2021-06 Newsletter

News
Newsletter – June 2021
Gool Petroc Lowen ha Golowan Lowen
The OCS wishes you gool Petroc lowen (happy St Petroc feast) for 4th June and golowan lowen
or gool Jowan lowen (happy St John the Baptist feast) for 24th June. The eve of the feast of St
John is traditionally the time when midsummer bonfires are lit in Cornwall.
Visit: Castle-an-Dinas
On Wednesday 19 th May our Old Cornwall Society had a fantastic visit to Castle-an-Dinas near
St. Columb. This was our first activity since the Pandemic. The site is an impressive Iron Age
hillfort with a quadruple ring of ramparts and ditches, which are 850 feet in diameter. It stands
at 700 feet high, and provides magnificent views across central Cornwall.
The group were able to examine two Bronze
Age barrows situated in the central area of the
hillfort. But the most impressive features are
the Iron Age ramparts. The history of the site
continued into the 20 th Century and the OCS
were able to view the remains of the 20 th
Century wolframite mine as well.
Figure 1 2021 OCS Members at Castle-an-Dinas
After a picnic lunch the group explored the
lanes and countryside to the north. On the
way home Indian Queens Preaching Pit was
visited. An impressive site which many had not
known of before the visit.
Apart from learning more about these fantastic historical sites many enjoyed the opportunity
to get out and socialise in the relative safety of the open countryside. All in all, this a very
worthwhile first enterprise for our OCS this year. Clive – our Write-up Secretary is producing
as full report for publication in the Roseland Magazine.
Walk: Carne Beacon & Dingerein
On Sunday 6 th June, our next event will be a walk from Pendower to Ringarounds & Carne
Beacon, and after lunch to Dingerein & Roundhouse (see poster included). This is a joint
enterprise with the AONB Monumental Improvement Project and the Cornwall
Archaeological Society. We will be joined by the local archaeologist Cathy Parkes – so this will

Kowethas Kernow Goth - Gerens ha Porthskathow
be a unique opportunity to learn from someone who really “knows their onions!” Booking for
this is via the AONB and numbers will be capped at 20: Email - monuments@cornwallaonb.gov.uk
OCS Programme
Our provisional Programme is making progress (latest version attached).
On 14 th July we will be making a pilgrimage to Luxulyan. Initially we will be visiting the Treffry
Viaduct. After a picnic lunch we will split into two groups. One group will explore the Luxulyan
Valley, whilst the other will visit Luxulyan Church and holy well.
Our friends at the Luxulyan OCS are going to a lot of trouble to accommodate us, so please
support this endeavour if you are able.
We are now in the process of engaging some really great speakers for the 2021/22 season,
and these will be added to our programme as they are confirmed over the next few weeks.
St Nun’s Well & Rosteague Culverhouse
St Nun’s Well and Rosteague Culverhouse are two of the best medieval heritage assets that
we have locally. They are situated on private land at Rosteague. This moth the OCS has visited
and recorded these features, with the kind permission of the owners. Update reports have
been submitted to the Heritage Environment Record.
If you would like to know a little more about these, drop our Recorder a line who will be
pleased to share more details.
Gerrans Parish Heritage Centre
The Heritage Centre is now open and will be on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from
2pm to 4pm until further notice. The new exhibition showing the impact of WW2 on the
parish should not be missed.
Appeal for Information – Farm Industries
Phil Hoskin, one of our speakers for next year
is currently researching Farm Industries. He
would like to talk to anyone who has
knowledge of the firm. So, if you were an
employee, customer, or have memories of
Farm Industries please do contact our
Recorder.
General
For those who have been missing the monthly talks on Cornish heritage and culture, many
can now be accessed online. Several of these have been collated together by the Cornwall
Heritage Trust: https://www.cornwallheritagetrust.org/learn/resources/virtual-story-cafes
Additional information can be found on our website, Twitter and Facebook.
FOCS Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/cf9d2422967e/jan-feb-10241037?e=b5bdca7fb8

