Evaluation  Report  

 Plen  an  Gwari:    the  Playing  Places  of  Cornwall    Project  OH-­‐13-­‐05395  

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

Contents  

1. Executive  Summary    

2.  What  we  said  we  would  do  2.1  The  Heritage  

2.2  Approved  Purposes  of  HLF  grant:  

2.3  Expected  Difference  

 

3.  What  actually  happened  3.1  Management  and  Staffing  

3.2  Steering  Group  

3.3  Planning  and  Timetable  

3.4  Activities  

3.4.1 Collate  Evidence  

3.4.2 Deliver  workshops  in  partnership  with  Falmouth  University  (x6)  

3.4.3 Launch  Events  

3.4.4 Recruit  Volunteers  

3.4.5 Outdoor  Exhibition  

3.4.6 Archaeological  Survey  

3.4.7 Online  Field  Guide  

3.4.8 Learning  Materials  

3.4.9 Teacher  Training  

3.4.10 Schools  Programme  

3.4.11 ‘Lost’  Site  Visits  

3.4.12 Activity  Materials  targeted  at  Family  Visitors  

3.4.13 Final  Events  

 

4.  Review  

5.  Summary  of  Lessons  Learned  

 

Appendices:  

i)  Steering  Group  Minutes  

ii)  Publicity  Materials  

iii)  Commissioned  Illustrations    

   

 

1.  Executive  summary          

Plen  an  Gwari:  the  Playing  Places  of  Cornwall  has  been  a  very  successful  HLF-­‐funded  project.  

 

The  medieval  theatre  tradition  of  Cornwall  was  previously  almost  unknown.  As  a  result  of  this  project  a  

hugely   increased   constituency   of   people   know   about,   are   interested   in   and   have   engaged  with   this  

heritage.  

 

Real   learning   about   heritage   has   occurred   in   groups   from   the   youngest   school   pupils   through  

secondary  school  and  university  students  to  the  oldest  adult  volunteers.  

 

The  two  well-­‐known  sites  are  now  framed  as  part  of  a  much  wider  and  better-­‐understood  phenomenon  

with  more  than  50  sites  (probable  and  possible)  being  identified  on  the  online  field  guide.  

 

The  project  has  produced  an  online  legacy,  an  attractive  and  accessible  book,  a  permanent  exhibition,  a  

series  of   lectures  and  several  proposals   for   further   studies,  activities  and   revivals.  Many   local  groups  

have  expressed  a  desire  to  take  this  work  forward  and  explore  their  local  heritage  further.  

   

2.  What  we  said  we  would  do:    • Enlist  expert  and  volunteer  help  locate,  uncover  and  celebrate  dozens  of  ‘lost’  plen  an  gwari  sites  across  

West  Cornwall.    

• Work  with  university,  schools  and  community  groups  to   ‘unlock’  surviving  medieval  texts  and  re-­‐create  

the  hidden  treasures  of  our  unique  theatrical  heritage  at  the  two  extant  sites.    

• Create  an  on-­‐line  field  guide  exploring  and  interpreting  the  'lost'  sites.    

• tour  an  outdoor  exhibition  to  theatrical  performances  (separately  funded)  and  community  events  at  24  

of  these  sites    

• Tour  an  indoor  exhibition  around  theatres  and  museums.    

• Produce   a   gorgeous,   illustrated   book   pulling   together   contemporary   accounts,   academic   thinking   and  

interpretive  images.    

• Significantly   raise   the   awareness   of   and   engagement   with   this   previously   under-­‐celebrated   aspect   of  

Cornish  heritage.    

 

2.1  The  Heritage  

In  Late  Medieval  and  Early  Tudor  times,  West  Cornwall  was  the  centre  of  an  extraordinary  and  vibrant  theatre  

culture,  as  rich  as  anywhere  in  Europe.  Two  well-­‐known  examples  of  plen  an  gwari  (amphitheatres)  survive  at  St  

Just  and  Perranporth.    The  remains  at  these  two  sites  are  earthworks  forming  a  circular  bank  around  a  central  

space.    

 

 Falmouth  University  students  at  Perran  Round  

 

Preliminary  research  (from  volunteer  and  community  sources)  suggests  that  partial  remains  and  outline  evidence  

of  plenys  an  gwari  may  be  found  at  over  forty  almost  entirely  unknown  sites.  Some  of  these  sites  have  been  built  

upon  or  ploughed-­‐over,  most  are  disregarded  by  the  local  community  who  are  unaware  of  their  existence.    

 ‘The  Ordinalia’:  the  earliest  surviving  playscript  in  Britain  (photo  taken  in  the  Bodleian  Library)  

 

The  handful  of  surviving  scripts  in  the  Cornish  language  (including  the  recently  unearthed  Bewnans  Ke/’Life  of  St  

Ke')   complement   the   various   contemporary   accounts   (eg   Carew,   Scawen)   to   help   us   build   a   picture   of   the  

outdoor,  festive,  theatrical  events  that  once  took  place  across  West  Cornwall.    An  aspiration  of  the  forthcoming  

Kresen  Kernow  project   is  to  see  the  loan  of  these  important  medieval  documents  back  to  Cornwall   in  the  near  

future.  The  growth  of  Falmouth  University  has   rekindled  a  great  deal  of   interest   in   the  history  and   the   site  of  

Glasney  College,  Penryn  where,  evidence  suggests,  many  of  the  plays  were  written.  Although  once  dismissed  as  

oddities,  the  Cornish  medieval  dramas  are  attracting  new  attention  from  academics,  some  even  suggesting  that  

they   should   be   'given   their   rightful   place   as   being   the     most   important   element   in   the   history   of   medieval  

European  (and  in  particular  British)  drama'    (Higgins,  University  of  Camerino,  2013)      

 

Later,   through   the   18th   and   19th   centuries,   the  plen   an   gwari   spaces  were   used   for  wrestling  matches,   rock-­‐

drilling  competitions,  Methodist  tea  treats  and  all  manner  of  community  celebrations.  In  several  locations  these  

later  uses  continued  right  up  into  times  within  or  just  beyond  living  memory,  thus,  important  fragments  of  oral  

history  heritage  remain  to  be  collected.    

   

2.2  Approved  Purposes  of  HLF  grant:  

• To  recruit  freelance  delivery  roles  

• To  collate  historical  textual  and  pictorial  information  

• To  commission  12  historical,  interpretive  illustrations  

• To  recruit  and  train  12  volunteers  and  5  interns  

• To  deliver  6  workshops  in  partnership  with  Falmouth  University  

• To  produce  outdoor  touring  exhibition  

• To  publicise  and  produce  2  public  launch  events  

• To  facilitate  and  resource  site-­‐visit  programme  and  outdoor  exhibition  across  24  lost  sites  

• To  design,  deliver  and  evaluate  a  KS@  and  KS3  educational  programme  for  24  schools  with  24  teachers  

and  500  pupils  

• To  promote  educational  materials   to   a  wider   audience;  minimum  of   50   schools,   50   teachers   and   1,500  

pupils  

• To  deliver  4  CPD  sessions  for  48  teachers  

• To  produce  interpretive  activity  materials  targeted  at  family  visitors  for  plen  sites  

• To  produce  2  public  events  for  24  schools,  500  pupils,  24  teachers  and  300  parents/family  members  

• To  produce,  publish  and  launch  an  illustrated  book  

• To  deliver  and  install  outdoor  and  indoor  exhibition  

 

2.3  Expected  Difference  

This  project   intended  to  make  a  difference  to  heritage;  an   interactive  on-­‐line   field  guide  to   ‘lost’  plen  an  gwari  

sites  across  Cornwall  would  mean  that  heritage  was  identified  and  recorded.  A  programme  of  interpretive  'lost'  

site  events  (curated  by  young  people)  and  a  sumptuous  and  beautifully-­‐illustrated  book  exploring  the  varied  use  

and  social  significance  of  the  plen  an  gwari  through  history,  providing  comprehensive,  accurate  information  but  

thoroughly  accessible  to  a  very  wide  audience  would  help  heritage  to  be  better  interpreted  and  explained.    

School  pupils  enacting  medieval  drama  at  Perran  Round  

 

 

 

 

 

 

The  project  intended  to  make  a  difference  to  people:  through  the  educational  program,  an  exhibition,  enjoyable  

experiences  and  provide  opportunities  to  volunteer.  A  KS2  and  a  KS3  educational  programme,  with  a  legacy  of  

supporting  educational  resources  along  with  celebratory  events  at  the  existing  plen  sites  recreating  key  aspects  

of   the  medieval  experience  would  help  people   learn  about   the  heritage.  An  exhibition   touring  with   the  Planet  

Kernow  Embassy  and  on  long  term  display  would  also  help  people  learn  about  heritage.    

 

Project   events;   launch   events   with   Falmouth   University   students   sharing   the   outcomes   of   their   study   and  

interpretive  activity  materials  targeted  at  family  visitors,  along  with  celebratory  events  that  showed  the  outputs  

of  the  work  with  schools  would  provide  an  enjoyable  and  inspirational  experience  for  people.  

