We are thrilled to announce the launch of Mid Cornwall Discovery Club, a series of free archaeology workshops taking place this Autumn for children aged 8-14.
The workshops are priced at £5 per child per workshop.
We are anticipating high demand for these workshops and booking will open on Monday 11th September at 6pm via Eventbrite. Places are extremely limited and will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis.
Parents and guardians may accompany their children but are also welcome to drop them off at the workshop if they prefer. Our Discovery Club Team Leaders are fully DBS checked and First Aid trained.
Further details can be found here https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/mid-cornwall-discovery-club-2607459
The deadline for nominations for our 2023 Heritage Champion has now passed.
Do you know someone who has made a significant contribution to Cornwall’s heritage in a voluntary capacity, and hasn’t yet received the recognition they deserve?
If you do, we are currently inviting nominations for our annual Heritage Champion Awards and would love to hear from you!
The awards, which are set to take place this November at Scorrier House, are once again sponsored by Coodes Solicitors, a leading Cornish-based law firm with a long and proud history that dates back 275 years.
Recent individual award winners…
Last year’s Heritage Champion winner was Elizabeth Dale for her work with the “Cornish Bird” blog which shines a light on Cornwall’s hidden places and untold stories. The blog is very well received with over 234,000 page views and over 7,400 Twitter followers.
Previous individual award winners also 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 6th October.
Vital maintenance work needs to take place to save the roof of St Cleer’s Well, a rare medieval holy well and wayside cross, situated in the middle of the village of St Cleer, near Liskeard. But we need your support to make it happen.
In order to protect this invaluable part of Cornwall’s heritage, we are looking to raise £8000 to completely repoint the roof of well house, which has been in need of this essential maintenance for some time.
Taken into the care of Cornwall Heritage Trust last November, the well is a Scheduled Monument and also Listed Grade One – a demarcation earned by only 2.5% of listed buildings, which Historic England defines as warranting “exceptional interest”.
Thought to date from the 15th century, St Cleer’s is the only example of a well house with an open porch-like design in Cornwall. Its pillars, arches and capitals are carved with simple mouldings and patterns which are also unusual in Cornwall at this date.
During the medieval period, holy wells sometimes functioned as sites for baptism but they were also revered for less tangible reasons, such as folklore beliefs in the healing powers of the water. According to Historic England, St Cleer’s, for example, had the reputation for “curing the lame, the blind and the insane”.
Historic England Heritage at Risk Project Officer, Ann Preston-Jones said: “During recent work to stabilise and repoint the walls enclosing the well-house, Rachel and Charlie from Old Light Building Conservation set up their scaffold-tower and gave me the opportunity to examine the roof.”
“Although it is built of massive blocks of granite and looks very secure, close examination showed that there are many gaps between the blocks, where pointing has eroded away and been lost with time. To secure the well-house for the future, and prevent it is essential that these repairs are carried out as soon as possible.”
St Cleer’s Well is a unique part of Cornwall’s heritage that deserves to be protected for future generations. All over Cornwall, there are heritage sites that are uncared for and at risk – some that are even lost forever. It is vital that its future is safeguarded!
This crowdfunding campaign offers rewards in return for your donation…
£5 or more
A donation certificate posted to you
£15 or more
St Cleer’s Well pin badge plus a donation certificate
£30 or more
Your chance to win Afternoon Tea for Two plus a St Cleer’s Well pin badge and donation certificate
£50 or more
St Cleer’s Well tote bag and your chance to win Afternoon Tea for Two plus a St Cleer’s Well pin badge and donation certificate
£100 or more
A Walk & Talk about St Cleer’s Well with a specialist, St Cleer’s Well tote bag and your chance to win Afternoon Tea for Two plus a St Cleer’s Well pin badge and donation certificate
£200 or more
Framed print of 19th century St Cleer’s Well engraving, a Walk & Talk about St Cleer’s Well with a specialist, St Cleer’s Well tote bag and your chance to win Afternoon Tea for Two plus a St Cleer’s Well pin badge and donation certificate
£400 or more
Signed original print by Lou Tonkin, a Walk & Talk about St Cleer’s Well with a specialist, St Cleer’s Well tote bag and your chance to win Afternoon Tea for Two plus a St Cleer’s Well pin badge and donation certificate
£400 or more
Life Membership of Cornwall Heritage Trust, a Walk & Talk about St Cleer’s Well with a specialist, St Cleer’s Well tote bag and your chance to win Afternoon Tea for Two plus a St Cleer’s Well pin badge and donation certificate
£600 or more
Joint Life Membership, a Walk & Talk about St Cleer’s Well with a specialist, St Cleer’s Well tote bag and your chance to win Afternoon Tea for Two plus a St Cleer’s Well pin badge and donation certificate
Last month, our Penwith Discovery Club programme was rounded off with the chance for children to roll up their sleeves and get hands-on with Penwith’s amazing archaeology at Sancreed Beacon.
The children spent a fabulous morning experiencing what life is like for a professional archaeologist and unearthed lots of interesting artefacts as part of their ‘dig’. The session had a wonderful atmosphere and it was so inspiring to see the sense of wonder on the children’s faces as they learnt more about archaeological practices.
