A big thank you to the Cornwall Heritage Trust and English Heritage volunteers, who came together from across Cornwall and Devon earlier this month to enhance the setting of the historic West Cornwall settlement of Carn Euny.
One of the best-preserved ancient villages in the South West, 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 two days of work saw volunteers join English Heritage and Cornwall Heritage Trust staff to undertake preservation work at the site, which included the removal of turf build-up from two houses and the laying of fresh gravel.
Gravel was first laid at the site in the 1960s in order to make it easier for visitors to appreciate the relationship between the interior and exterior parts of the complex. However, over time, turf has built up over this surface requiring maintenance.
The work is part of the second phase of an ongoing project at Carn Euny and a continuation of turf removal and gravel laying undertaken by volunteers in 2019. Future sessions are to be arranged to carry out the same works in three further houses in the ancient village.
Cathy Woolcock, CEO of Cornwall Heritage Trust, said: “I would like to thank all the volunteers who helped with this important enhancement of the Carn Euny site and we are especially grateful for the goodwill and assistance of the neighbouring farmer, Melville Wherry. CHT is presently planning to involve volunteers in a range of projects in the coming years and anyone interested in taking part can sign up on the Cornwall Heritage Trust website.”
Win Scutt, English Heritage Curator, said: “Carn Euny is a wonderful site and the work we have carried out makes it much easier for visitors to understand. The new gravel surfaces make the courtyards and houses so much clearer and also protect the sensitive buried archaeology from erosion. Working with our volunteers makes the whole job rewarding and so much fun too.”
Carn Euny is managed through a partnership between English Heritage and Cornwall Heritage Trust. Admission to the site, which includes a stone-walled underground passage (known as a fogou), is free and there is a free car park at Brane for visitors to use.
For additional information about Carn Euny, visit:
www.cornwallheritagetrust.org/our_sites/carn-euny/
www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/carn-euny-ancient-village/
Photo credit: Gavin Parsons / English Heritage
It’s just over two weeks until we light up the Beacons at Sancreed and Castle an Dinas to officially launch our £49,832 community history project and celebrate The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee – and we can’t wait!
Everyone is invited to the lightings which are taking place from 7pm at Sancreed Beacon, Penzance and 8.30pm at Castle an Dinas, St Columb Major on Thursday 2 June 2022.
The events are entirely free and open to all members of the public. Free pasties and refreshments will be served.
To book your free pasty and for full details of timings, head here
www.cornwallheritagetrust.org/community/platinum-jubilee-beacon-lighting-celebrations/
The lightings mark the official launch of a landmark two-year project, which will see us creating and growing community engagement and volunteering opportunities across our sites, with a particular focus on Sancreed and Castle an Dinas.
We are so excited to launch this project, which will involve creating dedicated community groups at these two sites, as well as school visits, workshops, volunteering opportunities, guided walks and outreach events to gather more information about the history of these localities and to enable people to find out more about the heritage in their local landscape.
Huge thanks go to the National Lottery Community Fund for making this project possible, as part of its Platinum Jubilee funding. In honour of this, the Beacon lightings will also mark the 70 years of Her Majesty the Queen’s reign, as part of the Jubilee’s official programme of celebrations.
The Beacons will be lit by people nominated by local communities for the amazing things they have done to preserve and strengthen heritage in Cornwall.
A huge thank you to everyone who is making this wonderful night possible.
Looking forward to celebrating with you all there!
We are delighted to announce that we have been awarded £49,832 from the National Lottery Community Fund as part of the Platinum Jubilee funding launched to celebrate 70 years of Her Majesty the Queen’s reign.
The Platinum Jubilee funding was designed to create a greater legacy for our places and spaces, aimed at projects that support new opportunities, inspire activities and build better relationships with one another across the generations and with the natural world.
Our two-year project will focus on creating and growing community engagement and volunteering opportunities across our heritage sites, with a particular focus on Sancreed and Castle an Dinas, where we plan to create dedicated community groups.
We will be running school visits and workshops, as well as Story Cafés and outreach events to gather more information about the history of the localities around these fascinating spaces.
There will also be the chance to get hands-on, as part of the funding will enable us to carry out a site clearance project at Sancreed Beacon with our new volunteers. If you are interested in signing up to become a volunteer, click here. We will also be leading guided walks on the sites to enable people to find out more about the heritage in their local landscape.
The project officially launches on 2nd June when we will join the national beacon lighting event to mark the Platinum Jubilee. Beacons will be lit at Castle an Dinas and Sancreed Beacon at 9.45pm and we hope to be joined by the local communities as well as members and friends.
The legacy of this funding will see our historically important sites being cared for by local people who work with the Trust, improving the spaces for everyone to enjoy. By working with schools and young people we will ensure that future generations are also inspired to care for their local heritage and continue to look after the sites.