 

 

Volunteers  learning  about  geophysical  surveying  at  St  Hilary  

 

 

A   steering   committee  of   stakeholders   across   a   range  of   sectors   and   a  network  of   volunteers   to   research   lost  

sites  and  five  internships  to  assist  in  five  areas  of  the  project;    i)  learning  ii)  events  iii)  exhibitions  iv)  marketing  v)  

digital   outputs,   all   gave   people   an   opportunity   to   volunteer   their   time   and   improve   their   skills   and  

understanding.    

4. What  actually  happened      3.1  Management  and  Staffing  

Golden  Tree  recruited  an  able  Project  Manager  who  successfully  oversaw  the  first  half  of  the  project’s  life  span,  

but   then  moved   on   to   take   on   other   career   opportunities.   It   then   became   necessary   to   re-­‐recruit.   The   tasks  

comprising  the  Project  Manager   role  were  then  shared  between  two   individuals   (one  of  whom  had  previously  

been   an   intern   with   the   project   and   one   who   had   previously   been   a   volunteer   –   a   very   pleasing   piece   of  

professional   development).   Given   this   change   of   management   structure   at   the   mid-­‐point   of   the   project,   the  

company   was   delighted   that   the   transition   was   accomplished   smoothly   and   then   no   significant   slippage   of  

delivery  occurred.    

The  interns  were  utilised  in  very  diverse  ways  and  proved  immensely  helpful  (and  also  reported  gaining  a  great  

deal  from  the  experience).  

 

 Training  day  at  Perran  Round  

 

The  volunteer  network  was  far  greater  than  our  initial  target  and  as  well  as  contributing  to  the  delivery  outputs  

also  helped  create  a  real  buzz  about  the  subject  matter  across  Cornwall.  

 

3.2  Steering  Group  

The  Steering  Group  was  a  very  helpful  way  to  engage  a  very  wide  constituency  of  stakeholders  and  meant  that  

the   project   received   very   good   quality   steerage   and   guidance   (both   from   those   able   to   attend   and   those  

contributing  remotely)        

A  wide  range  of  people  from  academic  research,  drama  and  theatre,  schools,  heritage  and  voluntary  and  public  

sectors  were   invited   to   attend   steering  group  meetings.   The  minutes  of   all  meetings  were  distributed   among  

everyone  invited  and  some  people  made  contributions  and  volunteered  information  and  support  even  if  they  did  

not  attend  meetings.  The  invitations  and  minutes  went  out  to  42  people  across  Cornwall  and  Britain  and,  Italy,  

America  and  Australia  as  well.    

6  meetings  of  the  steering  group  took  place,  and  at  every  meeting  the  project  director  provided  an  update  of  

work,  outlined  upcoming  work  and   looked   for   support  and  advice   from  attendees.  As  a   result  of   the   steering  

group   meetings,   Jackie   Nowakowski   of   Cornwall’s   Historic   Environment   provided   advice   on   the   extent   of  

recorded   knowledge,   archaeological   activities  were   decided  on,   and  MAGA  provided   translations   into   Cornish  

and   requested   reference   to   their   Cornish   language   drama   resource   pack   in   the   project   learning   materials.  

[Appendix  1:  Steering  Group  Minutes]  

the project is another shining example [of community archaeology], embracing a wide range of sources of

information and locally available enthusiasm and specific skills

Professor Matthew Spriggs

Steering Group Member

3.3  Planning  and  Timetable  

The   original   Project   Plan   remained   the   major   guiding   tool   throughout   the   project   and   proved   itself   to   be  

purposeful  and  effective.  Some  changes  to  the  plan  did  occur:  

Coordinate   and   support   volunteer   field   research/   Create   on-­‐line   field-­‐guide   to   known   and   ‘lost’   sites:   we  

underestimated  the  amount  of  time  and  the  duration  of  the  period  that  these  tasks  would  require,  however  they  

have  been  some  of  the  most  rewarding  (and  engaging)  aspects  of  the  project.  

Produce  outdoor  touring  exhibition/  Produce  indoor  touring  exhibition:  the  original  outdoor  touring  exhibition  

was   large,   attractive   and   informative   but   was   not   constructed   robustly   enough.   By   the   end   of   the   summer  

section  of  the  tour  it  was  beginning  to  look  shabby  and  needed  significant  repair  work  before  the  autumn/winter  

period  of  ‘lost  site’  visits.  We  took  the  decision  to  completely  re-­‐design  it  in  such  a  way  that  the  new  version  of  

the  exhibition  would  work  both  outdoors  and  indoors.  

 

3.4  Activities  

 

A  section  of  the  Golden  Tree  Productions  website  was  provided  for  the  project  and  material  was  added  to  this  

during   the   project.   The   address   is   http://goldentree.org.uk/portfolios/plen-­‐an-­‐gwari-­‐the-­‐playing-­‐places-­‐of-­‐

cornwall/  

 

4.4.1 Collate  Evidence  

A   spreadsheet   was   made   of   known   probable   and   possible   plen   an   gwari   sites,   using   data   from   the   Historic  

Environment  Record  (HER)  and  references  from  the  works  of  Rod  Lyon,  Oliver  Padel  and  Matthew  Spriggs.  Over  

the   course  of   the  project,   additional   references   to   further   sites  were   found   in   the  works  of  Polwhele  and   the  

National  Archives.  Volunteers  also  suggested  the  existence  of  other  additional  sites,  but  on  examination  many  of  

them,   such   as   Resugga   Castle,   and   Portreath   Road   Round,   were   mainly   pre-­‐existing   monuments   with   no  

reference  that  they  were  ever  re-­‐used  as  a  plen  an  gwari.  One  or  two  sites  were  admitted  on  the  strength  of  their  

shape  and  location  alone  –  for  instance  Crasken  Farm  has  a  circular  field  that  was  once  an  Iron  Age  round,  but  its  

proximity  to  Helston,  and  the  lack  of  any  known  plen  an  gwari  nearby  means  that  it  was  a  likely  candidate  for  a  

possible  plen  an  gwari  site.  The  final  list  contained  58  sites.  

 

Project  Director  studying  manuscripts  in  the  Bodleian  Library  

 

Other   evidence   of   the   wider   plen   an   gwari   culture   which   was   collected   and   collated   (some   previously  

unpublished)   included   church   book-­‐keeping   records,   court   depositions,   historical   descriptions   and   reports,  

historical  diagrams,  old  photographs,  and  personal  accounts  

 

4.4.2 Deliver  workshops  in  partnership  with  Falmouth  University  (x6)  

The  partnership  with  Falmouth  University’s   ‘theatre’  course  was  productive  and  successful.  We  delivered  a  full  

week  of  workshops  to  a  very  enthusiastic  cohort  of  students  who  then  took  part   in  both  of  our   launch  events  

(one  at  St  Just  and  the  other  at  Tremough).    

Falmouth  University  Theatre  students  reciting  medieval  Cornish  

 

We   also   hosted   eight   site   visits   by   the   students   including   visiting   the   site   of   Glasney   College,   the   site   of   the  

Penryn  plen  an  gwari  and  three  visits  each  to  Perran  Round  and  St  Just  Plain  an  Gwarry.  

                                 Falmouth  University  students  at  the  site  of  Glasney  College  

 

A  MIGHTY  THANKS  for  your  dynamic  guidance  about  and  exposition  of  the  Plen  an  Gwary  experience  in  terms  of  

direction,  information  and  sheer  inspiration.  In  effect  you  generated  a  truly  OPEN-­‐air-­‐UNIVERSITY  in  the  earthen  

walls  of  Perran  Round  and  St  Just  Plen.  

Dr  Simon  Persighett  

Falmouth  University  Lecturer    

 

4.4.3 Launch  Events  

The  first  launch  event  was  held  at  St  Just  plen  an  gwari.  In  advance,  leaflets  were  distributed  by  the  members  of  

the  steering  group  and  the  event  was  attended  by  twenty  five  Falmouth  students  plus  more  than  thirty  members  

of  the  public.  They  were  treated  to  excerpts  from  the  medieval  plays  that  had  been  written  in  Cornish,  presented  

by  the  students  from  Falmouth  University  who  through  their  workshops  had  devised  ways  to  retain  the  use  of  

Cornish  language  while  at  the  same  time  conveying  meaning  bilingually  to  the  audience.  

 

 Giant  map  of  Cornwall  showing  plen  an  gwari  locations  

Project  staff  had  laid  out  a  map  of  Cornwall  and  the  audience  gladly  made  a  living  map  of  plen  an  gwari  locations  

by  holding  signs  of  different  locations,  finding  them  on  a  map  and  standing  in  those  locations.  

   

 champions  from  different  plen  an  gwari  locations  at  the  second  project  launch  

The  second   launch  was  held  at  Tremough  Campus,  Penryn  with   live  music   from   traditional  Cornish  band  Dalla  

and  a  packed  hall  full  of  students  and  members  of  the  public  (numbers  attending  118)  

 

 

 

4.4.4 Recruit  Volunteers  

A  large  number  of  people  signed  up  as  volunteers  at  the  launch  event  and  emails  went  out  to  a  list  that  grew  to  

112  recipients.  Twelve  volunteers  attended  a  training  day  and  learned  about  the  HER  the  Cornish  language  in  the  

landscape   and   archival   research.   A   total   of   nineteen   people   attended   lost   site   research   activities,   and   twenty  

nine  people  engaged  in  volunteer  online  research.  