This free club has proven incredibly popular over the last six months and our team is keen to expand its offering and locations over the coming year. Watch this space!
Penwith Discovery Club was made possible by funding from Penwith Landscape Partnership.
Photo credits: Keith Larby (https://www.akphotos.net/) / Cornwall Heritage Trust volunteer
This is a huge milestone for Cornwall Heritage Trust and we are incredibly grateful for your ongoing support.
The work we do to preserve and strengthen Cornwall’s heritage is made possible by you, our members and supporters, and it’s because this special community continues to grow that we can expand our work more and more.
Meur Ras! Thank you!
This September, we’re transforming The Lost Gardens of Heligan into a fabulous celebration of Cornwall’s heritage and we would love your help to make it happen.
We have many different jobs that you can help support us with including meeting and greeting, wayfinding, helping us with activities, merchandise and memberships, and setting up and packing down.
All volunteers will be expected to do a maximum of a 5-hour shift (dependent on your availability) and will be given a free ticket to the festival and entrance to the Lost Gardens of Heligan for the day.
Training and/or a walk-through will be provided for any activity volunteers if you are available on Friday 15th September at 4pm.
If you are able to offer your support at this event, please register your interest here https://app.etapestry.com/onlineforms/TheCornwallHeritageTrustLimit/awenek.html
We’re looking for a Business Administrator Apprentice – Advanced Level 3 (A Level), an exciting opportunity to enhance your career, giving you valuable on-the-job experience whilst working towards an industry recognised qualification.
Based: Head Office at Krowji, Redruth
Salary: £18,964.40 – National Minimum Living Wage £10.42 an hour
Expected duration: 18 Months
Possible start date: 18th September 2023
Benefits: Pension scheme (subject to eligibility) and membership of Cornwall Heritage Trust
What will the apprentice be doing?
Duties to include but not limited to:
- Mailbox monitoring.
- Processing Membership forms.
- Franking.
- Manual filing.
- Processing membership communications.
- Contributing to office management.
- Answering main phone line.
- Answering enquiries in the membership mailbox.
- Printing and preparing documents.
- Research for Cornwall Heritage Trust activities and outreach.
- Miscellaneous administrative tasks.
What training will the apprentice take and what qualification will the apprentice get at the end?
- You will be working towards a Level 3 Business Administrator Apprenticeship Standard.
- This apprenticeship consists of a mixture of off the job training and on the job mentoring and development within the workplace
- This will be delivered at Cornwall College St Austell once a fortnight.
What is the expected career progression after this apprenticeship?
On successful completion of the apprenticeship there may be the opportunity to stay on with Cornwall Heritage Trust as a permanent member of the team.
Find out more and apply here https://www.findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk/apprenticeship/1000187934
Are you looking for work outdoors? Do you enjoy working with your hands? Would you like to play a part in keeping an ancient Cornish craft and its heritage alive? If so Cornish hedging might be just for you!
Our friends at the Cornwall Rural Education and Skills Trust (CREST) have Cornish hedging training bursaries available to under 25 years and those experiencing financial hardship, for the following courses…
Lantra Guild Introductory Course @ £150 – 2 days
(suitable for beginners)
Lantra Guild Foundation Course @ £210 – 5 days
(suitable for beginners and those with some experience of hedging)
Lantra Guild Intermediate Course @ £375 – 10 days
(suitable for those who have completed a Foundation Course, or with some experience of hedging through work or volunteering)
They have spaces available on the following dates:
Foundation Course – Killas slate – 5 days – 28/8/2023 – 1/9/2023 – Lostwithiel – (bookings closing soon)
Intermediate – Part 1 – Dressed Granite – 5 days – 18/9/2023 – 22/9/2023 – Hillside Farm
Introductory Course – Field Granite – 2 days – 25/9/2023 – 26/9/2023 – Hillside Farm
Introductory Course – Field Granite – 2 days – 3/10/2023 – 4/10/2023 – Hillside farm
Introductory Course – Field Granite – 2 days – 6/10/2023 – 7/10/2023 – Bosavern Community Farm
Introductory Course – Field Granite – 2 days – 14/10/2023 and 21/10/23 – Bosavern Community Farm
Foundation Course – Killas slate – 5 days – 9/10/2023 – 13/10/2023 – Lostwithiel
Intermediate – Part 2 – Dressed Granite – 5 days – 16/10/2023 – 20/10/2023 – Hillside Farm
For further details on course content, please click here https://www.lantra.co.uk/products/search/cornish%20hedging?
To express your interest in attending a course, please email crest@cornwallheritagetrust.org
We are thrilled to announce that this September we are hosting a brand-new festival to celebrate Cornwall’s unique and distinct heritage, and booking for the general public is open!
Taking place on Saturday 16th September at The Lost Gardens of Heligan, this fun-filled day will be packed with an array of hands-on activities and demonstrations showcasing Cornwall’s arts, culture, traditions, and history.
The festival is called Awenek which means Creative in Cornish, and we really hope this celebration will spark your imagination!