We plan to use this project as a model for our other sites and establish volunteering as a key element of our work moving forwards. It is hoped that as volunteer numbers grow, we will be able to expand the scheme to also include neighbouring sites and places of interest. The skills and knowledge gained during this project will then be shared so that more people benefit as the scheme continues to grow.
Thank you to National Lottery players for making this possible!
Cornwall Heritage Trust is proud to have purchased Caer Bran – an important multi-age hillfort site near Sancreed, which contains archaeological remains from both the Bronze Age and Iron Age periods. The purchase allows the Trust to protect the nine-hectare site from possible development and intensive agricultural use, recognising its importance as a site of unique Cornish heritage.
CEO Cathy Woolcock said “We are excited to have been able to add Caer Bran to the collection of sites across Cornwall that we manage and protect and which are all accessible by the public for free. Cornwall Heritage Trust seeks to preserve and strengthen Cornwall’s heritage and educate current and future generations about the heritage significance of the landscapes we live in; Caer Bran will help us to do this.”
Traditionally considered to be an Iron Age enclosure, recent research shows that Caer Bran actually had origins in the Bronze Age, with the construction of three ring cairns set within a hilltop enclosure. These can still be viewed at the site. Re-enclosure of the monument took place in the Iron Age with a more substantial bank and ditch, and this continuity shows the importance of Caer Bran to the people of the local area.
‘Caer is Cornish for fort’ and Bran means ‘raven’ but, Caer Bran could also mean the “fort of Bran,” which is a reference to Bran the Blessed, a mythological Celtic king.
CHT Chairman Lt Col Richard Trant said:
“The Trust has been tracking the Caer Bran property for many years and we were hugely excited when it came back on the market over the Christmas period. It is therefore tremendously pleasing that we have now secured this very special site for the future.
Caer Bran is a property which, as an example of Iron Age presence in Cornwall, has great archaeological importance. Equally, it gives sanctuary to some wonderful flora and fauna, our natural heritage, that the Trust will also protect and nurture.
Caer Bran is a jewel of a site which complements our adjacent sites in West Penwith. Its purchase aligns perfectly with our recently reviewed strategic purpose to protect and preserve Cornish heritage sites for ‘One and All’. I would like to thank the CHT team for their hard work to secure Caer Bran and also a big thank you to Historic England for their potential support of this Cornish gem.”
Cornwall Heritage Trust already own neighbouring Sancreed Beacon, and manage the nearby ancient village of Carn Euny. These sites are freely open to the public and more information about them can be found at www.cornwallheritagetrust.org
Cornwall Heritage Trust presents a Cornish Story Cafe – HMS Warspite with Richard Holme.
This fascinating story of the battleship HMS Warspite, renowned for her numerous battle honours, ending her days wrecked off Prussia Cove, will be told by Marine historian Richard Holme.
The free event starts at 3pm on Thursday 24th February at the Marazion Community Centre.
For more information and details on how to book a free place, please visit our Story Cafes web page.
Notice is hereby given that the 36th AGM of the Cornwall Heritage Trust will take place by Zoom on Wednesday 1st December at 3pm
Last year we were unable to hold a public AGM due to the lockdown restrictions and the decision was reluctantly made that it was necessary to hold a closed meeting online. This year we are once again holding our AGM online, however we are pleased to be able to open the meeting to all members and friends once again. The meeting will take place via Zoom on Wednesday 1st December 2021 at 3pm; if you would like to join us you will need to register via EventBrite to receive a Zoom link to use to access the meeting.
Agenda and Draft Minutes from AGM 2020
A copy of the agenda for the AGM is available to download, along with the minutes of last year’s AGM; the draft 2020-21 Annual Accounts will be posted as soon as they are available. If you would like a paper copy of any of the documents please contact the office, an A4 stamped addressed envelope would be much-appreciated.
CHT Draft AGM Minutes 19.11.20
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.
Following the success of their 2015 book Shout Kernow, which won the Waterstones’ Holyer an Gof Award, Sally Burley and Hilary Coleman turned their attention to exploring the continuity and revival of the Cornish carolling tradition. During 2016 they travelled around Cornwall, recording stories, memories and local versions of carols.
Cornish carols are special and have a long history which deserves recognition. These carols are part of Cornwall’s rich communal singing. “We hoped the book would raise awareness of them and preserve this heritage as well as increasing knowledge of Cornish history through the background of the carols and the local stories” said Sally Burley.
Funded by the Cornish Heritage Trust, The Federation of Old Cornwall Societies and the Red River Singers, the book is accompanied by 2 CDs of recordings and contains 32 carols with associated history and photos.
‘Hark! The Glad Sound of Cornish Carols’ was published in November 2017 and immediately sold extremely well virtually selling out within a month! Hilary and Sally were delighted when they also received an Holyer An Gof award in 2018 as well as the publishers cup!
They will be telling tales of their adventures as well as ‘illustrating’ their talk with songs, helped out by the Red River Singers. They will also provide songbooks so people can join in if they wish.
