Lizard Peninsula Heritage Trust - Newsletter 65, October 2015 - Page 1

Lizard Peninsula Heritage Trust An environmental charity dedicated to the recognition, protection, enhancement and enjoyment of the Lizard Peninsula

Friends of the Lizard 1997-2006 Registered Charity No 1092934 Patron: Jill Morison DL

Newsletter No 65, October 2015

Chairman’s Message

As I will be standing down as your Chairman at the AGM in November, this will be my last Chairman’s Message in the Newsletter. I hope to see as many of you as possible at the AGM but I would like to take this opportunity to thank everybody for their support. In particular we should all thank David Richardson for his tremendous efforts in producing the quarterly Newsletters for us. He is always looking for fresh material, so if you can write even a small contribution it will be very welcome.

Geoff Blackman

I am not prepared to let this moment pass without recording, on behalf of both the Committee and the membership at large, our grateful thanks to Geoff for the extensive contributions that he has made in his rôle as Chairman for the past four years and particularly the smooth running of our Executive Committee meetings.

David Richardson

Events before the next Newsletter (due in January 2016)

Lizard Peninsula Heritage Trust AGM Executive Committee

Tuesday 17 November 2015, 7.00 for 7.30pm at Mawgan Village Hall. OS re: SW 702 244.

Accompanying this Newsletter are the letter of invitation with Agenda & the Elections paper (18.7). Other documents – Minutes from 2014 (18.2), Chairman's report (18.4), Treasurer's report (18.5) & Membership report (18.6) will be available on the night, but will be Emailed or posted to members in advance on request.

This year’s guest speaker will be Tim van Berkel, from The Cornish Seaweed Company - a business that sustainably harvests a variety of Cornish seaweeds, using traditional means, to be used as a superfood, as an ingredient for recipes and for cosmetics.

There will be the usual buffet refreshments, together with wines, juices & hot drinks available before, at the interval & after the speaker, provided by the ladies of your Executive Committee. Voluntary financial contributions to the cost of the refreshments would be welcome on the night.

Wind Farms in the news

Since the General Election in May, there has been a series of stories about wind farms and, in particular, the Government’s apparent intention massively to reduce subsidies for new developments. I say "apparently" because there seems to be a lack of clarity as to exactly what the Government intends to do and when. This last point is important, as there are planning applications in the pipeline for 3000 new turbines which will be affected by the decision on subsidies. The Renewable Energy Industry is clearly rattled, as it is threatening legal action if the Government goes ahead and reduces subsidies. My attitude to this subject is probably well known to many of you by now. I have grave doubts about the effectiveness of wind farms in meeting our energy requirements, as the science suggests otherwise. The possible benefits are considerably outweighed by the damage to the countryside of huge wind farm developments. In addition, the subsidies which run into hundreds of millions of pounds just cannot be justified. I suspect this subject will just run and run so watch this space.

Geoff Blackman

A Mellan Melée

This year’s barbecue involved several firsts: it was the first time the event had been hosted by our (fairly) new members, Ruth and John Thompson, in their beautiful garden at Mellan House, Coverack. It was the first time that other new members, Heather and John Girdlestone, had been on the guest list. Ditto Peter Gray - one day we hope to meet his missus too! It was the first barbecue for several years where the annual Smite competition did not feature; also where hamburgers did not appear on the menu - yay! - although I should not get too vegetarianly excited about this, as they were replaced with a superior (I have it on the best authority) dish of pulled pork. And it was the first time I had ever had a conversation in someone’s kitchen while standing in a dog bed. Well, it was conveniently placed for leaning on the wall, and no, I had not over-imbibed!

You don’t want to know the details of what we ate and drank, do you? Suffice to say that quality and quantity were there in spadefuls, as always, and the company likewise. The latter included Ruth and John’s two gorgeous Labradors, one of whom wanted to play ball 24/7, the other, arthritic and slightly more wise, zizzed the hot afternoon away in the sunshine. Yes, the weather was glorious. Ditto the scenery. The garden is full of colour and interest, on different levels, with paths leading hither and yon, a secret garden, a huge fruit cage which had us gardeners green with envy, and superb views out over Coverack Bay. Everything was perfect, and John and I only managed to drag ourselves away after four hours because we had to go home and walk a poorly neighbour’s dogs. Our gaze lingered, on the way out, on the swing seat where other LPHT members were still snoozing or relaxing but, with great fortitude, we kept going, on to the car and homewards. What a wonderful day! Huge thanks to Ruth and John and, as ever, the team of Ladies Who Make Other People’s Lunch. You are all such stars.