 

 Delivering  training  at  St  Just  Plain  an  Gwarry  

 

 

 

 

4.4.5 Outdoor  Exhibition  

The  project  was  initially  undertaken  in  parallel  with  an  Arts  Council  funded  project;  Gogmagog.  This  was  a  new  

play  that  explored  the  way  in  which  the  plen  an  gwari  space  was  used.  Instead  of  “theatre  in  the  round”  where  

the  audience  sit  around  the  edge,  the  difference  in  this  play’s  format  was  that  the  audience  was  surrounded  by  

the   players,   and   the   action   took   place   around   them,   and   amongst   them.   So   the   audience  milled   around   and  

would  be  attracted  to  different  places  to  dramatic  effect.  This  can  be  seen  as  a  very  modern,  site-­‐specific  setting  

for  drama,  but  it  is  consistent  with  the  stage  directions  and  diagrams  in  the  ancient  playscripts,  and  seems  to  be  

the  way   in  which  the  plays  were  performed.  Many  who  were  aware  of  the  plays,  had  previously  assumed  that  

the   plays   were   performed   to   an   audience   who   sat   around   the   edge   on   the   banks.   However,   when   they  

experienced  the  immersive  nature  of  the  play,  they  agreed  that  this  was  the  best  use  of  the  space.  

 

That  Gogmagog  dealt  with  the  staging  of  medieval  Cornish  theatre  was  made  explicit  at  each  performance,  and  

this  brought  the  existence  of  the  plen  an  gwari  to  an  audience  that  may  not  otherwise  have  known  about  them.  

As  the  play  toured  around  Cornwall,  it  was  seen  by  a  total  audience  of  2063  many  of  which  were  not  previously  

aware  of  the  physical  remains  of  Cornwall’s  medieval  theatres.  

...the whole concept of plen an gwari with the audience in the centre is a winner...

Gogmagog -audience email feedback

                               outdoor  exhibition  at  St  Mabyn  ‘lost’  site  

 

The  play  was  accompanied  by  an  outside  exhibition  that  explained  what  plenys  an  gwari  were,  and  how  we  think  

they  were  used.  After  the  summer  tour  the  outside  exhibition  was  extremely  worn  and  so  new  exhibition  panels  

were  commissioned  to  meet  both  outdoor  and  indoor  requirements.  These  were  used  at  archaeological  events,  

at   the   final   school   event.   We   estimate   that   over   3000   people   have   seen   the   exhibition.   After   touring   the  

exhibition  was  put  on  permanent  display  in  the  Knut,  which  is  the  building  that  is  part  of  the  St  Just  plen  an  gwari  

site.  Future  visitors  to  the  Knut  will  be  able  to  see  these  panels  that  explain  what  plenys  an  gwari  were,  and  that  

they  were  numerous  across  Cornwall.    

Delivering  the  2nd  version  of  the  exhibition  for  permanent  display  at  the  Knut,  St  Just  

4.4.6 Archaeological  Survey  

Promotion   of   the   project   moved   onto   Facebook   and   twitter,   which   achieved   a   weekly   reach   of   up   to   2666  

accounts.   This   helped   generate   interest   and   increase   links   with   volunteers,   as   well   as   attracting   new   ones.  

Fieldwork  was   advertised   through   facebook,   twitter,   and   emailing   the   list   of   volunteers.   As  more   volunteers  

arrived  through  social  media,  they  joined  the  email  list.  

 

Fieldwork  consisted  of  two  resistivity  surveys;  one  at  Ruan  Minor  and  one  at  St  Hilary.  These  sites  were  chosen  

because  they  were  both  uncertain  sites.  The  site  at  Ruan  Minor  was  thought  to  be  in  the  car  park  of  a  business,  

but  this  seemed  to  be  too  close  to  the  only  historic  reference  point.  Instead,  at  a  better  distance  there  was  a  field  

with  an  oddly  shaped  hedge  and  it  was  this  area  that  was  surveyed  with  the  permission  of  the  landowner.    

                               Training  in  using  geophysical  surveying  equipment  

 

Over  two  days,  twenty  volunteers  were  shown  how  to  lay  out  a  20m  x  20m  grid,  how  to  use  a  resistance  meter,  

and  how  to  take  height  measures  using  a  dumpy  level.  The  site  archaeologist  who  led  the  investigation,  Richard  

Mikulski,  was  paid  for  two  half  days,  and  gave  the  remainder  of  both  days  as  a  CBA  volunteer.  A  total  of  seven  

grids  were  surveyed  by  our  volunteers  over  two  days.  A  preliminary  report  by  the  site  director  showed  that  there  

were  buried   features  but   results  were  not  clear.  However,  one  of   the  volunteers   found  a  previously  unknown  

estate  map   from   1778  which   showed   that   the  area  we  were   looking  at  once  had  a  hedge   forming  over  half   a  

circle  around  it  and  this  indicates  that  our  location  was  probably  correct.    

 

As  a  result  of  the  site  survey,  a  report  showing  the  estate  map  was  sent  to  update  Cornwall’s  HER,  and  a  report  

of  the  survey  was  submitted  as  well.  

Feeling I have helped contribute in a small way.  

Adds to my understanding of life in the past in Cornwall.

I gained practical skills, and got to teach others about the dumpy level after I had learned to use it.

It was very clear and definitely helped me to understand the heritage.

Ruan  Minor  volunteer  comments  

 

Currently,   the   HER   lists   three   plen   an   gwari   sites   in   St   Hilary;   two   were   identified   by   the   National   Mapping  

Programme  (NMP),  and  one  was  the  “preferred  location”  of  author  Rod  Lyon,  although  he  was  uncertain  of  it.  

Because  the  NMP  was  entirely  desk-­‐based  research  looking  at  maps  and  aerial  photos,  one  site  was  suggested  

because  of  a  curve  in  a  field’s  hedge,  while  the  final  site  was  an  oval  soil  mark  seen  on  aerial  photos.  

 

All  three  sites  were  in  the  close  to  the  hamlet  known  

as   Plain-­‐an-­‐Gwarry.   This   time   eleven   volunteers  were  

shown   how   to   lay   out   a   grid,   and   how   to   use   a  

resistance   meter,   and   volunteers   carried   out   the  

survey.  We  surveyed  the   field  near   the  curved  hedge  

and   produced   four   20m   x   20m   grids   in   one   day.  

Unfortunately,   rain   prevented   our   return   and   the  

equipment   was   required   by   its   owners,   the   CBA  

SouthWest.  As  before,  Richard  Mikulski  worked  a  full  

day,  paid  half  a  day  by  the  project  and  giving  the  rest  

of  his  time  voluntarily  for  CBA  SouthWest.  

 

The  survey  at  this  site  produced  clearer  results  which  

showed   that   there  was  a  buried  ditch   that   ran   inside  

the  hedge,  continued  into  the  existing  field  describing  

a   curve.   There   was   a   second   buried   ditch   which   ran  

parallel   and   presumably   marked   the   outside   of   the  

hedge   line.   The   inner   ditch  was   easier   to   see,   which  

suggests  this  had  been  deeper  and  such  a  thing  is  not  

a   feature  of  any  defensive  structure,  such  as  a   round  

or  Ker   and   therefore  we   can   assume   that   this  was   a  

plen  an  gwari.  

 

At  the  present  time,  confirming  that  one  of  St  Hilary’s  three  logged  sites  is  likely  to  be  a  plen  an  gwari  does  not  

mean  that  the  others  are  not,  and  it  is  likely  that  they  will  also  need  further  investigation  in  order  to  establish  if  

they  are  ancient   sites  and   if   so,  what   they  were  used   for.  A   report  of  our   survey  was  submitted   to  Cornwall’s  

HER.  

Interesting to know what sites were used for and how many there are.

Understand Cornwall better.

Plain an Gwarry are absolutely unique and a special part of Cornwall.

St  Hilary  volunteer  comments  

 

 

 

4.4.7 Online  Field  Guide  

Following   site   investigations,   volunteers  were  asked   to  help  with  producing  a   field  guide.   The   field  guide  was  

benchmarked  against  the  popular  website  “Megalithic  Portal”  and  so  we  wanted  to  produce  a  spreadsheet  with  

links  to  the  HER,  aerial  photos,   local   information  and  various  maps.  We  also  asked  volunteers  to  describe  their  

chosen  site  in  their  own  words.  Initially  only  ten  people  volunteered  for  this  activity,  but  as  results  from  our  site  

work  was  posted  on   facebook,   interest  grew  and  more  people  asked   to  help  with  online   research.  Eventually  

twenty  nine  people  helped  with  the  online  field  guide.    

