Please
help us to preserve Padstow's Museum for future
generations.
Our mission is to create a museum that the people
of Padstow can be proud of.
The traditions and past history of Padstow are almost legendary and must
be preserved at all costs for the generations that follow us.
We must remember that but for the foresight
of a small group of Padstonians in the early 1970's many of the valuable
artefacts
now preserved would have been lost forever in this changing world we live in.
The good news is that our tenure of the Museum at the Institute has been extended to 2011
The Committee of the Institute have worked hard over the past 2 years to try to
restore the building to it's rightful place in the town as a centrepiece of
community for local activities. They are desperately in need of financing to
repair the roof at a cost of approx £50,000. They have recently held a book
launch of in aid of the repair fund.
The book of is based on the childhood memories from
the script of the late Jack Ingrey of St Merryn and is well illustrated with
photographs compiled by Malcolm McCarthy, it is a compelling read for all
Padstonians, wherever they are around the world. It is available from
various outlets in Padstow at cost of £ 9.99+p&p or can be ordered from
taclowcoth@aol.com
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We very much value and appreciate being able to remain in situ at the Institute
for the foreseeable future and fully understand the problems that the Trustees of the
Padstow Institute have.
They desperately need support in their efforts to save their building and all it
has stood for in over a century of service to the community.
If there is anybody out there who can help we are sure they would appreciate an
e-mail taclowcoth@aol.com
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The Trustees and Management committee
of Padstow Museum have been exploring all possibilities of finding a new home
for this unique collection of historic & social artefacts.
If you can help in any
way, please contact us by e-mail
Latest News Updates
Further developments will be posted on this page as they arise.
November 2009
As we close for the winter we can reflect on an interesting year in which we have seen a dramatic down turn in visitor numbers, although this is disappointing it reflects the general effects of the financial climate of 2009. Having said that it has been a rewarding year for us in the number of requests for research in various areas, we feel this makes our efforts worthwhile. Our Winter period will now be devoted to documentation and re-presentation of our display material. The Trustees and Committee would like to thank all who have visited and supported the museum over the past year.
September 2009
Since our last news bulletin we have
enjoyed a reasonably busy period, due to the inclement weather we have been able
to accommodate visitors who were glad to escape from the elements.
We have had some very interesting dialogue with many people from as far abroad
as Pitcairn, Japan, USA and Canada, as a result, we have been able to exchange
information on many different subjects. We have had quite an interest from
people tracing their various family and historical connections with our town.
It has been a great pleasure to be able to be of assistance to the visitors in
these matters and also has given our members a sense of achievement to know all
their efforts in keeping the museum alive has been worthwhile.
At our recent coffee morning we were privileged to have in attendance two
members of the Cornwall Family History Society who were able to help various
local residents with their enquiries regarding family histories.
The recently acquired copies of Padstow School Registers 1870 - 1945 have proved valuable to several local people in their research in family history
July 2009
We are pleased to announce that the museum has now been granted Provisional Accreditation Status by The MLA with Full Status to follow hopefully by Dec 2009.
The museum has been busy at times during the very inclement weather of the last month.
We have been busy researching the details
of the wreck of HMS Whiting which took place on the Doom Bar in 1819.
She was originally took part in the American War of Independence but was
captured and put in service with the British Navy serving as a patrol vessel in
the waters around South West England.
We have recently acquired copies of the registers of Padstow School covering the early 20th century they make very interesting reading and are part of the social history of our town.
June 2009
We are now the custodians of the little horsemen of Padstow, they were recently removed from the ridge of Barclays Bank during repairs to the roof.
By good fortune they were not damaged,
there was much concern from many Padstonians about their removal. Further to
which representations were made to the bank concerned by the Museum, The Padstow
Old Cornwall Society, and Padstow Town Council and they have now been deposited
at the Museum where they take pride of place for all to see.
One of our friends of the museum, Jean Haigh and her potter friend have studied
these figures and are going to produce some miniature replicas for our display.
At present we are researching the origins of these figures and would appreciate
any comment or information on their origins. Please e-mail to
museum@chynoweth.co.uk
Horsemen display |
 Horseman 2 |
 Horseman 1 |
Click pictures to view
School Visits 15th June
Today we had a visit from pupils of St Catherine's School Launceston, they were
very interested in our displays and questioned us on many of our exhibits.
Previous News Updates
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May 2009
Our application for accreditation has now been completed and is due to be reviewed by the MLA during the week commencing 25th May.
The new storage and office area has been completed. We were able to reopen in time for Easter due to the efforts of our volunteers. Some rearrangement of exhibits has been completed which now improves the visitor flow around the museum.
The soda fountain has been repaired also the clome oven has been placed in a more prominent position.
We are looking for further information ?????????????? on the Soda Fountain
The Harlyn Bay burial site display has been
reworked
March 2009
At present our volunteers are busy reorganising the storage and office area, it is hoped that this will be completed in time for the Easter opening. We are still inviting new volunteers to join us if you have a few hours and would like to help in anyway we are sure you will find it interesting.
