Bernard Deacon's Blog, page 53

Helston’s Furry Day and Hal-an-Tow

Another iconic Cornish festival day. Another sad silence. Although traditional furry dances were held in several places across Cornwall within living memory I remember participating at Liskeard Helston is now regarded as the home of the furry. The event shares some aspects with Padstows Obby Oss the celebration of spring, traditional songs, Continue reading Helstons Furry Day and Hal-an-Tow →

West Wheal Seton: a working mine of the 1870s

West Wheal Seton was one of a number of mines around Camborne that were struggling to survive the mining depression of the 1870s. One after another, neighbouring mines were falling victim to low metal prices and their engines ceasing to pump. As a result, West Wheal Seton had almost closed in 1875, as it battled Continue reading West Wheal Seton: a working mine of the 1870s →

Slavery in Cornwall: the Bodmin manumissions

No-one likes to think their ancestors were slaves. These days, its probably much worse to imagine that our ancestors may have been slaveholders. Yet at the time of Domesday Book, in 1080, Cornwall had more than its fair share of slaves. These not only worked their lords land, like later serfs, but were owned outright Continue reading Slavery in Cornwall: the Bodmin manumissions →

Three Cornish surname puzzles

The following three surnames are all a little puzzling. Trevan looks like a classic trev- name, but it isnt. Theres a place called Trevan at Probus. However, this was originally Tolvan (from tal and ban, meaning brow of a hill). That placename also occurred at Constantine, Illogan and St Hilary in west Cornwall. In those

Let us all unite: May Day at Padstow

The words of the Obby Oss songs will not be heard this year. The osses will remain in their stables and Padstow will be eerily quiet tomorrow as this iconic Cornish festival comes to a temporary halt, brought low by a virus. Cheer up though! We can still remember May Day virtually, by viewing the Continue reading Let us all unite: May Day at Padstow →

Sir William Molesworth: an enigmatic Victorian

Sir William Molesworth is a character from the past who deserves more than the footnote usually devoted to him in histories of Cornwall. Born in May 1810, he was the eighth in a line of baronets and heir to Pencarrow, near Wadebridge. But he was an anomaly: patrician in appearance and manner but democratic in Continue reading Sir William Molesworth: an enigmatic Victorian →

When surnames mutate – why spelling matters

Often, the surnames we have nowadays can differ from their ancestors of half a millennium ago. In the case of the three below the difference is subtle but nevertheless significant in identifying their origin. There is a place called Trengrove in Menheniot, near Liskeard. But this was not the origin of the surname Trengrove. The

Joseph Emidy

In this week in 1835 the man who was possibly one of the most talented Cornwall-based classical music composers of all time passed away and was buried in Kenwyn churchyard, to be forgotten about for many years. But Joseph Antonio Emidy was no native to Cornwall. Instead, he had been born in Guinea in west Continue reading Joseph Emidy →

Child labour in 1851

With schools currently closed, our children are at home learning online (or not). Back in 1851 however, many would have been working for wages. Not all would have been in full-time employment but almost half of boys aged 10 to 14 in the 1851 census in Cornwall were recorded with an occupation. For girls the Continue reading Child labour in 1851 →

By Tre, Pol and Pen. But mainly Tre

My series of notes on the rarer Cornish surnames has reached the Tre- names and these will occupy the next few weeks. Its not the number of families with a Tre- name that is so impressive Willamses, Thomases and Richardses far outnumber them. Its the frequency and variety of Tre- names themselves. Tre is Continue reading By Tre, Pol and Pen. But mainly Tre →