Free Tickets available to book via Eventbrite
We are very grateful to Cornwall Community Foundation who helped to fund our story cafes.
Last week our Story Cafe Trethevy Quoit with Andy Jones took place via Zoom and live streamed to our Facebook page. If you missed it, or would like to watch it again, we have now uploaded a recording onto the CHT Youtube Channel.
Andy is the Principal Archaeologist with the Cornwall Archaeological Unit, and gave an excellent presentation on the findings of a recent archaeological dig at Trethevy Quoit as well as a fascinating insight into portal dolmens putting the Cornish quoits into context.
We have been working on a short film – The Costume Project – which looks at the way, miners, fishermen, fishwives and Bal maidens were dressed and the way in which this evolved.
Our thanks to Merv and Alison Davey for their hard work researching the content of this resource which will be freely available for everyone interested in Cornwall’s heritage.
It is available to view on our Youtube Channel :
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJeiIM4f9G75GhsHh3J7H-w
On Thursday 21st October at 7.30pm we will be hosting our October Story Cafe ‘Trethevy Quoit’ with Andy Jones via Zoom and live on our Facebook page.
In our free virtual Story Cafe, Andy Jones will provide a summary of the findings of the 2019 excavations and the ongoing research.
Trethevy quoit, an impressive Neolithic ‘dolmen’ burial chamber stands 2.7m high, comprising 5 standing stones surmounted by a huge capstone. Cornwall Heritage Trust acquired the field in which the Quoit stands in 2016 to improve access and preserve the quoit. Trethevy Quoit was put on Heritage at Risk Register in 2017 due to past erosion by livestock and fencing damage. Now owned by Cornwall Heritage Trust and Historic England active monitoring and stability of the site is being maintained.
An archaeological excavation in 2019 made an exciting discovery. Volunteers of Cornwall Heritage Trust and the Cornwall Archaeological Unit took part in the dig, which was supervised by Andy Jones. A large below-ground feature was found positioned close to the Quoit itself and, on investigation, this was found to be a significant platform of greenstone. The material had been quarried locally and brought to the site and was clearly an integral part of the monument.
Andy Jones, the Principal Archaeologist with the Cornwall Archaeological Unit, graduated from Sheffield University’s Department of Archaeology and Prehistory in 1991. His interests include the Neolithic and Bronze Age periods.
Tickets to book a place on the Zoom event will be available from 28th September (pm) : https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/trethevy-quoit-a-virtual-story-cafe-with-andy-jones-tickets-180749766417
The story cafe will be simultaneously live streaming to our Cornwall Heritage Trust Facebook page during the event. After the event a recording of the story cafe will be uploaded to our Youtube channel and website.
Funded by Cornwall Community Foundation
Our judging panel of trustees have chosen the winning 12 photos, they had the very difficult task choosing from just under 150 fabulous entries. Congratulations to the 12 winners!
The theme for our 2022 Calendar is “Heritage in our Landscape”, and will be available for sale on our website in September.
1st Prize: Trethevy Quoit, St Cleer, by Rogan Hart
2nd Prize: The Mount under the stars, by Tim Pearson
3rd Prize: Above The Dawn, overlooking Looe Harbour, by Ryan Lean
The Iconic crowns engine houses Botallack, near St Just, by Andy Green
Hurlers, by Sally Hawken
Sun Halo and Germoe War Memorial, Tregonning Hill, by Carolyn Kennett
Merry Maidens, by Tim Pearson
A Gorse-geous Wheal Coates, St Agnes, by Ian Lewis
Storm at Sennen, Sennen Cove, by Paula Stanley
A pair of Cornish Choughs atop an Engine House Chimney near St Agnes, by Lisa MacLeod
Towan Roath Engine House shadow falling on the aqua waves of Chapel Porth beach below, by Lisa MacLeod
Step To It, Stepper Point, near Padstow by Ryan Lean
Furniss Bakery
We are proud that Furniss Bakery are sponsoring our photography competition and calendar this year. Furniss are the oldest and most cherished Cornish biscuit brand since 1886. With so much heritage, we’re delighted to have their support!
Furniss, the oldest and most cherished Cornish biscuit brand since 1886. Still baking biscuits in the heart of Cornwall, with the same passion as our founder Mr John Cooper Furniss, creating unique and exceptional biscuits for today’s consumers. Home of the “Furniss Original Cornish Fairing” since 1886.
https://www.furniss-foods.co.uk/
St Justin
We are delighted that St Justin are continuing their support of our charity by supporting our calendar. St Justin make Cornish Made Jewellery – Silver, Bronze, Pewter and Tin – designed and made in Cornwall. Watch this space for further news on our partnership!
St Justin make Cornish Made Jewellery – Silver, Bronze, Pewter and Tin – designed and made in Cornwall. Their inspiration is drawn from the sea, the sand, the wildlife and the azure blue colours that surround us.