 

This  online  activity   ran   from  early  March  until  mid-­‐June,  and   involved  exchanging  over  250  emails  and  took  an  

estimated  hour  per  email  for  the  whole  activity.  This  is  because  an  email  would  be  sent  to  the  participants  with  

instructions  and  guidance,  which  they  would  carry  out  by  searching  online,  and  send  an  email  back  in  reply.  The  

contents  of  their  reply  would  then  be  added  to  the  spreadsheet.  So  approximately  250  hours  were  volunteered  

for  this  activity.  

 Volunteers  celebrating  ‘lost’  sites  across  Cornwall  

 

Desk  top  research  by  volunteers  identified  a  previously  unknown  plen  an  gwari  in  Mylor  parish,  and  a  previously  

unrecorded  one  in  St  Wenn  parish.  Researchers  found  documents  and  maps  that  confirmed  the  locations  of  St  

Ives  plen  an  gwari  and  Penryn  plen  an  gwari,  which  were  different  to  the  locations  recorded  in  the  HER.  Online  

maps  were  used  to  positively  identify  previously  doubtful  plen  an  gwari  locations  in  Ruan  Minor,  St  Hilary  and  St  

Buryan.  The  Project  Director  was  able   to  spend   time   in   the  Bodleian  Library   studying   the  original  600-­‐year-­‐old  

play   manuscripts   and   share   his   findings   with   the   project.   Previously   unpublished   manuscript   evidence   was  

located  in  the  British  Library  by  a  Steering  Group  member.  All  of  the  improved  identification  and  location  of  plen  

an  gwari  sites  was  submitted  to  Cornwall’s  HER.  

 

The  results  of  the  desk  top  research  were  gathered  by  our  volunteer  co-­‐ordinator,  Matt  Blewett,  and  both  Will  

Coleman  and  Matt  Blewett  checked  the  spreadsheet  and  edited  it  for  consistency  (for  instance  some  volunteers  

submitted  measurements   in   feet  and   inches,  others   in  metres)  and   the  descriptions  were  edited   to  produce  a  

consistent  tone  of  voice.  

While it would have been quicker to do the entire spreadsheet by myself, encouraging other people to do it

means that they encountered information and websites like the Heritage Gateway that they had not come

across before.

They were interested in these online tools and followed the guidance to learn how to use them. Some

volunteers told me how introducing them to it was helpful to other research that they wanted to do.

Matt  Blewett  Volunteer  Co-­‐ordinator  

 

The   edited   spreadsheet  was   then   uploaded  onto   the  Golden   Tree  website  with   the   facility   for   visitors   to   add  

comments.  

 

4.4.8 Learning  Materials  

Using   lush   illustrations,   supporting   sound-­‐flies,   original   source   evidence,   our   plen   an   gwari   learning  materials  

were  written  by  Will  Coleman  and  submitted  to   the  steering  group  who  made  good  suggestions   for   inclusion.  

The  suggested  programme  of  study  included  subjects  like:  

1.  What  is  a  Plen  an  Gwari?  

 2.  What  was  it  like  to  go  a  play  in  a  Plen  an  Gwari?  

 3.  What  were  the  Stories  of  the  Gwari  Meur  shows?  

 4.  Can  we  Stage  our  own  Gwari  Meur?  

 5.  Is  there  a  Plen  an  Gwari  near  Us?  

The  learning  materials  were  added  to  the  plen  an  gwari  project  page,  available  to  download  for  free,  on  

application.  So  far  there  have  been  32  requests  for  this  material  (including  3  from  USA!).  

 

4.4.9 Teacher  Training  

 

 Young  pupils  studying  at  Perran  Round  

We  delivered  4  CPD  events  to  a  total  of  49  teachers  (including  teaching  assistants  from  24  schools  (augmented  in  

each   case   by   a   few   local   volunteers).   These  went   through   the   learning  materials   and   explained   some   of   the  

techniques  that  could  be  used  to  unlock  the  heritage  for  students.  The  feedback  from  these  sessions  was  very  

positive:  

History  comes  alive,  necessary  to  realise  what  is  nearby  undiscovered  

Presentation  was  clear,  lively  and  interactive  

Perranporth  Teacher  Training  Attendees  

Adds  another  facet  to  this  otherwise  quite-­‐difficult-­‐to-­‐spice-­‐up  material  of  history  

Makes  you  want  to  find  out  more  about  what  was  going  on  in  these  places  

St  Just  Teacher  Training  Attendees  

 

 

4.4.10 Schools  Programme  

The   schools   programme   was   very   successful.   In   addition   to   the   Project   Director’s   drama-­‐based   inputs   we  

engaged  experienced  and  talented  artists  (Mary  Ann  Bloomfield,  visual  art  and  Jen  Dyer,  music).  We  trained  the  

artists   in   the  plen   an   gwari   heritage   content   and  worked  with   them   to   devise   a   programme   that  would  meet  

schools’  needs.  

                           2ndry  pupils  at  St  Stephen  in  Brannel  school  

 

We   worked   very   successfully   with   Falmouth   University,   delivering   workshops   in   Penryn,   visiting   the   sites   of  

Glasney  College  and  the  plen  an  gwari   (now  a  carpark!)  and  3  separate   field   trips   to  Perran  Round  and  St  Just  

Plain-­‐an-­‐Gwarry.  One  highlight  was  delivering   to  young  people  of  8  different  nationalities  gathered  at  Brannel  

School  for  the  International  Schools  Theatre  Association  conference.    

 

4.4.11 Lost  Site  Visits  

                                         ‘lost’  site  visit  at  Ruan  Minor  

Visits   and   events   were   held   at   the   following   ‘lost   sites’:   Ruan   Major,   Ruan   Minor,   St   Hilary,   Sancreed,  

Perranzabuloe,  Kea,  Cubert,  Bodmin,  Penryn,  St  Stephen-­‐in-­‐Brannel,   Luxulyan,  Redruth,  Sithney,  Camborne,  St  

Enoder,  Landewednack,  St  Ives,  Constantine  (2  sites),  St  Buryan.    The  nature  of  these  events  varied  enormously  

depending  on  the  desires  of  the  local  organisers  and  volunteers.  For  instance,  at  Landewednack  we  shared  the  

exhibition  to  a  small  number  of  interested  volunteers  and  Dr  Caradoc  Peters  helped  us  map  out  the  traces  of  the  

original  plen  an  gwari  now  almost  obliterated  by  roads  and  bungalows.    

 

         Pupils,  parents  and  members  of  the  community  at  Kea  ‘lost’  site  

 

 

Whereas  at  Penryn  we  gathered  a  large  crowd  with  representatives  from  the  Town  Council,  Falmouth  University  

and  local  traders  and  the  primary  school  pupils  re-­‐enacted  a  demonic  scene  from  the  ancient  drama.    

 

Thanks  for  the  bright  and  animated  Ordinalia  intervention  in  Sunny  Penryn  today  

‘lost’  site  event  attendee  email  feedback  

4.4.12 Activity  Materials  targeted  at  Family  Visitors  

                           Family  Activities  at  Redruth  ‘lost’  site  

 

 

We  created  a  ‘treasure  chest’  of  Family  Activities  which  included  a  large  roll-­‐out  netting  map  of  Cornwall  and  a  

guide  to  ‘lost  ‘sites.    Wooden  rounds  were  then  placed  on  the  map  and  hoop-­‐la  plen  an  gwari  rings  were  thrown.  

Families  competed  to  add  favourite  locations  to  their  list.  

     

 

4.4.13 Final  Events  

 

 

We  held  two  final  schools  events.  The  first,  

at   Perran   Round   was   somewhat   smaller  

than   our   original   ambition   due   to   the  

restricted   parking   and   site   access  

difficulties.   But   it   still   involved   over   70  

pupils  from  3  different  schools  plus  a  good  

number   of   staff,   parents,   volunteers   and  

community  members  (estimate  18).  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Final  event  at  Perran  Round  

 

Our  major   final   event  was   held   at  

St  Just  Plain-­‐an-­‐Gwarry.  This  was  a  

wonderful,   celebratory   occasion  

involving  more  than  350  pupils  and  

nearly  200  staff,  parents  and  other  

adults.  Students  demonstrated  the  

results   of   their   sessions   to   the  

wider   audience,   including   songs,  

play   extracts   in   both   Cornish   and  

English,   and   choreographed  

dramatic  scenes.    

 

Documentation  video  at:  

http://goldentree.org.uk/plen-­‐an-­‐

gwari-­‐final-­‐event/    

 

 

 

 

 Demons  capture  a  wicked  soul    (their  teacher)  at  the  Final  Event  

 

 

 

 

                       Pupils  with  ‘Lost’  site  banners  at  the  Final  Event  

 

                                         Joining  in  the  medieval  dance  at  the  Final  Event  

 

I  didn’t  realise  there  were  so  many  plen  an  gwarries  in  Cornwall…we  need  to  see  our  plen  an  gwarries  becoming  the  

focus  of  their  communities  as  they  once  were  

Member  of  the  public,  Final  Event  

 

 

4.4.14 Book  

One  major   output   of   the   project   is   a   beautiful   new   book   featuring   the  

commissioned  illustrations  and  explaining    

• how  and  why  the  plen  an  gwari  tradition  flourished  and  died  

• what  attending  such  a  spectacle  would  have  been  like  

• what  the  contemporary  cultural  lessons  are  for  us  today    

• how  we  can  locate  our  local  ‘lost’  sites  

 

157  people  have  pre-­‐ordered  this  book  before  it  has  gone  on  sale.  