Before I sign off, it occurs to me that, since our organisation is meant to offer something of educational as well as social value, you might like to become acquainted with the following google-gleaned gen: the word “barbecue” comes from the Caribbean word “barbacoa.” Originally, a barbacoa wasn’t a way of cooking food, but the name of a wooden structure used by Taino Indians to smoke their food. Due to the known diets of the Indians in question, it’s likely that the first barbecue consisted of some sort of fish, creatures from the sea obviously being plentiful in the Caribbean. Besides being used

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for cooking, the structure of sticks could also be used as an area for sleeping, storage, and shelter.

We did not outstay our welcome to the extent of the latter three “S’s”, but who knows? Could there be an idea there for future LPHT events? Watch this window!

Jane Grierson

Advowsons for Sale

Rectory of Landywednack comprising the Lizard and Chynance Cove (sic), containing about 650 acres of the yearly value of £1200. The Rectory of Ruan Major containing about 950 acres of the yearly value of £900. The present incumbent is aged 30 years. The tithes of fish are payable on the above parishes which are distant about 10 miles from Helston and capable of great improvement. Apply Mr Scott, Attorney, Helston

Royal Cornwall Gazette, 14 October 1820

Tony Hilton

The Equinox Excursion

What better way to start the new season than a delightful cross-country walk? So saying, a large group of us met up in St Keverne on the day of the autumnal equinox, accompanied by no fewer than seven dogs, including two guests, Hamish Cafferty and Molly Girdlestone, and one new boy, Mitchy Grierson. The list would have been even longer, but the ultra-exuberant Henry Brazier was grounded on the understanding that he could have a mad half hour on the beach later that day. He would get his revenge though: see Appendix 1.

Off we set for our first port of call, Porthoustock, strolling through a variety of terrains; wooded valley, boggy path, lush meadows and winding lanes, finally reaching a row of pretty cottages on the outskirts of this peaceful seaside hamlet. If it sounds idyllic, it was, except for the free range chickens. Lynda B., although a keen ornithologist, is not so good with feathery, fluttering things close-up, regaling us with her personal horror story of an afternoon while on holiday abroad, when she had to take cover in a nearby café while husband Geoff continued to enjoy his coffee outside in the sunshine with the pigeons. She did get chatted up by a nice gentleman in the café, but I don’t think it made up for her fright.

The Fat Apple café - We always seem to be eating !

Anyway, the Porthoustock poultry behaved themselves, and we headed for an early lunch at the plethora of picnic perches on the hinterland of the beach. Due to a rearrangement of venues, we hit the hot spot at noon, but, having had a vote on whether to eat now or carry on to the next stop, you’ll not be surprised to learn which way the vote went! While we munched on our sarnies, we had time to look around at the scenery. There is much history in this quiet spot, the gigantic silo on the north side of the bay bearing witness to the old, abandoned quarry workings behind it. A huge gap now yawns where once the roadstone wagons carried their cargoes across

a rail link from road to silo, but I can remember in the 1960’s when my teenage brother and his friend crawled along those rails for a dare, over a drop of a good fifty feet. While mother and father had kittens down below? Nah. In those days, boys were just left to get on with their adventures and, if trouble ensued, they would get a darned good hiding. Lunch duly consumed, one helpful member of our party performed a civic duty by doing the rounds with a bag to collect all our rubbish. How kind, we thought … until we witnessed the dumping of said bag in the bin on the beach, complete with banana skins, alu cans and other recyclable stuff. Tut tut! After lunch we walked back a short distance the way we’d come, Lynda summoning unknown reserves of courage to pass the chickens; then we followed fields, paths and lanes to the old Porthallow vineyard. This has now been reinvented as The Fat Apple café, and a better rebirth I couldn’t imagine. The food is delicious, the menu imaginative and the service friendly. There were no fewer than ten different kinds of homemade cake (see Appendix 2), making the ordering process very difficult for us. It wasn’t easy for the proprietors either, taking orders for about sixteen people, including four different Johns. Even John Grierson’s suggestion, “Call me John G,” didn’t help much as John Girdlestone was next in line! Eventually, though, everyone was sat, tea’d and caked at the picnic tables outside and a most pleasant half hour was spent, the autumn sunshine blazing (yes, blazing!) down on us most of that time. Now fully set up for the third leg of the journey, we returned with renewed vigour across more lanes and fields, pausing in the hamlet of Tregaminion to gawp at its barn conversions to die for, and eventually reaching the end of our walk via yet more unusual terrains, viz. St Keverne sewage works and the churchyard.

