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.

In recent months the rear windows have been undergoing restoration this was an expensive project and the museum were pleased to be able to contribute to the cost.

Launch of a new book Lost off Trevose by author Brian French.

With a Pasty in my Pocket

 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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Latest News Updates      
Further developments will be posted on this page as they arise.

June 2011

We are pleased to announce that our new website is now available on line at http://padstowmuseum.webplus.net it may be necessary to copy this address to your Google address line at the top of Google search page

April 2011

The Museum is now open again after the winter maintenance period. The volunteers have been hard at work reorganising the displays, we now have a new state of the art illuminated display case, which houses some of our more unusual objects, and a new display of war memorabilia has been created, along with these the Harlyn Bay relics have been revamped.  Our cataloguing system has been updated to include more information on many items.

Our windows at rear of the premises have been renewed so we are 100% weatherproof, we were pleased to be able to make a contribution to this improvement. The impressive window on the stairway has been refurbished by the Institute committee and has greatly improved the entry to the museum.

We now hope that visitors will be able to visit us in spite of the financial difficulties we are all experiencing, our entry fee on which we rely to finance our rental and overheads is remaining at £1.50 for adults and free to children.

            The New Display Cabinet                                         The New Horsemen

These replica Little Horsemen are now

mounted on the roof opposite the museum

Feb 2010

The latest Newsletter is now available e-mail museum@chynoweth.co.uk

Jan 2011

We print here the editorial from the latest Christmas edition of The Padstow Echo, it is self explanatory but it of some concern to the production

team as sales and take-up have declined to a point where it fails to be self-financing.

Please read and if you have any comments/suggestions please contact Sue or John Buckingham.

PADSTOW ECHO

Founder Stephen Fuller

Editor: Sue Norfolk

Issue No. 145 December 2010

 Editorial

Dear Friends

Sue is moving back to her old house so I said I would do the editorial this time. Its' my turn to wish you all a Happy Christmas,

Barry Sue and I will put this issue together much as usual. We do it because we love Padstow and up to now there have been enough people out there buying copies to make it worthwhile.

The people at Quill Press help us enormously and are paid for the work. The shops who sell them, like us make no profit and do it to support the community.

We do like to think the Echo covers current issues in our area but inevitably we do a fair amount of harking back, we are told that this is what our readers enjoy.

We are following a pattern set by Stephen Fuller in 1964. His lead so tragically cut short five years later was ably taken up by Margaret and Alf Benton with help from Tricia & Cynthia, and afterwards by Sue. Barry and I are more than happy to support her.

Today in 2010 we find ourselves in a very different Padstow than the one Stephen and his friends knew. One which the internet plays a significantly, major part. Enabling the sharing of information, on a scale, undreamed of, in times past.

The biggest change to our town has been the movement of people from the old town, the proliferation of holiday homes where families once lived and the subsequent loss of business there that serviced these families.

The shops we knew (and some of us ran) have nearly all gone only to be replaced with smart clothes shops and galleries. I must admit they all look very smart and certainly give an air of prosperity. Along with the eating establishments we have become quite famous for they all give much needed employment and we should be grateful for that.

Fortunately many of our readers still have homes here but have little reason to make a trip ‘down town’. This maybe the main reason our sales have fallen off.

There are 150 copies sent by post to the rest of the UK and abroad and 10 each in the villages of Trevone, St. Merryn and St. Issey. We need to sell another 320 copies to break even.

Not surprisingly we sell our largest number of copies with the May Issue. Many of these, going to visitors, with longstanding Padstow connections.

This issue at Christmas is also quite well taken up. Both of these special times when we reflect on the part our community plays in our lives.

We feel that it might be better to concentrate on these two issues and drop the August one that has such a poor uptake.

What do you think? Maybe you feel that the Echo has had its day? Why not let us know.

Most of all we wish you a Happy Christmas and a Peaceful New Year.

Best wishes John Buckingham, Sue Norfolk & Barry Kinsmen.

Single copies £1.60 UK Postal Issues £2.15/£6.45 for 3 issues. Overseas £2.50/£7.50 for issues. Material for publication and enquiries to:

Sue Norfolk "Boslandew", 27 Church Lane, Padstow, Cornwall PL28 8AY

Email: susan@padstowecho.wanadoo.co.uk

or Tel: 01841 532902

Feb 2011

The latest newsletter is now available for copy please E-Mail   museum@chynoweth.co.uk

December 2010

Once again it is the time of year that we shut shop to enable our volunteers to carry out those tasks which accrue over the past year, rearranging displays, recording and sorting new objects donated. We have two new volunteers this winter, we welcome Ms Daphne Hicks and Mrs Christine Murt, both have skills we urgently need.

The season has been rather a difficult one with the financial crisis, it is understandable that visitor numbers were down, we did reduce our admission fees to encourage visitors and this did help to some extent.

We have ordered a new showcase to enhance the presentation of some of our more unusual exhibits this should be with us in the new year. We have also acquired another smaller showcase from Plymouth Museum which will house our Harlyn Bay exhibits.

One of our long standing volunteers George Barnes who has been involved with the museum for the past 39 years recently won an award from the Cornwall Volunteering Partnership services to Culture. George was first a volunteer in 1971 and has held all major posts over the years.