 

 

 

4.4.15 Lecture  Programme  

One   unexpected   outcome   of   the   project   has   been   the   demand   for   lectures   and   presentations   by   the   Project  

Director.   These   include   the   ‘Raising   Glasney’   lecture   at   Penryn,   Oxford   University   Society   Cornwall,   Goolroos  

Festival   Perranporth,   Royal   Cornwall   Museum,   Cornwall   Society   of   Friends   ,   Institute   of   Cornish   Studies  

Conference,  International  Geographic  Society  Conference  Exeter  

It was good to hear someone talk with such energy and passion

Lecture attendee email feedback

 

3.5  The  difference  for  Heritage  

The  project   submitted   amendment   forms   to   the  Cornwall  HER  which  will   enable   it   to  be  updated  with   the   St  

Wenn  and  Mylor   sites,   and  better   location  details   of   the  St   Ives   and  Penryn   sites.   So   as   a  direct   result  of   this  

research,  Heritage  has  been  better  identified  and  recorded.  

 

The  online  field  guide  provides  a  description  with  links  to  the  HER  and  other  helpful  websites.  The  field  guide  and  

the  exhibitions  have  provided  additional  information  and  so  heritage  has  been  and  will  be  better  interpreted  and  

explained.  

I saw over the weekend that you are very good at advertising the HER and Heritage Gateway on various

Facebook pages. I really appreciate that, thank you!

Emma Trevarthen, Senior Archaeologist

Cornwall & Scilly Historic Environment Record  

 

The  lost  site  events  and  readers  of  the  book  exploring  the  varied  use  and  social  significance  of  the  plen  an  gwari  

through  history,  providing  comprehensive,  accurate  information  had  the  heritage  explained  and  interpreted  for  

them.  

 

3.6  The  difference  for  People  

All   of   the   public   engagement   activities;   the   site   launch,   the  GogMagog  play,   the   educational   programme,   the  

“lost   site”   visits,   research,   book,   and   celebratory   events   all   provided   information   and   explained   about   the  

heritage  and  so  people  learned  about  heritage.  When  asked  what  difference  it  made  a  lot  of  feedback  expressed  

in  various  ways  how  their  engagement   increased  their  understanding  of  Cornwall;   its  heritage,  history,   identity  

and  communities.  

Very  important  to  understand  Cornish  culture  and  Cornish  history  –  especially  local  history  

Important  for  all  in  Cornwall  to  learn  about  heritage  

Excellent  resource  for  bringing  to  life  our  local  history  

Understanding  the  places  as  part  of  Cornish  culture  and  tradition  

Raised  awareness  of  the  scale  &  role  in  Cornish  culture  

Living  in  St  Just,  helps  me  to  understand  the  background  of  the  place,  so  I  can  pass  on  my  knowledge  

Keeps  Cornish  heritage  and  traditions  alive  and  real  

As  an  ‘outsider’  I  now  have  a  better  understanding  of  Cornish  heritage  

Its  really  important  to  learn  about  and  understand  local  history,  and  adds  so  much  to  our  local  understanding  

Ignite  interest  in  drama  delivered  in  alternative  ways  

Drills  down  better  understanding  of  our  locality  

Gives  people  a  common  bond  and  identity  

I  feel  proud  to  live  here  and  be  part  of  it  

Gives  me  a  sense  of  Cornish  life  in  the  past  

Deepens  my  knowledge  and  understanding  of  Cornwall’s  history  and  I’ll  use  this  to  learn  more  

Better  feel  of  village  life  

Participants’  feedback  

 

Some  of  the  volunteer  hours  spent  on  the  project  had  to  be  calculated  –  in  particular  the  online  researchers  did  

not  let  us  know  how  long  they  took.  However,  calculating  about  an  hour  per  email  in  order  to  write  the  email,  for  

the  recipient  to  carry  out  their  research,  send  a  reply  and  add  the  results  to  the  spreadsheet  was  estimated  to  

take  an  hour  in  total.  With  250  emails  exchanged  for  this  activity,  the  estimate  of  250  hours  volunteered  for  this  

activity  is  an  estimated  total  (250  hours  =    33.3  days).  

 

Other  volunteer  hours  are  more  precise.  At  the  two  sites  people  volunteered  for  six  hours  which  across  the  three  

days   spent   on   archaeological   survey,   comes   to   198   hours   volunteered.   Volunteers   on   the   steering   committee  

contributed  120  hours  of  their  time.  

 

Overall,  the  amount  of  time  volunteered  by  everybody  over  the  course  of  the  project  comes  to  a  whopping  568  

hours,  or  76  working  days.    

 

It   was   not   just   that   people   volunteered   time,   they   learned   new   skills   as   well.   The   nineteen   people   who  

participated  in  the  resistivity  surveys  at  Ruan  Minor  and  St  Hilary  learned  some  basic  archaeological  survey  skills.  

three   participants   had   survey   experience   and   they   imparted   their   skills   and   knowledge   to   the   other   sixteen  

participants  who  had  never  had  any  field  experience.  They  learned  how  to  lay  out  a  survey  grid  and  how  to  use  

the  resistance  equipment  kindly  loaned  by  CBA  Southwest.  

 

The  twenty  nine  participants  in  online  research  included  just  two  people  who  had  prior  knowledge  of  Cornwall’s  

HER,  and  the  online  Heritage  Gateway  website  in  particular.  Other  sites  were  totally  new  and  even  project  staff  

were   introduced   to   new   websites   such   as   DEFRA’s   powerful   mapping   tool   http://magic.defra.gov.uk,   a  

comprehensive   website   of   historical   maps   at   https://www.old-­‐maps.co.uk   and   the   very   useful  

http://www.nearby.org.uk   which   translated   grid   references   into   co-­‐ordinates   and   provided   a   portal   to   many  

other   mapping   tools.   Giving   guidance  means   that   volunteers   were   able   to   learn   how   to   use   these   sites   and  

learned  new  computer  research  skills.  

I  enjoyed  doing  the  research  for  the  Gwaries.  

Participants’  feedback  

 

Engagement  was  designed  to  be  enjoyable  by  providing  a   theatrical  experience  regardless  of   the  activity.  This  

was   intended   to   inspire   and   entertain   as   well   as   inform.   When   asked   what   they   enjoyed,   feedback   was  

enthusiastic  and  by  far  the  most  common  response  was  “All”:  

All  of  it  

 Looking  at  the  primary  evidence.  Lots  of  fun  –  great  discussions!  

Acting  out  the  part  of  the  play  

Doing  the  activities  myself,  being  able  to  discuss  and  being  entitled  to  be  ‘wrong’  

Opening  my  eyes  to  appreciate  my  country  and  excite  me  about  imparting  to  others  

It  was  fascinating;  gave  a  real  insight  into  many  different  aspects  of  Cornish  life  

Found  it  engaging  and  made  me  reconsider  ‘what  I  thought  I  know’  

The  whole  presentation  –  I  am  excited  by  it!  

Lively  pace  and  delivery  

Just  learning  this  stuff  

Will’s  company  and  enthusiasm.  Opportunity  to  share  ideas  with  colleagues  

Getting  to  know  more  about  Cornish  heritage  

Seeing  people  getting  enthused  

Being  outside,  meeting  nice  people  and  connecting  archaeology  with  the  arts  and  Cornish  history    

Seeing  the  diagrams  of  what  Plain  an  gwarrys  would  have  looked  like  

Being  given  the  opportunity  to  get  involved  

Social  and  learning  the  survey  work  

Taking  readings  on  the  resistance  meter  

Doing  the  resistance  measurements  and  feeling  I  have  contributed  in  a  small  way  

Using  the  machinery  

I  enjoyed  the  day  hugely;  practically,  educationally,  socially,  and  historically!  

Trying  out  the  survey  technique  

Chatting  about  archaeology  and  doing  the  surveying  

Participants’  feedback  

 

 

3.7  The  difference  for  communities  

 

We  did  not  originally  anticipate  outcomes  making  a  difference  to  communities,  but  in  the  event  this  happened.  

Because  the  heritage  project  was  linked,  specifically  to  the  play  “GogMagog”,  people  came  to  see  the  play  who  

would   not   necessarily   know   about   Cornwall’s   distinctive   heritage   and   so   this   introduced   the   plen   an   gwari  

heritage   to   over   2000   attendees   which   brought   the   heritage   to   more   people   and   a   wider   range   of   people.  

Between  the  play,  social  media  and  conventional  media  coverage,  the  news  of  this  project  spread  far  and  wide.  

I  was  at  a  funeral  in  Newquay  and  during  the  pasties,  tea  and  chat  afterwards,  a  distant  family  relation  started  to  go  

on  about  the  "Cornish  Rounds"  (Like  St.  Piran's  Round)  and  how  there  was  a  whole  project  about  them  going  

on.......!.  