Please note that the festival was launched to Cornwall Heritage Trust members on Friday 4th August, Heligan Members and Local Pass holders on Monday 7th August 2023 and to the general public today, Tuesday 8th August 2023.
Visitors will be given the chance to explore the gardens and watch demonstrations from historic re-enactors, take part in ‘Make and Take’ activities, listen to Cornish music and enjoy Cornish dancing and storytelling.
Try your hand at Cornish wrestling, explore an Early Medieval encampment or see the endangered craft of Cornish hedging in action with our friends from CREST. You can even sit back and watch Ed Rowe, ‘The Kernow King’ regale you with stories of Cornish heroes and heroines or cheer on our Cornish warriors in an exciting battle at the end of the day!
The event is included within the garden admission ticket price, and free for Heligan Local Pass and Membership holders.
Cornwall Heritage Trust members can also enjoy free entry to The Lost Gardens of Heligan on this day.
If you would like to book a ticket, we recommend doing so without delay as we expect places will go incredibly quickly. Numbers are restricted and places are available on a first-come-first-served basis.
Thank you to all the people who have already signed up for our Ranger Days. We’ve just added some new dates for opportunities at Treffry Viaduct and Trethevy Quoit.
Work such as this is a vital part of helping us protect these ancient monuments and the natural habitats that they are part of, and we are hugely grateful for any support you can give. Participants are welcome to join as many or as few sessions as they wish.
No experience is required and support and equipment will be provided.
Although we are keen to accommodate all offers to volunteer, on some occasions we are restricted to the number of volunteers that can participate on site. Places in these instances will be allocated on a first-come first-served basis.
Treffry Viaduct
POSTPONED Tuesday 5th September
10am-3pm
Mud Clearance
POSTPONED Wednesday 6th September
10am-3pm
Mud Clearance
Trethevy Quoit
Wednesday 13th September
12pm-4pm
Grassland Management
Friday 20th October
10am-3pm
Hedge Management
Today we are launching a new fund to support our mission to rescue Cornwall’s historic sites!
All over Cornwall, there are heritage sites that are uncared for and at risk – some that are even lost forever. It is vital that their future is safeguarded and that’s where the Historic Sites Fund comes in.
In the last two years, our collection of sites has grown by 36%, a figure that is swiftly exceeding our targets to sustainably grow our work as a leading heritage body in Cornwall. If a historic site needs protecting, we want to help and that’s why your support is vital in making this happen.
Every penny you donate to our Historic Sites Fund will go towards purchasing and managing historic Cornish sites which need our support. Any donation, big or small, makes a huge difference.
The historic sites we care for are all open to the public and free to enter. Your donation will help ensure that everyone can access the special places that make Cornwall unique – one and all.
In the current economic climate, your support is more valuable than ever. Please donate today.
The latest site we hope to acquire is Tregonning Hill near Helston, which contains monuments dating back to the Bronze Age and is known as the birthplace of the global china clay industry. The site went up for sale by a private individual in July, and we hope to purchase it to protect it for everyone and ensure public access remains.
An independent charity that protects historic sites across Cornwall has announced its bid to purchase a historic Cornish hill near Helston which went up for sale last month.
Cornwall Heritage Trust cares for 14 Cornish historic sites and is hoping to purchase Tregonning Hill, a historic site which contains monuments dating back to the Bronze Age and is known as the birthplace of the global china clay industry.
The charity submitted an offer shortly after the property came onto the market in July and is now in the process of putting together an expression of interest to secure the historic Cornish site.
Cornwall Heritage Trust CEO, Cathy Woolcock said: “Tregonning Hill is a unique part of Cornwall’s heritage so when it came onto the market, we knew we needed to try and purchase the site to safeguard its future and ensure public access remains. The site has complex needs not least because a significant proportion of it is protected as a Scheduled Monument, so we want to make sure it gets the care it deserves.”
“We’ve been overwhelmed by the response from the public about the sale – there are so many people who want to protect the site and that’s why we feel it’s so important to get the word out about our hopes to purchase it.”
Historic England Heritage at Risk Project Officer, Ann Preston-Jones said: “Tregonning Hill is of such importance for the history of Cornwall. It is crowned by the stony ramparts of a major Iron Age hillfort, with two smaller, very well-preserved, defended settlements of a similar era on the lower slope to the north-east. Between the two are the distinctive strips and cultivation ridges of a medieval field system. This wealth of early remains has led to the designation of a large part of the hill as a Scheduled Monument.”
“With its many prospecting pits, shafts and quarries of the more recent industrial past, the hill is also included within the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site and it was here that china clay was first mined in Cornwall. Such significance deserves the protection and management of an organisation committed to the preservation and careful management of Cornwall’s heritage. We, therefore, welcome Cornwall Heritage Trust’s bid for the purchase of Tregonning Hill and very much hope that the charity can become the custodian of the site.”
Cornwall Heritage Trust was formed in 1985 and is a registered charity based in Redruth. It works to preserve and strengthen Cornwall’s unique heritage through its grant schemes, education projects and care of 14 historic sites across Cornwall. More information on the work of the Trust can be found on their website: www.cornwallheritagetrust.org
