Do you know an unsung hero or heroine, who has made a significant contribution to Cornwall’s heritage in a voluntary capacity?
If you do, we are currently inviting nominations for our annual Heritage Champion Awards and would love to hear from you!
“There are so many people who quietly do so much for Cornwall’s heritage, so celebrating their hard work and dedication like this is incredibly special. We want to hear from as many people as possible so please get in touch, whether it’s about an incredible person you’ve met at a heritage site or someone in your local community who goes above and beyond to protect Cornwall’s landscape, stories and communities.” Cathy Woolcock, Cornwall Heritage Trust CEO
The awards, which are set to take place this November at Scorrier House, are sponsored by Coodes Solicitors, a leading Cornish-based law firm with a long and proud history that dates back 275 years.
“As Cornwall’s longest established legal firm marking our 275th anniversary this year, we fully understand and recognise the importance of celebrating Cornwall’s rich heritage. We are delighted to be partnering with Cornwall Heritage Trust as a ‘Heritage Hero.’ Cornwall has a long, strong history and Coodes is proud to be a part of that.” Peter Lamble, Chairman of Coodes
Recent individual award winners include…
Will Coleman, for his involvement in projects such as the Man Engine and Golden Tree Productions; Cheryl Straffon, for her work with CASPN, FOCAS and the Penwith Landscape Partnership Project; Carole Vivian; for establishing and organising the Cornwall Association of Local Historians (CALH); and Captain George Hogg; for his involvement with the National Maritime Museum Cornwall and the Bartlett Library.]
The award is presented in honour of our former Chairman, who, following a distinguished career in the Army, dedicated his remaining years to helping promote Cornwall’s unique and distinct heritage.
How to submit your nomination…
Nominations can be submitted by all members of the public and should be supported by letters from people with first-hand knowledge of the nominee, who can endorse their contribution or supply additional information.
The closing date for nominations is Friday 21st October.
Nominations can be submitted here https://www.cornwallheritagetrust.org/about-us/heritage-champions/nomination/
Cornwall Heritage Trust volunteers helped uncover archaeological finds thought to date back over 120 years, as part of a day of conservation and restoration work taking place at Sancreed Beacon last weekend.
One of twelve historic sites protected by Cornwall Heritage Trust, Sancreed Beacon is a beautiful stretch of natural moorland located near Penzance. Part of the Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and West Penwith International Dark Sky Park, it is a designated County Wildlife Site and is shortly to become a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
It is home to a wide variety of flora, fauna and historic remains as well as four rare Dartmoor ponies, who help the Trust with the management of the bracken through their grazing. The conservation day involved the practical clearance of debris in an area of the Beacon that has historically been used as a midden or refuse site. As a result of the work, a significant number of interesting historic artefacts were uncovered, some of which date back to the Victorian period.
One of the oldest finds of the day was an Elliman’s Embrocation bottle, which is thought to date from around c.1880 to 1900. The bottle would have originally housed a medicine made of eggs, turpentine and vinegar that was said to help with aching muscles and joints.
Volunteers therefore also supported the Trust’s archaeological team in processing and recording these finds in order to help the charity learn more about activity at Sancreed over the years.
Whether it’s conserving our sites, leading guided walks, helping at events or conducting heritage research, there are lots of ways to volunteer at Cornwall Heritage Trust. It’s the chance to join a supportive team and make new friends, make a difference to your local heritage, share your knowledge and experience, and learn and develop new skills and interests.
We are hosting a talk about Ancient Penwith this October and warmly invite you to join us.
Taking place at Pendeen Parish Hall on Monday 3rd October at 11am, this special talk will focus on the invaluable living heritage which is looked after by our friends at the Penwith Landscape Partnership. The talk will be led by Laura Ratcliffe-Warren, Ancient Penwith Officer at Penwith Landscape Partnership.
Graduating from Cardiff in Archaeological Conservation in 2001, Laura has since worked in Museums and in the field on both archaeological and cultural material, from individual objects to wider sites and collections. She currently works as a freelance Conservator and an Ancient Penwith Officer for the Penwith Landscape Partnership in West Cornwall, working in a living heritage landscape to conserve, enhance and promote aspects of it through community engagement.
The talk is open to the general public and free of charge. Refreshments, including pasties, will be served. Cornwall Heritage Trust members are welcome to attend and were also previously given exclusive access to book their places.
If you would like to book a place, we recommend doing so without delay as we expect they will go incredibly quickly. Numbers are restricted and places are available on a first-come-first-served basis.
If you would like to attend, please click here to book your free place.
Cornwall Heritage Trust hosts a number of Story Cafes throughout the year to bring Cornwall’s unique and distinct heritage to life and preserve its stories for future generations. Previous Story Cafés have ranged from discussing archaeological excavations at Trethevy Quoit to exploring the forgotten stories of Cornish miners from the Kolar Gold Fields.
