They came in cars from Newquay, Perranporth, Redruth, Camborne, Hayle, St Ives and scores of other places………. A sight that will probably never be repeated….. (The Cornishman 21 May 1936)

Sir Rose Price elected President of the new Penzance Library, Dr Forbes as Honorary Librarian.

His Majesty driven off by house surgeon at the West Cornwall Hospital. Read all about it!

Hear ye, hear ye. From this day forth the Common Seal of the Borough of Penzance shall be the head of John the Baptist, on a platter, as demanded by Salome of King Herod II - nice pun terrible association.......

Son of a famous father, traveller, cowboy, lumberjack, soldier, writer and the man credited with creating the inspiration for Poldark – Crosbie Garstin, born Penzance 7 May 1887……...

What could be a more delightful to a town with aspirations to become a sought-after watering place, than a commodious bathing machine?

On 27^th April 1864 not one, but three foundation stones were laid to start the building of the Penzance Public Buildings.........

On 25 April 1332 Penzance was granted a charter to hold a weekly market. Why was it granted then in particular and why is it important?

There’s no doubt about it: the world is changing, and for the better. The Russians have orbited the moon, The Spencer Davis Group are topping the charts, and Harold Wilson is back in for a second term. But locally? Open your copy of the Cornishman, folks, and see what you shall see...................

Although born in Truro, Joseph Carne probably ranks as one one of Penzance's most eminent sons, a man whose days seem to have 48 hours in them, so much does he achieve...........

King Edward VII is driving about Penzance, with fifty cyclists as a vanguard.............

On 8^th April 1812 Humphry Davy was knighted by The Prince Regent .......

These two plays and accompanying entertainment were performed on 3 April 1805 in Penzance's Georgian Theatre in Chapel Street built in 1787. The site is at the rear of the Union Hotel.

At that time England was still at war with France, artist Samuel Palmer was travelling and painting in Cornwall, and a Cornish movement for Parliamentary reform was begun by 14 Cornishmen meeting in the Freemasons' Tavern ....

On Tuesday 30^th March 1875 the Penzance Choral Society, assisted by the 32-strong orchestral band and by bro. Rd. White at the organ, gave a performance of Mendelssohn's oratorio Elijah, which the Royal Cornwall Gazette considered to be the best amateur rendering of this piece to have taken place in Penzance.......................

Midnight has fallen, bringing in Saturday morning, the 23^rd of March 1968. But 500 Penzance and district youngsters have had a great night out, and (leaving aside any possibility of illicit substances having been consumed) are probably just too excited to sleep.

An afternoon in mid-March, the local boys are amusing themselves by chasing and hanging onto cars going up the hill. They've been doing this for quite a while but today they've been joined by a little lad of five...............

Sir Clifford Cory, at a public meeting in St John's Hall just after the armistice said that the Base had been the means of “destroying and damaging many submarines around the coast from Mount's Bay to Hartland Point”. The vessels of the Base had convoyed no fewer than 11,000 vessels to and from France.........

On 10th March 1852 the Cornish Telegraph published the timetable for the Penzance to Redruth railway which was to re-open the next day...........

Penzance has every reason to be pleased with itself. The new floating dock is nearing completion, and tonight, the engineers are to close the new coffer dam and keep the sea out.........

1st March 1867 saw the first broad gauge passenger train from Plymouth to Penzance. The availability of broad gauge all the way to Penzance opened the way for through trains from Paddington to Penzance.................

At the Three Tuns Hotel in the Greenmarket, something out of the ordinary is taking place. The Loyal Queen's Own Lodge No 3910 is holding its first meeting. The Odd Fellows have come to town.

Clark described Penzance as being in one of the most beautiful positions “upon a bay proverbial for its salubrity and beauty” yet stated that “It would be difficult to find a spot so foul in which life is so seriously affected “– the sickness and mortality caused by dysentery had been excessive in his judgement.

The Penzance and District Electric Supply Company have done themselves proud. Mr Lawrence will be giving his special lecture on the Holophane System of Illumination at 7 30 sharp, but while you wait there is plenty more to see.  

But now, after the first winter of what will soon be called the Great War, those lads are not so sure. And in Penzance, on February 18^th 1915, matters have come to a head. They know that, should they be drowned or blown to smithereens, their families will be given ample compensation. But that doesn’t seem like enough.

Royal Cornwall Gazette, 19 February 1814 reported that a meeting was held on Friday 11^th February to look into the formation of a geological society for Cornwall.

Richard Oxnam, one of the original partners in Penzance's first bank, leading merchant and investor in mines looks as if he's made it.

Penzance seemed to be full of marching men in late January 1915 and inevitably there was a certain amount of competition.

Penzance is alarmed. Hoteliers, be on your guard – your “difficulties” will be “increased”. Farmers – be ready. You must prepare for longer journeys on the difficult January roads. Housewives beware – there will henceforth be less “odds and ends".........

Urgent military training requirements in 1915 saw men travelling all over the country to attend training camps....

Open your copy of the Cornish Tidings, hot off the press. It’s 1921 now, and after the long war everything’s getting back to normal. Or what will pass for normal, in the coming age.

The outbreak of WW1 saw an urgent need to grow the small, professional, British Army which was now committed to war on four fronts against the huge conscript armies of the opposition.

Mr Branwell, President of the Penzance Gas Company, has not enjoyed 1887 so far. There are new boys in town, selling what they claim is a better – albeit more costly – product than his company can offer. Coming to a street near you, and soon – the new electric light.

Penzance Choral Society is one of the country's oldest mixed voice choral societies, and almost certainly its most westerly one..........

Charles Ross has left town, the self-appointed liquidator of the affairs of Batten, Carne and Carne has made himself scarce and now his house and possessions are up for sale.

Here comes Mary Bolitho of Trewidden, with her silver key.....

Window dressing - sounds harmless enough, not exactly a high risk activity.......or so I thought

Penzance, Saturday morning, 9th January 1937. What’s on at the pictures, darling? Shall we look and see?