Due to a change in the structuring of museum policy at national level, all museums have now to apply for accreditation which supersedes the old registration documentation.
As a result I as the person responsible for document of the collection along with our MDO Stephanie Meads have been updating and rewriting the collection & documentation policies along with along with access, health & safety, & emergency plan procedures documentation. This accreditation documentation has now been submitted to the MLA for approval.
We have as a result of a bequest of the late Mrs Kirby of Victoria Roche acquired some watercolour paintings by A F Taylor, these will compliment the pencil drawings we already have on display.
Nov 2008
The museum reopened during the Easter
period and has enjoyed a steady trickle of visitors throughout the Summer
season. We now enter the winter period which will
as usual be a very busy time for the volunteers who spent much time in
consolidating the records. Having now caught up with our backlog of accessioned
exhibits, we are now updating the existing records and cross indexing the
information. Recording is an ongoing task with new items being donated.
We have been joined by some new volunteer helpers whose help and enthusiasm
makes our efforts worthwhile.
New volunteers are always most welcome.
We have now acquired the professional
services of Ms Stephanie Meads as our Museums Officer, one of her main tasks at
this time is the preparation of our accreditation documentation which is due for
submission in 2009.
Also we have regular visits from Ms Sarah Cooper from the County Museum Truro
who is advising us on photographic record cross indexing.
Activities For June 2008
Pupils and staff from Otterham Primary School visited the museum. By all accounts they enjoyed their visit and were very active in asking questions about many of the exhibits. The display of shipbuilding was an
May 2008
Any hopes of re-housing at the shipyard complex were always in some doubt and we now find ourselves back to square one, yet again.
The committee of the Institute have been engaged in a major face lift and repair of the fabric of the building this has been a daunting task as the building is listed, which entails very stringent constraints on how repairs are carried out. We again would ask again that anyone who feels able should offer their support to the Institute Trustees in their efforts to preserve this building which has been a focal point in the towns history for more than a century.
December 2006
We are always in need of volunteers who have a skill or wish to learn about various aspects of museum management, if you would like further information please contact us at museum@chynoweth.co.uk
This is an exciting project which at the conclusion will give Padstow a new Museum depicting both social & historical record of the town.
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Jan 2006
The draft copy of the PPG documentation is now complete and will be put before
the steering committee on Monday 20th January. From this we expect to have the
final PPG documents by mid February. This is only the first stage on the road to
attracting a funded grant. We now have to prepare a case to move forward to
apply for this grant.
During the winter closed season our volunteers are busy with cataloguing & documentation of our extensive collection, this is an ongoing commitment which proves to be most enlightening voyage of discovery. Very often we end up with more questions than we have been able to answer, administering and documenting a museum collection can be likened to trying to piece together a huge jigsaw.
As and when we are able to re-establish the museum in a new home we will requiring more volunteer helpers, this is an interesting and challenging job. If any person is interested in becoming a volunteer please contact us.
Dec 2005
Good progress is being made with the
preparation of our PPG application documentation. It hoped that the final
documentation will for PPG will be completed in February.
Meetings of the steering group and the consultants are scheduled for 5th &
9th of January.
Further news of progress will be posted as available.
Nov 2005
Consultants Dixon & Chant have now been commissioned to carry out a feasibility study of the Old Net Tec building for the purpose of producing documentation for PPG applications to HLF.
A briefing meeting was held on Monday 14th Nov between the consultants and the steering committee. The consultants gave a presentation on the proposed programme which will result in a draft document being available in late Jan 2006. A visit to the proposed new museum venue and the existing museum took place. Further dialogue will be initiated during the ensuing weeks.
The steering committee are in dialogue with NCDC, Awards for All, and other professional bodies in preparing a bid for funding. This is a long and difficult process but essential to the successful outcome of the project.
In the meantime we are still appealing for help in finding support and funding to safeguard the future of our town museum.
The Trustees of the Padstow Institute have massive problems with structural repairs to their building, we have been privileged to base our museum here for the past 35 years and would appeal on their behalf for support in their time of need.
April 2005
We have been offered an extension of our tenancy until 31st December 2005 by the Trustees of Padstow Institute. This gives a little breathing space but does not solve our long term problem.
The steering committee are preparing documentation to present to Heritage Lottery, this is complicated process but every effort is being made to expedite the preparation of this document.
The re-opening of the Museum at Easter was well received, we have had a small but steady throughput of visitors. We have
been encouraged by the enthusiasm of local school children who visited during
the Easter holidays.
We have also been able to offer help with some research into to some of our
archival material. This is encouraging and in a small way, proves that the
museum has an important part to play in Padstow's future.
November
2004
Further developments on re-location of the
museum.
Many people are aware of the problems facing the trustees of the Institute building.
They have indicated that they may have to seek more commercial rents from their
tenants. This could very well mean that we are without !!!!!!! a home in the near
future. The repairs to the building are now very urgent, attempts to find the
necessary grant funding has so far been unsuccessful.
The museum committee continue to explore the possibility of the use of the upper
floor of the "Padstow Cycle Hire " building. The are many hurdles to
overcome, not least the considerable amount of finance involved.