Cornwall Heritage Trust is partnering with Geevor Tin Mine Museum to offer its members free entry to the site.
Geevor Tin Mine was the last mine to work the famous St Just Mining District, the site of the largest number of undersea tin and copper mines in the world. Today it is a family-friendly, multi-award-winning heritage attraction and museum. Cornwall’s rich mining history set in the wild and rugged landscape on the North Atlantic Coast makes Geevor a must-visit location within the Cornish Mining World Heritage Sites.
Membership Manager, Sophie Meyer said: “Cornwall’s rich mining history is something we are incredibly proud of here at the Trust so it’s wonderful to give our members free access to Geevor, which is such an important part of that industrial heritage.”
Free entry to Geevor Tin Mine Museum is the latest benefit to be enjoyed by Cornwall Heritage Trust members as a thank you for their ongoing support of its work to preserve and strengthen Cornwall’s rich and distinct heritage.
These benefits include free entry to English Heritage’s Tintagel Castle, Restormel Castle, St Mawes Castle, Pendennis Castle, Launceston Castle, and Chysauster Ancient Village, 50% off entry at Wheal Martyn China Clay Museum, 50% off Adult Admission to King Edward Mine and 50% off entry to the Vale of Avalon/Arthurian Centre.
The Trust also hosts a packed calendar of special events and guided walks throughout the year, which its members receive priority access to attend.
*Please note Cornwall Heritage Trust members gain free entry to Cornwall’s English Heritage sites on non-event days. An additional charge is required on event days, such as the Legendary Joust or Pirates! at Pendennis Castle, and on some bank holidays. Please check www.english-heritage.org.uk in advance of your visit.
Thanks to a grant from the National Lottery Community Fund, we are inviting applications from an organisation or individual to design and lead a series of education workshops to be delivered to Primary Schools near Sancreed Beacon and Castle an Dinas. This project has been made possible as part of the Platinum Jubilee funding.
Who we are looking for
We are looking for an organisation or individual with the following:
- A passion for Cornwall’s history and for inspiring the next generation to understand and care about their heritage
- An understanding of conservation issues or a partner who can fulfil that element
- Ability to lead traditional craft activities or a partner who can fulfil that element
- Demonstrable experience of successfully delivering workshops to Key Stage 2 children
- Suitably qualified staff with a proven track record of designing curriculum-based activities
- Policies and procedures in place for risk assessment, safeguarding and child protection and letters of assurance relating to the relevant DBS checks etc.
If you think this could be you, please take a look at the information pack here
The deadline for applications is Monday 7th October 2022 at midday
A huge thank you to the volunteers who last week joined us to continue the vital preservation work taking place at the historic West Cornwall settlement of Carn Euny.
A well-preserved ancient village, Carn Euny is located near Sancreed, Penzance. The Iron Age and Romano-British courtyard house settlement was occupied from about 500 BC to AD 400.
The work, which is part of an ongoing project at the site, included the removal of turf and the build-up of vegetation from within the ancient buildings and the laying of gravel within the internal spaces.
We are hugely grateful for the support of our volunteers. Their hard work has helped us maintain this unique Cornish heritage site for future generations!
One of twelve historic Cornish sites that Cornwall Heritage Trust protects, Carn Euny is free to enter and open to the general public throughout the year. There’s much to explore at the site including the chance to step inside its most intriguing feature – a huge stone-walled underground chamber known as a fogou.
Whether it’s conserving our sites, leading guided walks, helping at events or conducting heritage research, there are lots of ways to volunteer at Cornwall Heritage Trust. Find out more about volunteering with the Trust here https://www.cornwallheritagetrust.org/support-us/volunteer/
Cornwall Heritage Trust has received a huge boost to the ecological management of the historic sites it protects, having been awarded nearly £20K from the Banister Charitable Trust.
The £19,942 of funds will go towards undertaking ecological surveys at each of the historic sites the Trust owns in order to create management plans to protect rare habitats and endangered species. As a result of the grant, Cornwall Heritage Trust will also employ a Countryside Ranger to introduce the recommendations and best practise from these plans as part of the grant.
The small independent charity protects over 100 acres of historic landscapes and heritage sites spanning the breadth of Cornwall from Caer Bran in the far West, to Dupath Well in the East. Three of its properties are designated County Wildlife Sites and two are soon to become Sites of Special Scientific Interest.
Cathy Woolcock, CEO of Cornwall Heritage Trust said: “We’re hugely grateful for the Banister Charitable Trust’s support! We’re incredibly proud of the huge range of landscapes and biodiversity we look after and this grant will provide us with the knowledge required to manage these special places with consideration for their unique and complex ecological needs.”
Notice is hereby given that the AGM of the Cornwall Heritage Trust will take place at Krowji, in Redruth, on Wednesday 12th October 2022 at 4pm.