Finally the volunteers and committee wish all our supporters and visitors a very Happy Christmas and Prosperous 2011

August 2010

At present we have special admission fees of £1 for adults children remain free.

The research into the wreck of HMS Whiting continues, if you visit the following website you will fine an amazing update on the results so far, search for HMS Whiting.

Padstow Museum has been actively involved in the local research of records of this project.

April 2010

We are pleased to announce that our museum has been awarded full accreditation, indicating that the museum is now recognised as a quality visitor attraction.

March 2010

Much has been in the local news of the wreck of the 'Antoinette' which has been reappeared on the Town Bar between Padstow and Rock due to the scouring of sand during the past winter. below is an account of the wreck of this vessel on the Doom Bar in 1895

"The largest sailing ship wrecked on the Doom Bar was the old Bluenose Square-Rigger Antoinette, launched by J.M.Gardenor of Yarmouth Nova Scotia, as a 1,118 ton wooden full rigger in 1874 for J Bingay of that port. She was later reduced to a Barque, sold New Brunswick way, and it was under the registration of St John's, NB, that she sailed from Newport on New Years Day 1895, bound for Santos with 1,830 tons of coal and coke. The Christmas gales returned before the pilot was dropped off Lundy, and both fore and main topmasts carried away. At 5 o'clock next morning, ten miles off Pentire, a heavy squall cleared her decks, broke a sailor's leg and left her unmanageable. When dawn broke her flags and rockets brought out both Padstow and Port Isaac lifeboats, but the tug Princess May arrived first and transferred a hawser. The crippled New Brunswicker steered very badly, and as they made the channel against the ebb tide soon after 2 pm she broke loose and drifted into the surf. Captain Nickerson and thirteen men were rescued by the lifeboats, and that afternoon the Padstow crew had to retrieve three pilots marooned on the wreck.

The Antoinette broke up the next night, debris choking every gully from Daymer to Pentire. Ropes, gear, timber and copper nails were collected up; there was also plenty of food on board, particularly apple rings which lay thickly around Trebetherick. One St Minver man salvaged a large box of tobacco which he hid in the furze before setting off to inform the coastguards. The box vanished, and many years later a farm labourer admitted that he had stolen it, and kept it hidden on a beam in one of the barns, where it provided him with many a good pipe full.

One large piece of the barques' hull drifted into Harbour Cove, another on to the lower beach, and an even bigger piece remained embedded on the Doom Bar. Three Cardiff tugs failed to shift it, and the next spring tides carried the  debris up on to Town Bar. A miner named Pope was hired to destroy this navigational hazard; he poked a long oblong box packed with gelignite under the wreck and ordered the spectators clear. The explosion scattered scores of windows, flung timbers high in the air, and left a column of smoke visible from Wadebridge, three miles up river. But the wreckage was hardly dispersed, and still lies deep in the sands together with many tons of coal.

The Antoinette's long boat, a handsome craft of Canadian oak and elm built on the voyage over to Wales, was salvaged and, as the Padstow fishing boat Kingfisher, lasted until 1960 when soon after being sold, she was wrecked across the river at Rock.".  Later the Kingfisher PW 206 was owned by Tommy Morrissey of Padstow and was in 1941 it was part of what was known locally as 'Parkyn,s Navy'.

The wreck is now being dismantled by the Padstow Harbour Commissioners with the help of the Royal Navy Bomb Disposal Bomb Unit.

The wreck posed a hazard to navigation and the water sport activities in this area of the River Camel.

February 2010

Our representatives have attended two meetings of the Museums for Cornwall Association, and are now involved in a project to attract new volunteers. A grant from Renaissance fund has enabled this project to engage in the production of posters individually tailored to for each museum, it is hoped that this will attract more volunteers.

Further to our report of July 2009 the search for the wreck of HMS Whiting has moved forward with fresh information being related by local boatmen and local historian Malcolm McCarthy. An on site survey is due to take place on 2nd March during the spring tide. We await the results with interest, for our part we have been doing our own research into references from written sources within our archives.

Our volunteers are still hard at work each Tuesday, completing the cataloguing of the recently newly acquired items.

We are still looking for anybody who wishes to support us by joining our Friends of Padstow Museum, more info from the Treasurer at museum@chynoweth.co.uk

December 2009
Our volunteers have again been busy, re-arranging our storage facility an outstanding task from last winter.

We have been contacted by Margaret Morrish of the Ballaratt Cornish Association Melbourne Australia, having visited our site, and discovered our Little Horsemen she was seeking more information and pictures for the associations newsletter, it is great pleasure for us to be able to help our Cornish cousins down under, it is very rewarding for us and makes our efforts in maintaining our little museum worthwhile.
An update has been added to our Categories/Shipwreck Section covering the fate of the Doris in 1907

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

CARING FOR PADSTOW’S PAST IS IMPORTANT FOR THE FUTURE

 A 25 year Lease and suitable rental agreement was offered to Padstow Museum by Padstow Town Council, which is supporting the Museum in its bid to find suitable new premises. 

The current proposal was that the Museum be housed on the upper floor of Padstow Cycle Hire.

Unfortunately this line of enquiry could not continue as the premises did not become vacant, so we are back to square one.