We thought that a few stories of Christmas past may be of interest and these extracts (paraphrased) from the Newsletter of The Cornish Association of Victoria (Ballarat Branch) of December 2025, caught our eye. Cornish Christmas Customs In Cornwall, there is a time-honoured observance attached to the early hours of Christmas morning. The adults…Continue Reading “Christmas Past – Cornish Style”
Marking the Centenary of Alfred Wallis’s start as an artist in August 1925 After the death of his wife Susan in 1922, Alfred Wallis was living alone in a two-room cottage in the old part of St Ives nearest the harbour, known as Downlong. He wasn’t important or well-known, and had a small circle of…Continue Reading “100 years of Alfred Wallis”
A portrait of St Ives by the late Mary Quick (1929-2021) who was born and raised there. It was probably written circa 2015. We are grateful to her family for allowing it to be published here. Over recent years St Ives has been recognised worldwide as a holiday resort, attracting visitors from many countries as…Continue Reading “As Time Went By”
A Cornish Dialect series by Tony Mansell “Ere Sid, ave ee eard bout Mary Prout, they d’say she’s caught religion. Born again, that’s what I eard.” “Mary, I don’t believe n. Not with the way she’ve put erself bout in the past. Hell, she’s had everythin on offer and gone back for seconds.” “Bleddy right…Continue Reading “Sidney Zacharius Penpraze – The Calling”
William Lovett (8th May 1800-1877) was born in Newlyn, Penzance, the son of the Captain of a small fishing vessel. His father, also called William, drowned before William Junior was born. His mother, Keziah Davey Green, came from Sancreed; she was a strict Methodist and so naturally, William was sent to the local Methodist Sunday…Continue Reading “William Lovett – Cornishman, Chartist and Social Reformer”
In June 2007, the Rt Revd Bill Ind, Bishop of Truro, wrote: “I am often asked about my attitude to the Prayer Book Rebellion and in my opinion, there is no doubt that the English Government behaved brutally and stupidly and killed many Cornish people. I don’t think apologising for something that happened over…Continue Reading “The Prayer Book Rebellion / Cornish Commotion (A Potted History)”