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From pasty recipes to hot urine: archive charts Cornish history From pasty recipes to a urine charm: archive charts Cornish history
(32 minutes later)
A treasure trove of documents charting 850 years of Cornish history, ranging from an elaborate Elizabethan manuscript gifting a nobleman chunks of the county, to recipes for pasties and a spell-busting charm involving piping hot urine, have been collected at a new archive. A treasure trove of documents charting 850 years of Cornish history, ranging from an elaborate Elizabethan manuscript gifting a nobleman chunks of the county, to recipes for pasties and a spell-busting charm involving hot urine, have been gathered together at a new archive.
Housed in a beautifully refurbished brewery, the Kresen Kernow (Cornwall Centre) in Redruth is home to 1.5m records that give an insight into the rich history and culture of the far south-west of Britain. Housed in a refurbished brewery, the Kresen Kernow (Cornwall Centre) in Redruth is home to 1.5m records that give an insight into the rich history and culture of the far south-west of Britain.
Much of the material is held in huge storerooms and preservation suites on a total of 14 miles of shelving, but exhibition spaces with some of the most intriguing pieces have been created to encourage people to drop in. Much of the material is held on 14 miles of shelving in large storerooms and preservation suites, but exhibition spaces showing some of the most intriguing pieces have been created to encourage people to drop in.
Upstairs in the Mirva Tresoryow (Treasures Gallery) is the manuscript from Elizabeth I – adorned with images of snakes, letters made up of birds and a strawberry border – that hands land over to George Carey, who commanded the Isle of Wight’s defences when under threat from the Spanish Armada. Upstairs in the Mirva Tresoryow (Treasures Gallery) is the manuscript from Elizabeth I – adorned with images of snakes, a strawberry border and letters made up of birds – that hands land over to George Carey, who commanded the Isle of Wight’s defences when under threat from the Spanish Armada.
In the same dimly lit room is a Cornish language dictionary compiled in the mid-18th century by William Borlase, the rector of the village of Ludgvan, near Penzance. The growing revival of the Cornish language has led Kresen Kernow to adopt a “Cornish first” approach to its signs. Many are musical and lovely – such as lyverva (library) and kornel kosel (quiet corner), though the Cornish for archive is a little less sweet to the English ear – argh. In the same dimly lit room is a Cornish language dictionary compiled in the mid-18th century by William Borlase, the rector of the village of Ludgvan, near Penzance. The growing revival of the Cornish language has led Kresen Kernow to adopt a “Cornish first” approach to its signs. Many are musical in tone – such as lyverva (library) and kornel kosel (quiet corner) – although the Cornish for archive is a little less sweet to the English ear – argh.
Documents in the exhibition space downstairs include insights into authors famed for their Cornish connections such as Daphne du Maurier and Winston Graham, who wrote the Poldark books. Documents on display downstairs include insights into authors famed for their Cornish connections, such as Daphne du Maurier and Winston Graham, the latter having written the Poldark books.
There are papers that tell the real story of Cornwall’s industrial heritage including a letter that describes the reaction of the Cornish steam locomotive pioneer Richard Trevithick when he found out that competitors were taking legal action against him. The letter from the Birmingham engineer Matthew Boulton reveals that Trevithick was in a “publick [sic] house” when an injunction was served on him and adds: “He seemed much aggitated [sic] and vexed.” There are papers that tell some of the inside stories of Cornwall’s industrial heritage, including a letter describing the reaction of the Cornish steam locomotive pioneer Richard Trevithick when he found out competitors were taking legal action against him. The Birmingham engineer Matthew Boulton wrote that Trevithick was in a “publick [sic] house” when an injunction was served on him and adds: “He seemed much aggitated [sic] and vexed.”
Another yellowing document makes a reference to the pirate Henry Avery (also known as Every), who in 1695 raided the 25-strong convoy of Grand Mughal vessels making the annual pilgrimage to Mecca. It claims that after the raid he buried “three chests or boxes full of treasure” in the sands of the Lizard peninsula in south Cornwall.Another yellowing document makes a reference to the pirate Henry Avery (also known as Every), who in 1695 raided the 25-strong convoy of Grand Mughal vessels making the annual pilgrimage to Mecca. It claims that after the raid he buried “three chests or boxes full of treasure” in the sands of the Lizard peninsula in south Cornwall.
The centre will open to the public on Saturday with a community day to coincide with this year’s Redruth mining and pasty festival. The centre will open to the public on Saturday with a community day to coincide with the annual Redruth mining and pasty festival.
Deborah Tritton, the centre’s project lead, said visitors of all ages and interests would be welcome. “It’s a lovely resource in a beautiful building,” she said. Deborah Tritton, the centre’s project lead, said visitors of all ages and interests would be welcome. “It’s a lovely resource in a beautiful building.”
She said Kresen Kernow brings together documents held at two previous centres and numerous out-stores. As well as the eye-catching “treasures” on display it holds hundreds of years of parish registers, tithe maps, business records and photographs in its backrooms that will be pored over by historians and family tree hunters. She said Kresen Kernow had brought together documents held at two previous centres and numerous out-stores. As well as the eye-catching “treasures” on display it holds hundreds of years of parish registers, tithe maps, business records and photographs in its backrooms that will be pored over by historians and genealogy researchers.
On the decision to prioritise Cornish on the signs, Tritton said: “We wanted to give it a status and acknowledge its importance in our heritage. It is usually presented as a secondary language, in grey and italics beneath the English.”On the decision to prioritise Cornish on the signs, Tritton said: “We wanted to give it a status and acknowledge its importance in our heritage. It is usually presented as a secondary language, in grey and italics beneath the English.”
Among Tritton’s favourite documents is the spell-busting charm. It appears to have been written for a man called Thomas Leverton, who was clearly the target of some sort of supernatural attack.Among Tritton’s favourite documents is the spell-busting charm. It appears to have been written for a man called Thomas Leverton, who was clearly the target of some sort of supernatural attack.
The suggested solution involves a witch bottle – a counter-magical device – that had to be filled with a piping hot “pint of your owne [sic] urine.” Follow the instructions and “your private enemies will never after have any power upon you”, the document says. The suggested solution involves a witch bottle – a counter-magical device – that had to be filled with a piping hot “pint of your owne [sic] urine”. Follow the instructions and “your private enemies will never after have any power upon you”, the document says.
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