February 2026
The meeting began with an interesting account of a recently discovered oven in a hole of the wall beside a large open hearth. Twelve photographs showed its use from lighting of the fire to cooking pizzas. A full account of Old Ovens will soon be on Penwith Papers.
Photographs of the chains of office for lady mayoresses in St Ives and Penzance were compared. The chain for the mayor’s consort for Penzance dates from 1932 and has a gold enamel pendant on a silver link chain. The one for the lady mayoress of St Ives dates from 1949 with three loops of links recording mayors and mayoresses from 1904 to date.
Offers were accepted for future Penwith Papers and guidelines discussed. The Penwith Local History Group was founded in March 1990 so the March meeting would be an anniversary day. The treasurer’s report included book sales and a reminder that four titles are available from The Morrab Library as well as local shops and on-line.
Members are looking forward to author Michael Leach speaking at the March meeting about Pilgrimage and the Rebellion of 1648.
A very productive meeting finished with a reminder that the group has a table at The Morrab Library Spring Fair on Saturday, March 21st from 10 am to 2 pm.
PLHG publications can be purchased online here or perused in the Morrab Library.
Penwith Local History Group
Edited by
Sally Corbet
price £10
plus p&p
Photo Glyn Richards