We are delighted to confirm that the meeting will take place in person this year, however, we will also be offering the option of joining by Zoom if preferred. If you would like to join us through Zoom please contact the office and we will send out a link.
Agenda and Draft Minutes from AGM 2021
A copy of the agenda for the AGM is available to download below, along with the minutes of last year’s AGM and the draft 2021-22 Annual Accounts. If you are unable to access the documents, please let us know and we will send you a paper copy in the post.
CHT Draft AGM Minutes 01.12.2021
CHT Draft 2021-22 Annual Accounts
You will notice that we have tabled a special resolution which relates to our Articles of Association; this document contains the written rules about running the Limited Company and is agreed by the members and directors (trustees). During lockdown, we took the opportunity to review and update the Articles of Association because it had been many years since this exercise had taken place and we needed to bring it up to date. A copy of the amended document can be downloaded here and please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any queries. There are no major changes.
If you have any queries relating to the agenda or wish to propose a matter for discussion please do get in touch by email at info@cornwallheritagetrust.org.
Due to the sad news this afternoon of the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II we are postponing all imminent events and activities out of respect. Unfortunately this includes tomorrow’s planned walks at Caer Bran; we hope you understand.
We will be in touch with those people booked to attend the postponed walks in due course.
Cornwall Heritage Trust has received a revenue grant of £30,000 from the Garfield Weston Foundation.
A small independent charity, Cornwall Heritage Trust works to preserve and strengthen Cornwall’s unique heritage through its grant schemes, education projects and the managing of 12 historic sites across Cornwall. These sites, which include the Hurler Stone Circles, Castle an Dinas, Treffry Viaduct and Sancreed Beacon, are all open to the general public and free to enter throughout the year.
The money will go towards the charity’s ongoing costs to implement its business development plan, which aims to ensure that it can continue to connect people with Cornwall’s landscape, stories and communities for many years to come.
Cornwall Heritage Trust CEO, Cathy Woolcock said: “This award is absolutely fantastic news! The money will make an enormous difference as we move forwards with our Business Development Plan and all the exciting things we have coming up as part of it. For a small charity like us, the importance of a grant like this is huge and we are extremely grateful to the Garfield Weston Foundation for its support.”
We have another exciting opportunity for people to get involved with the vital conservation work we do this September – it’s at Sancreed Beacon, and even includes the chance to assist our team working with archaeological finds.
Date: Sunday 18th September 2022
Time slots: Morning (10am to 1pm), Afternoon (1pm to 4pm) and All Day (10am to 4pm)
Location: Sancreed Beacon, Sancreed, Penzance, TR20 8QT
There are various tasks to be undertaken to help restore and conserve the site, including the practical clearance of debris and supporting our archaeological finds team. It is thought that there are a significant number of interesting artefacts from the last 100 years at the site, so you can be involved in the processing and recording of archaeological finds in order to help us learn more about activity at Sancreed over the years.
No previous experience is required and our Sites Officer, Dick Cole, will be on hand as team leader throughout the day to offer support and advice should you need it.
We are hugely grateful for your support and if you are interested in taking part, we would love to hear from you.
Would you like to take part?
Places are limited so if you would like to take part, we recommend signing up with delay to avoid disappointment.
If you haven’t already registered as a volunteer with Cornwall Heritage Trust, then please complete our volunteering form here:
https://www.cornwallheritagetrust.org/support-us/volunteer/volunteer-registration-form/
To sign up for the Sancreed Beacon Conservation day, please click here:
https://forms.gle/wCSVw4ZPBig4Y8gY6
We received over 180 entries for our 2023 Calendar Photo Competition and are extremely excited to announce the winners.
The theme this year was “Historic Landmarks in Cornwall”, which resulted in an incredible array of images showcasing the iconic and important heritage sites that make Cornwall such a special place.
Thank you to everyone who entered! The standard, as always, was incredibly high and the talent and creativity on show were a joy to see.
The judging panel was spoilt for choice and had an extremely tough job whittling down the entries to the final 12 winners. Huge congratulations to you all!
The top prizes go to…
1st Prize: Boscawen-ûn Stone Circle by Tim Pearson
2nd Prize: St Germans Viaduct by Alan Murtough
3rd Prize: Strawberry Moon over St Michael’s Mount by Ainsley Cocks
The other competition winners are…
Lizard Lifeboat Light by Brian Bell
The iron bridge over the creek on the Camel Trail by Darri Simms
Lanyon Quoit by Georgie Ball
South Crofty, Pool by Kai Greet
Don’t Feed the Birds (at Polperro) by Lee James Kershaw
Godrevy Lighthouse meets Storm Arwen by Paula Green
A Stormy Bodmin Moor by Poppy Gitsham
Castle Approach, St Mawes Castle by Ryan Lean
Wheal Owles by Tim Pearson
Our 2023 Calendar features all 12 of these fantastic images and is available to purchase from our online shop, priced at £6.00 plus postage.
To order yours today, click here