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Local History
St Just Yarn
Recently an article from 1948 was brought to our attention: -
Britannia and Eve - Sunday 01 February 1948
"A thatched cottage above St. Just village, on the opposite side to that occupied by the
church, marks the site of the cell used by Jestyn when he first came here 1,400 years ago.
Beneath the cottage a vertical shaft descends for some distance before leading into an
underground passage which, eventually emerges at the foot of a tree in the churchyard.
Whether this gave secret access to the original church is a moot point. Certainly, in
troublous times later on, wealthy folk of the district used the passage as a storage place for
their valuables."
There doesn’t appear to be any historical record of this underground passage. Enquiries made
locally suggest that this may just been a local yarn told to visitors.
Old Rocket Barn No.1
We are all familiar with the Old Rocket Barn situated in New Road, Portscatho immediately
and conveniently placed behind Admiralty Terrace where the Coastguards lived. This was the
building where the life-saving rocket apparatus was stored. Admiralty Terrace was
constructed in around 1898/9.
Information has come to light that there may
have been an earlier Rocket Barn situated off
Pettigrew Lane at Highertown, Portscatho. If
this is correct it was presumably in use prior to
1898 when the Coastguard Station was
situated at the end of Clifton Terrace.
Figure 2 Gable End of First Rocket House prior to
Conversion - Courtesy of Terry Fox
Rev. Henry Enys.
The owner is in possession of an Indenture in
respect of the conveyance of 3, Wellington
Terrace (of which this building formed a part),
involving a William Sacheverell Sitwell and a
When Mr Fox purchased the Rocket Barn in 2007 it was a dilapidated building formally part
of 3, Wellington Terrace. It comprised a timber-built carpenter’s shop on its north side and an
old stone-built building on its south end. He was told by a local person that this old stone
building was originally a rocket building for the storage of a wheeled rocket firing machine
and spare rockets used for the rescue of shipwrecked sailors.
If you have any knowledge of this building, please contact our Recorder.

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Lost Locations – Victoria Road
In this section we will highlight the names of some of the less well-known places around
Roseland.
Figure 3 June 2021 Victoria Road © Nev Meek
Victoria Road was the official name given to
the section of road between Clifton Terrace
and Porthcurnick Lane. Until this section of
road was built, the only route into
Portscatho for wheeled traffic was via
Gerrans Hill.
The road was financed by the owner of the
land Mr. Enys, and carried out by a local
contractor – Charles Eldred Peters. Work
was commenced in 1898.
This road was actually opened twice. Initially
it was opened in June 1901, and named Victoria Road in memory of Queen Victoria who had
died in the January of that year. However, there was a dispute with the District Council who
considered that the surface of the road had insufficient metalling. The road therefore
remained close with piles of material at the upper end so that it could not be used.
The problems were not resolved until 1902, and Victoria Road was finally opened in August
1902 on the day of King Edward VII th postponed coronation. The barriers were removed and
Captain Crewse was the first to drive over the new road.
It is apparent that local people referred to this as the “new road”, and this is now the name
which appears on the road signs – the official name now being long forgotten.
If you are aware of any less well-known names please highlight with our Recorder.
Committee Spotlight – Write-up Secretary: Clive Cudmore
In this section we would like to highlight some of those who work so hard for our Society. In
this article we will look at the work of our Write-up Secretary, Clive Cudmore.
Clive was born in Portscatho in August 1947 at his paternal grandparent’s house in Sunnyside
(known to locals as Back Lane). His father, Sidney (Sid), and his father’s mother were both
born in the village. Sid’s grandmother, Lourinda (nee Sawle) was married to Joseph Billing a
fisherman who was born in Gorran Haven and they lived at the end of the Lugger. Clive’s
mother, Edna, was born across the border in Plymouth. Her father came to the village as a
coastguard and at the age of 14 she went to work at Place House. Her mother was born in
Camborne as was her grandfather who was a tin miner in the 1800’s.
Clive’s father was well known in Portscatho because he drove the Western National bus from
Portscatho to Truro and back every day except Sundays. Along with Leonard Emmett, the
conductor, they knew most of their passengers and where they would catch the bus. This
meant that they would sometimes wait for people if they were late getting to the bus stop.

Kowethas Kernow Goth - Gerens ha Porthskathow
Figure 4 2021 - Clive Cudmore (Write-up Secretary) ©Clive
Cudmore
In 1946 when his parents married, they lived
in one of the original two cottages which have
since been converted to the house called
“Trecarol” in Highertown. They moved to 2
Springfield Road (now Treventon Road) when
Clive was four. This was a council house which
had been newly built. Clive’s maternal
grandparents were living in Clifton Terrace at
that time and after they had both died the
family, now including two younger sisters,
moved there. The house then remained in the
family until it was sold after Clive’s mother
died in 2010.
The village was the playground for Clive and
the other children. Since there were very few
cars, they could kick a ball along Clifton
Terrace, sometimes outside the policeman’s
house when he was not around. They also
raced down Gerrans Hill on butts. They would
spend a lot of time in, around and on the sea.
Clive went to Gerrans Primary school at the
age of 5, walking up the hill and mixing with the children from Gerrans, Philleigh and St Just.
He was also a choirboy at St Gerrans Church. On the Roseland at that time, if you did not pass
the 11 plus exam, like Clive, you stayed on at school until the age of 15. On leaving school he
went to Cornwall Technical College for 2 years to obtain his GCE’s, lodging in Camborne during
the week.
During his teenage years in Portscatho he was on the Social Club (now Harbour Club)
committee and entertainments committee, Treasurer of the Fisherman’s Shelter and
Secretary of the regatta committee. He also played darts for the Plume in the Roseland and
district league. During his 20’s he played rugby for the newly formed Roseland Rugby Club
and continued his life-long love for singing by joining a Male Voice Choir.
Clive joined GPO telephones (now BT) at 17 and initially worked as a linesman based in Truro.
He moved to St Austell in 1973 with promotion and worked in the telephone repeater station
until 1983. He then transferred to a BT submarine cable station in West Cornwall working on
analogue cable systems to the USA and Spain. With the advent of fibre optics these cables
were becoming redundant and during the 1990’s new fiber cables to the USA, Brittany, Spain,
Belgium and Eire were installed. He continued working at the station until retirement from
BT in 2004.
Clive now lives in a converted barn in mid Cornwall within a mixture of grade 2 listed buildings,
converted barns, a Victorian farmhouse, and a new build. The barns were built in 1890, by the
prominent Cornish architect Sylvanus Trevail.

