Constantine Cornwall

February 2020

“All Washed up in St Agnes” was the theme of February’s talk to Constantine History Group by Roger Radcliffe from St Agnes Museum. The talk was informative and very well presented. Roger explored the history of Trevaunance Cove in terms of activity on the beach and the surrounding cliffs.

February 2020

“All Washed up in St Agnes” was the theme of February’s talk to Constantine History Group by Roger Radcliffe from St Agnes Museum. The talk was informative and very well presented. Roger explored the history of Trevaunance Cove in terms of activity on the beach and the surrounding cliffs.

Mining contributed sand rich in cassiterite and thus streaming was worthwhile, whilst the cliffs contain numerous adits. Ships were built on the beach including Roger’s great-grandfathers three masted schooner whilst the the Tonkin family built the harbour in 1793. Unfortunately, the mine companies ceased to fund it when mining collapsed in 1919. Within three years it was destroyed by the sea, thus today it is a pile of blocks on the beach.

A huge variety of marine life arrive on the beach from Fin whales to turtles and bottles containing messages to lobster pot tags from the Eastern seaboard of the USA. Then there is the present-day activity of cove fishing and surfing, activities that sometimes require the services of the RNLI, the first boat being funded by Blue Peter.

January 2020

Constantine History Group’s scheduled speaker had to postpone and was replaced by Don Garman, the Constantine Museum Collection Coordinator who provided a “Museum Miscellany” for the February meeting.

January 2020

Constantine History Group’s scheduled speaker had to postpone and was replaced by Don Garman, the Constantine Museum Collection Coordinator who provided a “Museum Miscellany” for the February meeting. Members handled a mason’s bush hammer used to achieve a matt finish on granite and learned about the life of a well-known stone mason. This was followed by extracts from the press in 1869 about the demise of the Tolmen Stone and a poem written in 1923 about the lost landmark. The memories of school days in the 1940s by a local policeman’s son produced lots of laughter. The 1849 parish constable’s staff was examined and the role of the constable, an annually elected post, was read. The parish constable had many more duties than the Police Constable who replaced the role in 1857 Not an enviable task with only the staff as a remuneration. Unfortunately, the name of the incumbent has not yet been discovered as the Vestry Minutes for 1849 have not been found.

Sale particulars of a large property in Port Navas dating from 1926 provided information about the house, its occupants and the associated estate which included quays, cottages, a washhouse and reading room and farm and woodland. Don ended the evening by talking about his great grandfather and Ralph Vaughan Williams. Henry Garman sang the Ploughman’s Dream to the composer in 1903 who noted down the tune and used it for the British version of Little Town of Bethlehem. A recently discovered piece of family history.

Roger Radcliffe will speak on “All Washed up at St Agnes” on February 21^st at 19.15 in the WI Hall Constantine.

Following the AGM members of Constantine History Group learned about fishing around the coast of Cornwall using sail and oar from Jan Pentreath who drew on his excellent photographic collection to illustrate the different types of fishing in the past and the range of craft that were used.

Following the AGM members of Constantine History Group learned about fishing around the coast of Cornwall using sail and oar from Jan Pentreath who drew on his excellent photographic collection to illustrate the different types of fishing in the past and the range of craft that were used. The talk included fishing for pilchard and mackerel as well as shell fish. Jan explained the influences that brought about change including reducing fish stocks, the impact of steam power and later the internal combustion engine. Today it is only the oysters in the Truro River that are worked using oars and sails. Members were impressed by the distances Cornish fishing boats travelled and the speed that they were able to achieve for voyages from Lowestoft to Mousehole. Jan shared several amusing stories and a number of photographs of Cornish fisher folk, which encouraged some laughter.

The next meeting will take place on January 17^th at 19.15 when Christian Boulton will share research from his book “Five Million Tides, a Biography of the Helford River” in Constantine WI Hall. Visitors welcome. Contact 01326 250604.

July 2019

The July meeting of Constantine History Group saw members and guests visiting St Austell Brewery to learn about its history and the brewing process.

July 2019

The July meeting of Constantine History Group saw members and guests visiting St Austell Brewery to learn about its history and the brewing process.

Walter Hicks, a young St Austell farmer mortgaged, his farm in 1851 and set up shop as a wine and spirit merchant in the town. He soon moved into brewing and purchased his first public house in 1863. Today the brewery is still a family business.

Local water and barley, hops from Kent and elsewhere and yeast form the key ingredients in the five brews that are completed each day. Different quantities of the ingredients and different barleys and hops enable a variety of tastes. The brewers are always experimenting using the small batch brewery, some of the products are only available online or from the brewery shop and often do not go into mass production. The most popular beer is Tribute (originally called Daylight Robbery after the Eclipse) which was first produced in 1999 by head brewer Roger Ryman.  Over 14 million pints are sold a year and 40,000 pints are produced each day. A six-acre field of Maris Otter barley produces 4 pints per square yard. The pub selling most pints is the Shipwright in Padstow.

The August meeting on Friday 16^th will be a behind the scene visit to Falmouth Art Gallery at 18.30.

Guests welcome. Contact 01326 250604

Don Garman Hon. Sec.

June 2019

A visit on a beautiful evening in June was made by Constantine History Group to St Winnow Church and St Winnow Barton Farm Museum.

June 2019

A visit on a beautiful evening in June was made by Constantine History Group to St Winnow Church and St Winnow Barton Farm Museum. 

Canon John explained that the Celtic Llan (religious enclosure), established by the Welsh missionary Winnow, beside the River Fowey, was replaced by an Anglo- Saxon Church, later by a Norman structure and then by a 15^th century building, much of which remains. The development of the church has been influenced by the successful local agricultural economy, key families such as the Robartes, national events and incumbents who were in post for long periods. Renovation took place in the latter part of the 1800s and into the early 20^th century. Later work was influenced by the Arts and Crafts movement.

The church has some very impressive late Medieval and 16^th century carvings in the pew ends and some magnificent Medieval stained glass. The Church serves a widespread parish of 800 and services are regularly attended by over 35.  It is well supported by a successful Friends Group and exudes a feeling of being a well-loved building.

Following the Church visit Members visited the eclectic agricultural museum of St Winnow Barton Farm.

On Friday 19th July there will be a visit to St Austell Brewery at 11.30.  Guests are welcome. Please contact 01326 250604 

February 2019

Tony Brookes, a retired Camborne School of Mines lecturer and Gorsedd Bard shared his research at the Constantine History Group’s February meeting into iron mining in Cornwall.

February 2019

Tony Brookes, a retired Camborne School of Mines lecturer and Gorsedd Bard shared his research at the Constantine History Group’s February meeting into iron mining in Cornwall. A veritable Cinderella to the mining of copper and tin. Mining of iron was small scale in Cornwall and evidence on the ground is often absent as the waste was not poisonous and could be used. However, crop marks can often be seen from the air.

One of the largest mines was the Restormel Royal near Lostwithiel. The remains of surface working are still to be seen and Queen Victoria visited with Prince Albert in 1846 and went underground.

Within the parish of Constantine there are two known mines one on Polpenwith Creek called Wheal Mary Ann and the other between Constantine and Port Navas. The Brogden mine was owned by a Welsh company and worked from 1854 – 1875.Between 1869 and 1875 the mine produce just under 10,000 tons of ore. It was a seasonal mine and was pumped out with a portable steam engine each spring. Today all that can be seen is a thicket around one of the shafts and a few mounds of waste.

Charlotte Mackenzie will be speaking about Captain Joseph Banfield, a Cornish sea captain, on March 15^that 19.15 in the WI Hall Constantine.  Visitors are welcome.