It would be difficult to choose a highlight from this walk, kindly arranged by Ruth and John Thompson, as the whole experience was so enjoyable; good friends, good food and good weather combined with the glorious Cornish countryside to make this a day to remember. From a personal point of view, however, perhaps I may be forgiven for making special mention of Mitchy Grierson. This five-year-old Jack Russell only came into John’s and my life a few weeks ago, and we were not sure how he would handle a crowd of people and dogs in wide open spaces full of new smells and rabbit burrows. We need not have worried. Starting off with a mad game of chase with Molly Girdlestone, he then settled into his role of Grierson-LPHT mascot with aplomb, forsaking all rabbit holes and ready to tread in the pawprints of his foredogs across the Cornish acres.

Appendix 1

Back home, Henry Brazier was so pleased to see everyone again, he said, that he couldn’t help it, he just had to pee on the carpet.

Jane Grierson

A Meatless Meeting

Being meek and modest mortals, Jane and John are not entirely sure that it is comme il faut to write a rave review about a social gathering at their own abode. However, let’s face it, no-one else is volunteering, so here goes and I shall try not to rave at all. But it really was good!

Having enjoyed FOTL and LPHT barbecues for the previous six summers, during the last one my brain started mulling veggie style (no change there, then): barbecues don’t have to be about meat, nor even about outdoors. The result was the committee’s agreeing to add a lunchtime Veggie Bonanza to the Events Calendar, such event to be held either out- or indoors in early August, and this duly took place at our home at The Lizard. Ours is not an overlarge abode, but we squashed in thirteen happy diners fairly comfortably, each of them bringing a bottle (or, in one case, three large, booze-filled jugs!) and a plate, dish or indeed trayful of delicious vegetarian

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offerings. The rule for all food was, “nothing with a face”. In case your imagination goes blank at the prospect, let me step onto my evangelistic platform and inform you of the tempting offerings: starting with one of the aforementioned large jugs of Pimms, then on to stuffed peppers, focaccia, home-made (including the dough) pizzas, nut loaf, the second jug of Pimms, lentil salad, pasta salad, tandoori potatoes, egg and cheese savarin, falafels, houmous, wraps, spiralised courgette salad and Pimms jug number three. Since it would have been impolite not to show our full appreciation of the second course, we then devoted ourselves to fresh and poached fruits, meringues, creams, and a lemon meringue pie which disappeared in 0.374 seconds.

See what you missed? And that’s not even mentioning the convivial company, sparkling conversation and the bonus of a little drama. John’s university panel had chosen this day for his “viva” examination (a sort of mid-way exam to see if he knows what he’s doing) so he disappeared to Falmouth after our first course, leaving us on tenterhooks until his return just in time for a very late pudding. Happily, he passed (not on the pudding, nor on a celebratory glass).

Then there was the tour of the garden, looking quite pretty in spite of the droughts and gales that this summer has occasionally thrown at it. Of particular interest were the sunflowers; some sources claim that they are so called because they turn towards the sun (Italian “girasole”, French “tournesol”), but, if this be so, ours have not yet heard; one had turned its face to the wall and the other was gazing straight up to the heavens in a northerly direction. Things happen differently at The Lizard.

The bonanza was a happy occasion and we shall repeat it next year, but I must just squeeze in a final word about the day’s parking arrangements. This might sound boring, but bear with! Because my bro and his wife and their offspring use our field for their caravans throughout the summer, bro keeps it very nicely mown. Thus is it ideal for use as an overflow carpark, and, during this particular week, an additional two-man tent as the local campsite was also overflowing. Said campsite is also not very good at issuing directions, and we often have to redirect lost and unhappy campers. So it should have come as no great surprise to anyone when, on the day of our veggie bonanza, a misguided van carrying at least a dozen Chinese, started steering its way into our field. Having seen two caravans, one tent, several cars, and a notice on the open gate saying Parking, they naturally thought it was an official camp ground – and they wouldn’t be the first. My brother approached and asked them if they were looking for Henry’s Camp Site.

“So! Camp site, yes!”

“No, not here, it’s Henry’s Camp Site you want.”

“Ah! Camp site! You Henly?”

They continued to nod vigorously and say Campsite until my bro managed to persuade them to go back up the lane and try elsewhere. It was suggested later that we should have allowed them in and charged a fee, but … I don’t know, somehow, after all that food, the idea of a Chinese takeaway just didn’t appeal.