Community  Volunteer  

 

Kea  Parish  council  are  very  keen  to  find  ways  to  mount  some  form  of  revival  of  Bewnans  Ke  in  the  near  future.  St  

Hilary  Parish  council  have  expressed  a  desire  for  further  archaeological  work  at  their  site.  

 

3.8  Media  

                     Project  Director  being  interviewed  by  Radio  4  ‘Making  History’  

This  project  has  generated  the  following  media  interest:  

• BBC  15th  March  20141  

• Western  Morning  News  4th  March  20142  

• Western  Morning  News  21st  July  20143  

• West  Briton  5th  March  20154    

• Cornishman  1st  May  20155  

                                                                                                                         1  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-­‐england-­‐cornwall-­‐26524682  2  http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/medieval-­‐theatre-­‐garden/story-­‐20729829-­‐detail/story.html  3  http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/s-­‐Gogmagog-­‐8217-­‐s-­‐travelling-­‐stage-­‐sails-­‐onwards/story-­‐21666964-­‐

detail/story.html  4  http://www.westbriton.co.uk/8203-­‐Cornwall-­‐8217-­‐s-­‐hidden-­‐theatres-­‐discovered/story-­‐26120148-­‐detail/story.html  

• Radio  Cornwall  interview  

• Radio  4  ‘Making  History’  programme  (to  be  broadcast  early  July)  

• Oxford  University  website  –‘most  read’  article  for  over  a  month6  

• Cornwall  Today  article,  July  2015  

Cornwall  Today  article  

 

4.  Review        The  project  activities  achieved  all  of   the   things  we  said  we  would  do   in  section  2  above  and  went  beyond  the  

approved  purposes  of  the  grant  to  carry  out  archaeological  survey  work  at  two  sites.  The  combination  of  all  the  

activities   detailed   above   and   the   numbers   of   people   reached   significantly   raised   the   awareness   of   and  

engagement  with  this  previously  under-­‐celebrated  aspect  of  Cornish  heritage.  

 

One  part  of   the  project   that  worked  particularly  well  was   the  education  programme.   The  education  materials  

were  devised  with  lots  of  interactive  discussion  planned  in  to  them,  and  going  through  them  with  the  teachers  

enthused  them  and  then  that  was  passed  onto  the  students.  The  children  who  attended  the  final  event  at  St  Just  

were  proud  to  show  off  what  they  had  learned  and  showed  a  lot  of  enthusiasm  for  the  place  and  the  texts.  

 

Another   successful   part   of   the   project   was   the   enthusiasm   of   volunteer   researchers,   who   turned   up   for   the  

surveys  at  Ruan  Minor  and  St  Hilary,  and  continued  to  provide  information  for  the  online  guide.  The  reason  this  

part   of   the   project   worked   well   was   because   professional   archaeology   and   marketing   skills   whipped   up   the  

enthusiasm  among  participants,  and  harnessed  it  to  carry  out  genuine  research.  

 

Less  successful  was  the  initial  “heritage  ambassadors”  who  were  given  one  day  training  in  heritage  and  archive  

research,  and  then  were  never  heard  from  again.  They  were  expected  to  carry  out  research  on  their  local  plen  an  

gwari  and  then  celebrate  it  in  some  way  in  conjunction  with  the  ‘lost  site’  events.  There  are  several  reasons  why  

members  of  this  group  were  lost;  the  training  occurred  just  before  the  original  Project  Manager  left  the  project  

and  perhaps  they  felt  too  isolated  and  could  have  done  with  more  contact  perhaps  through  social  media.  When  

follow  up  emails  were  sent,  none  of  them  responded.  The  eventual  volunteer  research  was  carried  out  by  a  new  

group  of  volunteers  that  in  the  end  did  not  include  any  of  the  original  ambassadors.  

 

Because   the  plen   an   gwari   sites   are   unique   to   Cornwall,   they  will   never   appear   in   any   national   archaeological  

programme.  Aspects  of  Cornwall  that  are  unique  often  get  marginalised  and  overlooked  precisely  because  they  

do   not   conform   to   an   English   national   narrative.   Without   this   project,   these   unique   places   would   remain  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     5  http://www.cornishman.co.uk/pictures/PICTURES-­‐300-­‐school-­‐children-­‐perform-­‐St-­‐Just-­‐Plen/pictures-­‐26424612-­‐

detail/pictures.html  6  http://www.oxfordtoday.ox.ac.uk/news/2015-­‐05-­‐11-­‐dramatic-­‐discovery-­‐bodleian  

unnoticed   and   be  more   at   risk.   They  would   disappear   further   from   public   imagination   and   people  would   see  

places   like  Perran  Round  or  St   Just  plen  an  gwari   as   anomalies   and  not  understand   their   context.   This  project  

consciously  engaged  with   theatre  because   that  was  what   these  sites  were  used   for  and  without   it   these  sites  

would  not  come  alive  in  people’s  imagination.  

 

Therefore,  the  difference  that  would  have  occurred  had  this  project  not  taken  place  would  have  been  negative  

for   the   heritage.   The   heritage  would   not   have   received   better   identification   and   recording   and   errors   would  

remain  in  the  HER.  Likewise,  heritage  would  not  have  been  interpreted  and  explained  and  so  would  remain  little  

known  and  poorly  understood.  

 

Differences  for  people  are  harder  to  determine  would  not  have  happened;  perhaps  another  project  would  give  

people   the   opportunity   to   learn   skills,   enthuse   them   about   heritage   and   give   them   an   enjoyable   experience.  

Because  the  plen  an  gwari  heritage  is  so  related  to  Cornwall’s  history  of  drama,  a  different  project  focussing  on  

other  heritage  would  not  perhaps  have  been  able  to  bring  that  heritage  to  life  in  the  way  that  the  Golden  Tree  

Plen  an  Gwari  project  has  done  and  so  would  not  perhaps  have  given   that   level  of   spectacle,  experience,  and  

enjoyment  to  allow  a  space  for  learning  about  Cornwall’s  dramatic  heritage.  

 

5.  Summary  of  lessons  learnt      The  subject  matter  was  perfect  in  that  it  was  previously  almost  unknown  yet  rich  and  intriguing  with  genuine  

relevance  to  contemporary  culture  in  Cornwall  and  very  timely  in  terms  of  the  renewed  desire  to  learn  about  the  

‘hidden  history’  of  Cornwall  which  is  becoming  more  widespread.  

In  terms  of  management,  effectiveness  and  reach,  the  Steering  Group  was  a  massively  valuable  asset.  

Involving  learning  communities  from  the  youngest  school  pupils,  through  university  students  and  including  adult  

volunteers  had  major  cross-­‐over  advantages.  

Overseeing  volunteers  and  creating  on-­‐line  resources  are  both  time  and  energy  intensive.  

The  project  targets  were  achieved  but,  as  is  usual,  more  could  have  been  done  given  additional  funding.  As  the  

project  progressed,  more  potential  activities  were  proposed  and  further  investigations  were  suggested  as  well,  

but  these  were  not  feasible  within  the  project  budget.    

If  we  did  this  project  again,  we  would  use  social  media  earlier  to  enthuse  our  volunteers  and  encourage  them  to  

form  their  own  community  and  use  it  to  build  social  capital.  This  would  help  us  to  retain  our  volunteers  and  

perhaps  extend  their  work  further.  

The  benefits  of  social  media  cannot  be  over-­‐expressed:  As  well  as  giving  volunteers  a  platform  to  share  their  

learning  experience,  it  provides  a  low-­‐cost  marketing  tool  for  the  project  as  a  whole.  The  cost  to  us  was  1  hour  a  

day  in  a  volunteer  co-­‐ordinator’s  time  which  led  to  a  still-­‐growing  community  of  enthusiasts  who  now  want  to  

take  the  archaeological  research  further.  

 

 

   

Appendix  i)  Steering  Group  Minutes  

Plen  an  Gwari  Project  

Steering  Group  Meeting  1  Minutes  Krowji, Redruth

14:30 9th January 2014

Present

• Will Coleman, Project Director

• Sasha Dobrota, Freelance Project Manager & Producer

• Jacky Nowakowski, Archaeologist and Team Leader at Historic Environment

• Deborah Tritton, Archive Services Manager, Cornwall Council's

• Sarah Pym, Theatre Development, Hall for Cornwall

• Mary Ann Bloomfield, The Plen Project, St Just

• Simon Persighetti, Award Leader for Theatre at Falmouth University and core member / artist researcher of Wrights & Sites

• Jack Morrison, Project Manager, Feast

• Matt Blewett, MAGA

Apologies

• Malcolm Bell, Visit Cornwall

• Lindsey Hall, RiO

• Martin Higgs, Penzance Primary Penwith Education Trust

• Sue Smith, headteacher, St Ives Junior School

• Jan Horrell, Museum Development Team Lead, Cornwall

• Alan Kent, writer, Lecturer in Literature for the Open University in the South West of Britain, and Visiting Fellow in Celtic Studies at the University of Coruna.