We are pleased
to have 'in principle' support from Padstow Town Council and will work
with them and North Cornwall District Council in order to move the project
forward.
If we lose our museum the loss will great to the children of the local schools (amongst our most avid supporters) and the residents of Padstow, this unique social history of Padstow which will be tangibly lost forever.
Our chairman & trustees have been working very hard to try ensure the future of our unique little museum
Anybody who has experience in funding bids or who can help us attract funds for this very worthwhile project could you please contact me on 01841532620 or e-mail
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer or wish to help in any way
please contact
one of the following numbers 01841532620 or 01841532470.
July 2004
MUSEUM DILEMMA - Up date for friends and
supporters. July 2004
Faced with an uncertain future Padstow Museum continues to accept items of
particular local
interest into its collection. This is what the founders set out to do and in the
words of a report
written by Richard Glassborow on the future of Padstow Museum "Closure and
disposal of the
collection should be beyond contemplation". It would be sad indeed if there
were not a place in the
community for us in years to come.
February 2005
As the result of a bequest of the late Nigel Rowe of St Issey The Museum are now the proud owners of two paintings of local interest one being a 19th century watercolour of the Ring of Bells Hotel St Issey and the second an oil painting by well known local fisherman Tom Morrissey. Tom who sadly passed away a few years ago was well known by his presence around the harbour at Padstow, one of his less known talents was his artistic ability to produce some wonderful oil paintings of ships. The example below is that of the "Katie" topsail schooner built in a Padstow shipyard in 1881. She was use for coastal trading during WWII and was damaged by enemy fire. Post war she was sold to a Danish company renamed the "Bargfelk". After a number of years she was bought by a Cornish Preservation Society, unfortunately she sank under tow to Cornwall being a total loss.
"Katie" Painting by Tom Morrissey 1991
Padstow Museum News December 2004
We do feel, as a small local volunteer museum, a bit out on a limb, we are a mite unappreciated. But on the other hand, along comes a visitor who says nice things about our displays and how they help them to understand our lovely old town and it all seems worthwhile.
We are always on the look out for people to do man the reception desk. If you are interested in helping, why not contact us?
Without an active committee we could not survive. Special thanks to George Barnes who created and manages this web site.
Just to remind you who we are –
Officers.
John Buckingham (Chairman &
Trustee), Ann Searle (Minute Secretary),
George Barnes (Treasurer & Trustee), Peta Venner, Derek Lindsey,
Rev. Barry Kinsmen (Trustee), Frank Sluman (Trustee), Mike Fox (Trustee).
Committee:
Rev. Barry Kinsmen, Derek Lindsey, Rosemary Greaves
Jill Ford, Ernest Jarvis, Gilbert Rodrigues, Peter Weston,
Rosemary Brinham,
David Edwards, Phil Banks,
Webmaster George Barnes.
Museums Officer. Stephanie Meads
We have a nucleus of other volunteer helpers who man the reception desk and
help out with other tasks.
The Trustees of Padstow Museum are very grateful to all who support us.
More recent Acquisitions.
As if to emphasize the importance of our local museum two items have recently
been offered and are on display as received. They are in need of some restoration but otherwise
splendid examples of the kind of object the museum welcomes.
Firstly, watercolour by the well-known marine artist Reuben Chappell, who lived
and worked in Par for many years. The picture is of the PAR of Fowey and until recently it
hung in the hallway of Mrs. Norah Chown's flat in Hornabrook Court.
Her son Wally and his daughter Faye
see the museum as the appropriate place to display this link with our maritime history.
We agree and are checking the history of this steam ship that made frequent
trips in to Padstow.
The second item to come our way recently was from Tony Allen who was involved along with
Bill Lindsey in the founding of the museum. Some years ago he had acquired a
ships model from the Baker family at Cove. It was a model of a two masted topsail schooner
typical of those built and owned in Padstow for much of the 19c. Given the name 'Stych' after the
Lifeboat served in
by William John Baker, it is a fine example of the model maker's craft. William
John's daughter Mary remembers it being kept in the old pig's house at the rear of the cottage.
She is delighted that it can now be seen by the public after all this time.
Regular visitors may have noticed that the pair of Choughs normally on display
is missing. These have been sent to Exeter Museum for specialist treatment for minor infestation.
These have been
on loan for a number of years and we are grateful to David Old and his family
from Trevone for making this a permanent gift.
(Note) The Choughs are back in on
show again after their grooming.
New this year to the Obby Oss display is a teaser's club from Michael Constance
and the second master of ceremonies' staff of the Blue Ribbon Oss. A nicely made mask made for
a kids' Oss has come to us from the Retreat at St Columb via Nick Darke of Porthcothan.
The Museum is open Monday to Friday – 10.30 to 4.30 and on
Saturdays from 10.30 to 1 pm. Adults £1-50, Children FREE.
You will find us on the 1st floor of the Men's Institute near Barclay's Bank
Market Place.
Come and see for yourself what we are trying to do to preserve
some of Padstow's heritage for future generations.