Jane Grierson

A Cultural Call

As chief scribbler for the LPHT, I have just found out how to use up an entire notepad in one afternoon: visit Helston Museum. Having been there before, I knew it was a treasure trove, but had no idea how much the cache had grown in the many years since I last visited. The museum, started in 1949, occupies what was the 1830’s market building, behind the Guildhall in Helston, but at first consisted of just the old butter and egg market , whose sloping stone floor – easy to sloosh down and drain - still bears testament to its origins. But now the museum stretches right to the back of the building, and, in addition, has a first floor gallery with yet more gems of the cultural kind.

To appreciate all the exhibits would take a week, but a group of eighteen of us had just a couple of hours with Katherine Ashton, chief curator, assisted by Ivan adding his own memories as we went along! If I were to transcribe my entire six pages of notes, there would be no room left in the newsletter for anything else, so I will list just a few of the – for me – highlights, and hope this tempts you to make your own visit there some time.

• The best costume collection in the south west. (Unlike

today’s visitors then!).

• The Helston Furry clock, where 20p will set the dancing figures whirling round the clock face to the tune of the Floral Dance. It must drive the staff mad.

• Genuine Lizard relics (not us), in the form of sherds of pottery from salt working sites.

• Medallions from the volunteer forces of the Napoleonic era, a sort of early nineteenth century (Grand)dad’s Army.

• The most gigantic cider press. The brewing staff used to be paid partly in cider, which might sound counter-productive but apparently satisfied everybody.

• A model shop, listing “Constance Treloar” as the licensed dealer of tea, tobacco and snuff, as well as a hundred other things. A copper saw, for slicing through blocks of salt, hangs in one corner, and Constance’s till last rang up an amount of five shillings and sixpence, quite a spend one hundred years ago.

• A 1950’s kitchen, favourite of baby boomer visitors, ourselves included. The museum rings to the cries of, “We used to have one just like that!” and I can attest to the fact that my mother had an identical Hotpoint washing machine to that on display, from 1954 to at least 1984. I think it only got thrown out when my father got tired of mending it. And the Tala cake-icing set, from the same time, is still in use in my own kitchen.

• A reconstruction of a 19th

century Cornish kitchen, one of the museum’s very first major attractions. Cornish fireplace, cloam oven, spit turner, cast iron cooking pots and kettles, and the traditional fireplace ornaments of tankards and shotguns!

• A Transport and Trades section, with some lovely old vehicles … butcher’s wagon, fire engines, wagonette, baker’s van, hearse, and PC49’s bicycle, its tyres as flat as his feet.

• A cobbler’s, a blacksmith shop, dairy, wheelwright, serpentine turner, undertaker, saddler, printer, toy shops… the list went on, and one sighed for the old days of such lovely individual shops. Who could imagine, then, going to a supermarket which sold everything?

• A farm display including a Calvin pulley and blocks, used for difficult calvings before the days of caesareans. Poor cow indeed. In the same section was a weaning bridle, armed with vicious looking spikes, to deter the calf from suckling its mother. I’m sure it worked a treat: one touch of those spikes from a calf butting the udder, and mummy cow would hoof her infant into the middle of the next field.

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• A gigantic granite clock face, about 400 years old, recycled as a farm pond before being rescued and donated in 1989.

• A model of Helston railway station, and various pictures of same. How we all wish the real thing still existed!

• A display case of old coins and notes. Katherine told us that the museum had been contacted by the Poldark production team who wanted to know not just what 18

th

century banknotes looked like (and every town had its own individual version) but also, how much would constitute a bribe? No-one ever came up with an answer to this!

• Among the presentations was one labelled at one end “Veterinary” and, at the other, “Dentist” with the middle ground taken up with a display of “bed and douche slippers”. This I found immensely puzzling as to which of the two professions had employed them, until I spotted a smaller sign in the middle, informing the spectator that this was actually the medical bit.

So, what was the highlight of the afternoon? Speaking for myself, there were two ultra-memorable artefacts. The first was (were?) the Helston stocks. Nothing unusual in that, for every town had a set in bygone days, but then I noticed that the donor was, of all people, the vicar. My mind is still boggling.

The second was the very end room, set out as a Victorian classroom. Actually, I’m not sure about the Victorian, as many of us felt so very much at home there. We settled comfortably into the wooden desks, remembering the china inkwells, and sitting up straighter when Lynda B. donned the mortar board and barked, “Now then!” Then we looked for pupils’ names carved in the wood. There were none, but, lifting one desk lid, I found an inscription whose date might be history but whose significance never changes over the years: “Tara for Anthony – if she gets anywhere with him”. Sadly, we shall never know whether she did or not.