• Peter Kirby, artist, writer, Caliban board member and brand consultant

• Rod Lyon, freelance historian,

• Ian Saltern, St Piran’s Trust

• Gary Tregidga, Institute of Cornish Studies

• Mike Wilson, Dean of Research, Falmouth University

1) Suggested other invitees Matthew Spriggs, Professor of Archaeology, Australian National University

Sydney Higgins, University of Camerino, Italy

Jane Howells, Bewnans Kernow

Ross Williams (or other rep), ACT

Action – WC to contact with minutes

2) Purpose of the Group

It was agreed that the purpose of the group is to advise the project team and add value where possible.

3) Project Overview WC assured the group that a ‘visual’ diagram to help explain project structure and outcomes would follow from the

meeting. There are two complementary strands of the project.

i) The HLF project will involve:

• Working with university, schools, a team of interns and community groups to ‘unlock’ surviving medieval texts and re-create the hidden treasures of our unique theatrical heritage at the two extant sites.

• KS2&3 education programme involves insets for staff, research education projects for schools which involve looking for local sites

• Undergraduate programme involves working with medieval texts, devising approaches that will work with younger pupils to animate the sites

• Creating on-line field guide exploring and interpreting the 'lost' sites.

• Touring an outdoor exhibition to theatrical performances (separately funded) and community events at 24 of these sites and tour an indoor exhibition around theatres and museums.

• Producing a gorgeous, illustrated book pulling together contemporary accounts, academic thinking and interpretive images.

• The project will significantly raise the awareness of and engagement with this previously under-celebrated aspect of Cornish heritage.

Project Feedback

• Jacky high-lighted the Historic Environment’s mapping resource which identifies crop marks, earth works, place names, other evidence such as banks etc. These are accompanied with detailed reports. She also mentioned the Flying Through Cornwall's Past website.

• Jacky also presented Matthew Sprigg’s paper "The Cornish Language, Archaeology and the Origins of English Theatre",

• SP expressed the uniqueness and excitement of this particular project is the relationship between academia and theatre.

• MAB – in medieval times the plens were vibrant, dynamic and socially significant gathering places and this project has the opportunity to bring that back to life.

• SD and SP suggested talking to Jane at Creative Skills about the Creative Employment Programme about the intern elements of the project.

• Actions o SD and WC to visit the Historic Environment department o WC to follow up meeting with Phil Stenton at Falmouth University o JN to send Will a pdf of the Matthew Sprigg’s paper mentioned above.

Funding Overview

The money that has been confirmed to date:

• 22k from RIO’s Challenge Fund

• 58k from HLF

Other funding suggestions from the group;

• 2015 – 750 years of the Glasney College

• Big Lottery

• BID – St Austell etc

• Widening Participation

Advisory Board – Round Table

AMB / (St Just) Plen Project – it has taken the project team a long time to get to this point. New build nearing

completion. They want to set up as a company by limited guarantee and they want to develop beyond St Just itself.

Hoping for synergy between the two projects. WC to sit on Advisory Board.

DT – Kresen Kernow is in its early stages of its activity plan. What we learn from this project could feed into their

aspirations. It has been indicated that the British Library will loan the archive the original texts and KAK need to bring

them to life. DT suggested tapping into the Cornwall Museums and Archive Group.

JN – For the Historic Environment Team this project presents a way of updating the records, which are essentially

active records. They like the research skills element of the project, encouraging people to learn for themselves and

developing an appetite to investigate the heritage of our own back yards. JN raised the point about there could be

restricted, limited or no public access to some former PAG sites.

SP –is interested in any place / space being considered for a performance. With WC he took a group of student to

both existing sites last year. He is particularly interested in people, pan-European, place, landscape, history, language

and sea – which is why this project is of particular interest to him. He is particularly interested in the legacy of the

project.

MB – MAGA have already developed some educational resources regarding medieval Cornish theatre (tabled). It was

agreed that there was the potential to build on these resources with this project.

Proposed Date of next meeting;

Wednesday 9th April 14:30 Krowji

Plen  an  Gwari  Project  

Steering  Group  Meeting  2  Minutes  Krowji, Redruth

14:30 9th

April 2014

Present

• Will Coleman, Project Director

• Ross Williams, ACT

• Matt Blewett, MAGA

• Pete Kirby, Thisness & Golden Tree Board

• Sasha Dobrota, Project Manager

• Jane Howells, Bewnans Kernow

• Gary Tregidga, Institute of Cornish Studies

• Jacky Nowakowski, Historic Environment Service, Cornwall Council

Apologies

• Sarah Pym, Golden Tree Board

• Rod Lyon, freelance historian

• Jan Horrell, MDO

• Sarah Walsh, Cubert School

• Jack Morrison, Feast, ACT

• Ian Saltern, St Piran Trust

1. Minutes of last meeting

• Approved

• MB asked for these to be sent again (attached)

2. Project Update a) Work with Falmouth University Students

Will was able to report on a very successful series of workshops with first year Theatre students. Original

medieval Cornish texts were ‘unpacked’ and the Plen-an-Gwari theatrical form was explored. Creative

solutions were found to address 3 major issues: i) none of the students had previously spoken any Cornish,

ii) none of the anticipated audience were expected to understand any spoken Cornish, iii) the medieval

religious subject matter of the texts seemed, initially, to be unappealing. The course of workshops culminated

in a day-trip to Piran Round and to St Just Plain-an-Gwarry where the excerpts were performed with great

enthusiasm by the Theatre students and very well received by their friends and colleagues.

Five of these students have also now been recruited as paid interns on Golden Tree’s complementary theatre

project, ‘Gogmagog’.

b) Project Launch a. The Launch included:

i. Falmouth Theatre student’s contemporary re-enactment of 5 excerpts from original texts ii. A visual mapping game, which demonstrated the number of plenys na gwari in Cornwall iii. A pilot of our pilot app. iv. Film screenings of the 2000/04 Ordinalia re-enactments, with tea and cake in the Plen

Project’s new Knut building v. The event was attended by about 50 people including students, specialists and members of

the public.

c) Flyer a. A flyer was produced to promote the project. b. This was handed out at St Piran’s Day and is being distributed around Cornwall. c. GTP expressed their thanks to Maga for the prompt Cornish translations. MB explained that the

service was stretched and if further translations were required further notice would be needed. d. JN, MB and JH would like copies for information and to distribute

d) App

The original project brief recommended that the digital components of the project would be discussed with Phil

Stenton, Associate Dean: Research & Innovation at Falmouth University’s Academy for Innovation and

Research. Phil suggested that rather than specialist online field guide (as outlined in the project plan) the

project would benefit from a site-specific app that can be tailored to each location. We used the St Just Plen

as the pilot site. SD collated images from the Cornish Studies Library, Geevor & Penlee House, which were

overlaid with WC’s recordings of the original plays and with Dalla’s Descent, a tune with the words from

Gwryans an Bys - The Creation of the World .

• Pete said that using creative interpretation and digital technology was essential to engage new / fringe audiences – like geo-caching which gives people rewards.

• Matt added that Rod Lyon’s book was a very good for locating sites, what was required from the app was an ‘engagement tool’ once sites had been located.

• It was agreed that we would need to take a more proactive, site specific and creative approach to engaging digital audiences, which gives people a reason to visit sites.

e) Responses so far We have had 18 enquiries about the project, most of who are offering to help the project in some way. Each of

the enquiries has been followed up with a personal email and all of the potential volunteers will be offered the

opportunity to attend a training day. See below.

3. Marketing

a. The company formerly called Caliban, recently rebranded as Golden Tree Productions and launched its new Facebook page, with 377 friends to date.

b. A press release was sent on the 27/2 to media contacts across Cornwall. c. This was picked up by the Western Morning News, West Briton / Cornishman online, BBC Cornwall. d. Will was interviewed on BBC Radio Cornwall on 8 March e. Flyer mentioned above, to be distributed by ARC f. E-shot was sent out on the 21/2/14

4. Next Steps

a. Schools, young people and higher education. As no-one from the education sector was present, it was agreed to postpone this item

b. Illustrations We will be appointing six illustrators whose brief it will be to produce contemporary illustrations interpreting the

sites being used /animated.

c. Exhibition There will be two exhibitions an indoor and an outdoor. The outdoor exhibition will be interactive and experiential

and will tour with Gogmagog this summer before being a focal point for site events. The indoor exhibition will

feature the illustrations and accompanying text.

d. Interns

• The project includes the following five interns – social media, exhibition, events, education and digital.

• We are just about to advertise for a social media intern.

e. Events The project also includes a programme of volunteer / champion run events at lost sites. It is envisaged that the

local school and museum will also get involved in running these events.

f. ‘Champions’ and training The project includes a training day for volunteers. As the group could be very diverse, the steering group

discussed the content of this. It was agreed that the training should equip volunteers with a ‘tool kit’ to both

research, and animate lost sites (give them a contemporary presence) with a strong emphasis on the Cornish

Language.

It was agreed that the training would include:

§ An introduction/overbiew from Will § Field research delivered by Cornwall Council’s Community Archaeologist § Cornwall Studies Library § MAGA § Creative Heritage Events delivered by Sasha

It was agreed that teachers and local museums could be invited to the training.

Jane suggested there would be space at Truro College where this could be delivered.

