The Church of St Gwinear – a Poem by David Oates

The Church of St Gwinear   Tucked away in a fold of the land just inland from the north coast, lies a church that bears a dedication to one of those wild Irish rovers who supposedly brought Christianity to Cornwall.  To stand there, today, is to be part of that ancient past.     Through…Continue Reading “The Church of St Gwinear – a Poem by David Oates”

Killagorden (Rosedale) Idless, Truro

 Tithe Map 1844   Killagorden has always been a fascination for me, especially when I was young. What was up that long drive on the back road from Idless and Polquick? It seemed to me that many Idless villagers spoke of it in somewhat hushed tones which enhanced the mystery for a child. When walking…Continue Reading “Killagorden (Rosedale) Idless, Truro”

National Minority – A Poem by Bert Biscoe

Another poem from the pen and voice of one of Cornwall’s foremost poets   National Minority Audio  Click above to listen     National Minority A powerful sun rose and stretched, Pushing back the clothes of cloud With which the old Earth wraps Herself to sleep in the doorway Of orbit’s midnight and early hours…Continue Reading “National Minority – A Poem by Bert Biscoe”

Notoriously Bad Was He

Little did I think as I watched the television drama Banished, that I would one day write about one of my relatives who experienced the same sentence as those featured in that series. The compelling serial, a fact-based, fictional account of life in an Australian penal colony, was based in Botany Bay whereas Charles Mansell…Continue Reading “Notoriously Bad Was He”

From Fuzzy Down to Busy Town

John Hockin’s corn store along the Strand, Bude.   Alan McIntosh brings us the story of how the members of the Edwards family progressed from being lowly employed labourers to owning businesses involved in the early development of Bude’s trade.   Research shows that the Edwards family probably came to Cornwall by links with the…Continue Reading “From Fuzzy Down to Busy Town”

Charles Chegwyn – A Grass Roots Bandsman

Charles Chegwyn By Tony Mansell   Henry Chegwyn (1829-1924), Charlie’s father, was born and died in Trevella, a house in Algers (Algiers on maps), Feock, which his father had built. He was a stonemason and at least two of his children, including Charles who is the subject of this article, followed him into that trade….Continue Reading “Charles Chegwyn – A Grass Roots Bandsman”