Jane Grierson

Lynda Blackman has initiated an alphabetical series of brief notes on some of Cornwall's towns and villages. We hope that this will become a regular feature in our Newsletters, serving as a reminder of how delightful and attractive many of the County's historic settlements are:

The ABC of Cornish Towns and Village - 1 Alturnun

Location - the north east edge of Bodmin Moor at grid reference: SX 223 911

Altarnun is a small village nestled in the valley of Penpont water a tributary of the River Inny and one of the prettiest in Cornwall. It was named in the Domesday Book as Penpont but takes its present name from the 6

th Century church of St

Nonna. In front of the church is a beautiful Cornish Cross and nearby the holy well of St Nonna which was famous as a bowsening pool, a place where lunatics were thrown backwards into the water as a cure. The Rectory, built in 1842, featured in Daphne Du Maurier’s novel ‘Jamaica Inn’.

Lynda Blackman

All change for Air Sea Rescue

Some of you may be aware that it is the end of an era at RNAS Culdrose, as they will cease to be responsible for Air Sea Rescue on 31 December 2015. From 1 January 2016, helicopters operated by contractors Bristow based at Newquay Airport will replace the Culdrose Operation. I understand that on New Year’s Day Sikorsky Helicopters based at Newquay and Sea Kings from Culdrose will fly around the Cornish Coast together. Many people in trouble at sea have cause to thank the crews of 771 Squadron at Culdrose for their help, sometimes in very dangerous conditions. Well done 771.

Geoff Blackman

Cornish Mackerel

Mackerel is a fast-swimming fish belonging to the scombrid family which are related to tuna. It is an important food fish consumed worldwide, containing omega 3 fatty acids now known to have many health benefits. It does, however, spoil quickly and care should be taken to eat fresh fish quickly after purchase. As a child we eat soused mackerel which is a way of lengthening the shelf life by preserving in vinegar. This way of preserving, along with pickling, is very common in Holland, Germany and the Nordic countries. Another excellent method of preservation is of course smoking, one of the oldest methods of preserving, although today we buy it for the flavour. The recipe below has really become my signature dish – very simple and easily adapted to personal taste. There are endless combinations of cream cheese type and mackerel type plus the herbs and other seasonings.

One pack of smoked mackerel – plain or peppered; One tub of Philadelphia cream cheese - any plain, herby

or peppered variety; Juice /zest of half a lemon;

Black pepper to taste (Cut out if peppered cream cheese or mackerel used);

Horseradish to taste (optional) – Approximately a large teaspoon but some brands are hotter than others.

Skin the mackerel and mash with a fork adding the cream cheese and other ingredients to form a rough pate. If you prefer a smooth pate then use a processor or take longer over the mashing. This lovely served on toast or crackers with a slice of gherkin or cucumber.

Lynda Blackman

Members of the Committee

Chairman Geoff Blackman 01326 241722 Chy an Mordhu, 5 Park Enskellaw, Mullion TR12 7JG

Vice Chairman (vacant)

Secretary David Richardson 01326 280058 Bodlowen, 3 Bounder Treath, Coverack, TR12 6TP

Treasurer Geoff Blackman 01326 241722 Chy an Mordhu, 5 Park Enskellaw, Mullion TR12 7JG

Committee Avril Evens 01326 290629 Tresaddern House, Ruan Minor TR12 7NA

Ann Chapman 01326 221648 Chy Lean, St Keverne Road, Garras TR12 6AY

Gill Richardson 01326 280058 Bodlowen, 3 Bounder Treath, Coverack, TR12 6TP

Anne Roberts 01326 221243 Pipers Green, Garras, Helston TR12 6LP

Lynda Blackman 01326 241722 Chy an Mordhu, 5 Park Enskellaw, Mullion TR12 7JG

Adele Brazier 01326 280171 Chegwiddens, 6 Bounder Treath, Coverack TR12 6TP

John Brazier 01326 280171 Chegwiddens, 6 Bounder Treath, Coverack TR12 6TP

President: David Richardson Vice Presidents: John Grierson, Peter Greenslade

Published by Lizard Peninsula Heritage Trust, Bodlowen, Coverack TR12 6TP Tel: 01326 280058 Email: d813richardson@btinternet.com

Website: www.lizardpeninsulaheritagetrust.org.uk