt with in four meetings each year. The usual meeting in November will be eliminated.
Our Website Surprises
Our website – www.calh.co.uk – is drawing a lot of visitors and some of their statistics are surprising.
We are having, on average, around 120 to 130 visitors every month, mostly from the UK but also from countries around the globe – from the US to Egypt to Morocco. Between 20-30% are return visitors.
Surprisingly, the majority of our visitors – 61% -- are young, between the ages of 18 to 33. So it’s obvious that Cornish local history is drawing lots more than old folks. The next largest age group – 28 percent of our visitors – are 35 to 54 years. Those of us in the “senior” category made up only 12 percent of our visitors.
The statistics are drawn from the information provided by the visitor’s computers – not anything they volunteer. So it is also a reminder that your computer gives out a lot more information than you are aware it is doing.
Luxulyan Church Seeks Help
Luxulyan Church needs help. The bells need “serious consideration” – they had to stop being rung months ago – and the organ is making “funny noises.” Repair options and costs are being investigated, but the church needs assistance from anyone with grant application experience to help find money. Anyone who can help contact Shelley Porter at or on 01726 851 120
Hazel Harradence
Maritime Records at Kew
The National Archive’s maritime and naval records are available on-line, to research and download. There are 25 guides to help you find the records you want. Find them at: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/?research-category=online&sub-category%5B%5D=merchant-navy&sub-category%5B%5D=royal-navy-royal-marines&utm_campaign=240530.
Kresen Kernow Progressing
Construction of the new Kresen Kernow Archive in Redruth has begun with laying the foundations of the new store and checking the safety of the old brewery chimney.
Midas Construction began the work in November and if all plans hold, the new centre should be opening in late 2018.
There are currently 100 Kresen Kernow volunteers who have contributed over 900 days of their time since last April. Now, Claire Wardle has been appointed the new Kresen Kernow Volunteer Coordinator. She is first concentrating on better training opportunities for the volunteers and improving the record office’s online information. You can find out about volunteering at: http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/community-and-living/records-archives-and-cornish-studies/volunteering-and-work-experience/
CRO-MAGA Partnering
The Cornwall Record Office and the Cornish Language Office (formerly known as MAGA) are working in partnership on a project to identify, record and promote the history of the 20th century Cornish language revival. The project has a number of strands, including a new website, identifying source material and collecting oral histories. The project will also focus on people such as Henry Jenner, Kitty Jenner and Robert Morton Nance. As part of this, the CRO will host a project archivist and volunteers who will be cataloguing and digitising related archives. Volunteers are welcome. If you are interested, see above.
Cornish Miners in Latin America
The Cornish Studies Library has acquired a new book on the significant Cornish contribution to the development of 19th century mining in Peru, Mexico, Chili, Brazil and Colombia. It also covers the effects this migration had on families left behind.
Brass Bands Archive at CRO
Brass bands lie at the heart of many Cornish communities, so the CRO was thrilled recently to receive the John Brush Brass Band Archive. This is the definitive collection on these important cultural organisations and the result of years of research. Meticulously arranged by band into 41 folders, detailing the history of each from their founding, the archive includes competition papers, newspaper cuttings, programmes, posters and photographs – all augmented by Brush’s own notes and annotations. The archive covers from the 19th century to the present day. The archive is (AD2461/1/9).
Volunteer Rifle Corps 1859-1860
It’s a little known part of Cornwall’s history, but there was a Volunteer Rifle Corps formed in May 1859 that lasted for only two years.
The CRO says the Corps was formed as a citizen army of part-time rifle and artillery volunteers in response to a growing threat from France and to support a British army stretched by overseas duties.
Cornwall formed 22 sub-divisions, of which the 18th became the Trelowarren Division, established in April 1860, under the guidance of Sir Richard Vyvyan.
The CRO says that the collection is of correspondence related to the Corps and notes show that John Tyacke was appointed the commanding officer, and that over forty volunteers came forward to enlist.
One of the letters was from an enraged wife who pleaded with Sir Richard not to let her husband get involved. Another letter noted the concern of having no drill sergeant, so the 59-year-old walking postman, Thomas Thomas, a retired soldier, was recruited to assist.
The information on the collection was gathered by two volunteers helping at the CRO.
CALH Calendar of Events
25-26 Feb (Sat-Sun) – AGM & Spring Conference – “A Bundle of Old Documents” – Kilbirnie Hotel, Newquay.
6 April (Thurs) – CALH Committee Meeting – Stuart House, Liskeard – 4:45 pm
13 May (Sat) – Chairman’s Day Out at Polperro – The quintessential Cornish fishing village. Booking forms with this newsletter and on our webpage.
7 June (Weds) – Day Out at St Ervan, St Eval and Mawgan Porth – Contrast the hidden church at St Ervan with the RAF church at St Eval and learn about the medieval settlement at Mawgan Porth. Booking form with this newsletter and on our webpage.
13 July (Thurs) – CALH Committee Meeting – CRO, Truro – 4:45 pm
29 July (Sat) – Day Out at Callington – Explore the history of this East Cornwall town including a visit to Trebeigh. Booking form on our webpage when available.
12 Sept (Tues) – Day Out at St Keverne – Details and booking form on our webpage when available.
5 Oct (Thurs) – CALH Committee Meeting – Stuart House, Liskeard – 4:45 pm
14 Oct (Sat) – CALH Autumn Conference – Monuments in the Cornish Landscape – Kilbirnie Hotel, Newquay
Royal Cornwall Museum
28 April (Fri) – The Very Ends of the Earth – A Seminar Day on the History of Medieval Cornwall - Led by Sam Drake, the day includes presentations by Oliver Padel, Jo Mattingly, Alex Woodcock and other leading experts. Cost of £15 includes morning coffee & refreshments as well as a pasty lunch. Booking form enclosed & available from the museum website.
Cornwall Record Office
6 Feb (Mon) – Cornwall’s Protestation Returns & How to Use them – A seminar on the protestation returns of 1641-42. Free but booking essential at 01872 232 127.
7-10 Feb (Tues-Fri) – Closed for Collection Work
4 March (Sat) – Saturday Open Day – 10 am to 4 pm
7-10 March (Tues-Fri) – Closed for Collection Work
4-7 April (Tues-Fri) – Closed for Collection Work
2-5 May (Tues-Fri) – Closed for Collection Work
3 June (Sat) – Saturday Open Day – 10 am to 4 pm
6-9 June (Tues-Fri) – Closed for Collection Work
4-7 July (Tues-Fri) – Closed for Collection Work
Cornish Studies Library, Redruth
3 March (Fri) – ArTchive: Sun Prints – Artist Nicky Thompson leads using early photographic techniques. £10. Ring 01209 216 760 to book.
25 March (Sat) – Pen to Pendennis: A Writing Workshop with a Sense of Time – A WEA Workshop in cooperation with the CRO & CSL who are providing civil war era documents including the draft surrender terms for the siege of 1646. Book at 01392 457300 or
15 April (Sat) – The Daffodil Industry of Cornwall and Isles of Scilly – An exhibition of spectacular images and archive material never seen publicly before.
Newsletter Editor: Robert Lyle