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Clive is a longstanding member and supporter of St Gerrans and Porthscatho Old Cornwall
Society. He sits on the committee and as “Write-up Secretary” collates the written reports of
the monthly meetings for the Roseland Magazine and the website of the Federation of Old
Cornwall Societies. The task undertaken by Clive is an important communication role,
ensuring that the work of our OCS is highlighted to the wider community.
If you feel that you could spare a little time to become more involved in our committee work,
please contact our Chairman who will be pleased to discuss opportunities.
Mappya Methodieth ~ Mapping Methodism
This research project is making good progress, our research
document has grown rapidly, and information sheets have
now prepared for the Gerrans and the Philleigh Wesley
Chapels. Recently a summary of the information on the
Philleigh Chapels has been published by the Mapping Methodism project:
https://tinyurl.com/6phxcuk7
The latest newsletter is available: https://mailchi.mp/f2da8d4ab64d/cornish-story-may-
2021-newsletter?e=7d96573d87
Can you help? Please get in touch with our Recorder if you have any knowledge or material
regarding any Roseland chapels. We would particularly value more old photographs,
ephemera, and memories.
Cornish Buildings Group – Buildings at Risk Project
Details of the project can be found: https://buildingsatrisk.wordpress.com.
The latest newsletter:
https://buildingsatrisk.wordpress.com/2021/05/20/newsletter-no-7
Please notify our Recorder of any historic buildings at risk.
AONB Monumental Improvement Project – Dingerein, Ringarounds & Carne
Beacon
As detailed above we have a walk to these sites coming up on 6 th June. We will consider the
need for more scrub clearance in September. Details of the project can be found:
https://www.cornwall-aonb.gov.uk/monumental-improvement
Roseland Stile Survey
We are continuing our survey of the footpaths in Veryan Parish. If you feel you could help,
please contact our Recorder.

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Maritime Churches Project
At the end of April, our Recorder gave a short presentation to
an online event celebrating the success of the of the Maritime
Churches Project.
It is expected that a book will be published shortly.
Some short films have now been released and are available on
the YouTube Channel of the Institute of Cornish Studies:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnQQVoWjBfCWkeleDU8v4DA
Further information about the project, and the churches involved, including St Anthony and
St Just, can be found at: https://cornishmaritimechurches.co.uk
Dialect of the Month - Bawtn
“Bawtn” is the everyday word we use to describe an item which has been purchased. It is
probably most frequently used when discussing the merits of different pasties, which are
normally discussed under 3 categories.
Firstly, there are “propur” pasties; these are the home-made ones that generally hang off
both sides of the plate. For most of us there is nothing like the pasty that Gran or Mawthur
made!
Secondly, there are “bawtn” pasties, and many will discuss the merits of the various Cornish
bakeries. e.g., Mary’s Pasties from Grampound Road, Philps Pasties from Hayle, Pearce’s from
St Austell.
Lastly, there are Ginsters – only to be eaten in the direst of emergency!
Place-name of the Month – Bohortha ~ Buorthow (St Anthony)
Bohortha is a simplex Cornish place-name,
i.e. it is a name consisting of a single word -
<buorthow> ‘cattle-yards’, but this word is
more complicated than it first seems. The
first part is the compound word <buorth>
which consists of Old Cornish <bu-> ‘cattle’ which is related to the Cornish <bugh> ‘cow’ – Old
Cornish <-orth> ‘yard’ which is related to the Cornish <garth> ‘yard’.
The <-ow> is of course the regular Cornish plural suffix that we also see in Porthskathow!
The <-ow> regularly reduces to “-a” in dialect e.g. Portscatha!
Contacts
Chairman: Ralph German - ralphgerman@outlook.com
Membership Secretary: Jean Rigley - jeanrigley@btinternet.com
Recorder: Nev Meek - nev.meek@sky.com
www.stgandpocs.co.uk
www.facebook.com/gerransoldcornwall
www.twitter.com/GerransSt
St Gerrans & Porthscatho Old Cornwall Society is affiliated to The Federation of Old Cornwall Societies. Registered Charity No: 247283