My name is Sue Ward, and I grew up in Melbourne Australia with what I would later learn was a Cornish surname, Tonkin. I was approaching my 40th birthday when I asked my father about our heritage. His reply was vague and trailed off into silence when I realised that ‘Definitely a little bit Scottish…Continue Reading “William Tonkin (1827-1895) my great-great grandfather”
Oh, ye who never knew the joys, try it! Remember Redruth Market, there you can have all in perfection and in no town in the kingdom is there greater abundance or quality… ~ a London gentleman, 1778 …the absurd notion which is held by the illiterate… ~ Cornish Telegraph, 21 October 1857, p2 …Continue Reading “Two Shillings and Sixpence: A Cornish Wife Sale”
Map of St Ives dated 1908 St Ives Wesleyan Chapel is often referred to as ‘The Mother Church of Cornish Methodism’ Compiled by Val Thomas. St Ives Old Cornwall. With the help of many reference books (particularly ‘St Ives Heritage’ Lena and Donald Bray), newspaper reports, St Ives Museum and Brian and Margaret…Continue Reading “St Ives Wesleyan Chapel, Chapel Street, Lower Stennack, St Ives”
Gwennap Pit It’s the heart of the Methodist world Where John Wesley made his mark And as the people came to listen Something profound had made a start Let your light shine, were his words Miss no opportunity to do others good We would do well to just remember Were these sentiments understood?…Continue Reading “Gwennap Pit – a poem by Ruth Tremayne Harry”
An almshouse is defined as “a unit of residential accommodation (usually a house or flat) which belongs to a charity, is provided exclusively to meet the charity’s purposes (for example, the relief of financial need or infirmity) and is occupied or is available for occupation under a licence by a qualified beneficiary”1. The Henry Williams…Continue Reading “The Pydar Street Almshouses”
I suppose it’s safe to say, that over the years I have written a fair bit about the premier port of St Austell Bay, the port of Charlestown. The name ‘Porth-Meur’ or ‘Great Cove’ had been used for several hundred years, evolving through time, to become Porthmear, later Polmear, and later again, West Polmear. This…Continue Reading “The Port of Charlestown”