It was agreed for a ‘training sub-group’ to meet on 22 April at 2pm at the historic environment office to plan

this. Sasha to invite Chloe from the Records Office. Will to invite someone from the education sector.

The date of the training would be Saturday 24th

May

AOB

Gary Tregidga explained that he has under graduate students from Public History degree that are looking for six

months placements from October to March. The placements are for 1 day a week.

Date of next Steering Group Meeting; 14:00 Weds 9th

July, Krowji, Redruth

Plen  an  Gwari  Project  

Steering  Group  Meeting  3  Minutes  14:00  –  16:00,  13/10/2014,  Krowji,  Redruth  

AGENDA  

1.  Introductions  and  Apologies  Apologies:    

Simon  Persighetti,  FU  

Misha  Myers,  FU  

Garry  Tregidga,  Inst.  Cornish  Studies  

Jan  Horrell,  MDO  (now  freelance)  

Matthew  Spriggs,  NUAustralia  

Mary  Ann  Bloomfield,  Plen  project  

Jane  Howells,  Bewnans  Kernow  

Dave  Hunter,  Cornwall  Youth  Theatre  

Jack  Morrison,  Feast  

Lindsey  Hall,  RiO  

Malcolm  Bell,  Visit  Cornwall  

Richard  Mikulski,  Cornwall  Archaeological  Unit  

 

Present:    

Will  Coleman,  Golden  Tree  

Rod  Lyon,  historian,  Gorsedd  

Sarah  Walsh,  Cubert  School  

Matt  Blewett,  Maga  

Natalia  Eernstmann,  FU    

Ross  Williams,  ACT  

 

Date,  venue  next  meeting:  

2pm  Monday  12th  January,  Krowji  

2.  Minutes  of  last  meeting     approved  

3.  Project  Update    visits  and  meetings    from  Prof  Matthew  Spriggs  (Australia)  and  Prof  Sidney  Higgins  (Italy).  Both  visiting  

academics  had  contributed  enormously  to  our  understanding  and  agreed  to  continue  to  do  so  (albeit  remotely).    

Will  Coleman,  Dee  Brotherton  and  Elaine  Gill  took  part  in  Sidney  Higgins’  illustrated  lecture  at  the  Acorn  

Penzance,  performing  extracts  from  original  Cornish  texts.    

 

Falmouth  Uni  Interns  –  feedback  from  Simon  Persighetti  “the  students  who  became  interns  had  an  

experience  beyond  their  dreams,  living  and  breathing  the  fundamentals  of  story  and  place…  all  of  the  30  or  

more  students  who  took  part  in  your  workshops,  introducing  them  to  the  Cornish  Ordinalia  will  never  forget  

how  you  were  able  to  locate  them  in  Penryn  ans  its  significance  as  a  new  place  of  learning  planted  on  the  old  one  

and  on  the  face  of  the  old  gods  of  Kernow…”  

 

Outdoor  Exhibition  –  was  toured  all  summer,  it  was  attractive,  informative  and  successful,  but  not  robust  

enough  in  construction  and  is  falling  apart  (!)  –  it  now  needs  a  major  overhaul  -­‐  which  will  have  cost  implications.  

 

Training  Day  –  the  programme  of  the  day  and  list  of  attendees    was  tabled.  Inputs  from  Will  Coleman,  

Nev  Meek  (Maga)  and  Richard  were  very  well  received.  Some  discussion  of  how  to  make  best  use  of  this  

network  of  volunteers  ensued    (see  ‘role  of  Champions’  below)  

 

‘Probable’  and  ‘Possible’  PaG  sites  –  our  ‘definitive’  list  so  far  was  tabled  for  comments,    

Lanivet  (Innis  Downs)  -­‐  contact  Rob  Simmonds,  Kowethas  project  

Helston  –  Crasken  Farm  has  a  ‘mystery’  circular  field  ?  

Mawgan  (Nansidwell)  –  St  Sidwell  was  a  Saxon  saint  –  is  there  a  link  with  St  Mawgan?  

There  was  discussion  about  identifying  Plen  an  Gwari  sites  and  differentiating  them  from  ‘Cornish  Rounds’  (Late  

Iron  Age).  Archeaological  digs  might  reveal  artefacts  from  certain  periods  or  geophys  surveys  might  reveal  

subterranean  features.  Geophys  at  St  Just  has  revealed  a  feature  that  could  be  interpreted  as  analogous  to  

Perran  Round’s  ‘Devil’s  Spoon’-­‐  this  strengthens  the  argument  for  this  feature  to  be  a  performance/theatrical  

one  (no  such  structure  has  been  found  at  an  Iron  Age  site).  There  are  a  few  sites  of  ‘Roman  theatres’  in  England  

(eg  St  Albans)  but  we  are  not  aware  of  a  single  English  site  that  matches  the  medieval/tudor  Plen  an  Gwari.  

• Action:  ‘Probable’  and  ‘Possible’  list  to  be  circulated  to  all  Steering  group  for  comments/additions  etc  

 

Schools  Programme  –    

INSET  flyer  tabled  –  although  prioritizing  those  schools  that  have  a  ‘lost’  site  near  by,  this  will  reach  all  schools  

across  Cornwall,      

(it  was  therefore  suggested  to  remove  the  wording  “Mid  and  West  Cornwall’  in  order  to  be  more  inclusive)  

Outline  of  plans,  Will  Coleman(drama),  Jen  Dyer  (musician)  and  Mary  Ann  Bloomfield  (banner-­‐making)  to  lead  

workshops  in  schools  

list  of  directly–engaged  schools  signed-­‐up  so  far  (Cape  Cornwall,  St  Just,  Marazion,  Pensans/Alverton,  St  Ives,  

Perranporth,  Goonhavern,  Kea,  Cubert,  Penryn,  Brannel),  Ruan  Major  not  able  to  take  part  –  over  commited  (and  

not  advised  for  KS1)  –  replacement  was  suggested  as  Constantine  –  have  two  PaG  in  the  parish,  a  very  active  

theatre  society  and  arts  venue,  and  the  school  has  always  contributed  enthusiastically  to  Golden  Tree  projects.  

Schools  take  part  in  low-­‐key  ‘lost’  site  events  with  support  from  artists  and  interns.    

Dates  for  final  events  tbc;  Perran  Round  23/04/15,  St  Just  30/04/15  

• Action:  invite  Constantine  School  

 

Educational  Materials  –  examples  tabled  –  it  is  acknowledged  that  these  represent  a  ‘stretch’  for  KS2  

pupils.  But  it  was  seen  as  very  important  to  expose  pupils  to  quality  original  source  material.      

Resources  to  go  live  from  Nov  1st  ,  BUT  2nd  tranche  based  on  illustrator’s  work  will  be  available  in  Spring  

term.  These  are  seen  as  complementary  to  the  existing  Maga  materials  which  forms  a  good  base  of    information  

for  teachers;  these  materials  focus  on  the  sites,  the  structures  and  an  artistic  interpretation  of  the  phenomenon.    

 

Illustrator  commissions  –  roughs  have  been  received  from  Trystan  Mitchell,  Heidi  Ball,  Brian  Hoskin,  

Emily  Henshall.  These  are  beautiful  and  will  form  the  core  content  of  the  book  and  the  indoor  exhibition.  

 

Timeline  –  ‘first  stab’  (lifted  from  Alan  Kent’s  chronology  and  amended  with  information  from  the  Maga  

materials)  was  tabled  –  looking  for  comments  and  additions  –  particularly  significant  events  at  pan-­‐European  

level  –  include  1969,  1987,  2001  revivals  etc    

• Action:  circulate  to  Steering  Group  for  comments/tweaks/additions  

4.  Next  steps  Lost  site  events  –  there  was  discussion  around  the  role  of  the  ‘Champions’.    We  need  to  back  to  the  

‘Champions’  and  ask  what  they  want  to  do.    

The  ‘lost’  PaG  sites  need  proofing  –  will  it  be  possible  for  Richard  Mikulski/Cornwall  Archaeological  Unit  

plus  volunteer  groups  to  do  a  minimum  geophysical  survey,  prioritising  those  sites  with  physical  remains?.    

• Action:  ask  Champions  what  they  want  to  do  next  

• Action:  ask  Richard  M  about  geophys  

• Action:  Will  Coleman  to  meet  with  Matt  Blewett  to  further  training  etc      

 

On-­‐line  Field  Guide  –  advice  from  Phil  Stenton  at  FU  was  to  create  an  app  –  this  was  piloted  at  the  launch.  

Phil  has  now  left  FU.  We  are  moving  back  towards  a  simpler  on-­‐line  solution  utilizing  Brian  Hoskin’s  illuminated  

map.  The  field  guide  should  include  evidence  links  –  most  original  docs  of  plays  etc  are  on-­‐line  but  church  terriers  

etc  would  need  to  be  reproduced  –  could  this  involve  volunteer/intern  help?  

Rod  Lyon  is  re-­‐drafting  his  PaG  guide-­‐book  and  wishes  to  exchange  information  freely  to  arrive  at  

definitive  comprehensive  list.  

 

Book  publishing  timeline,  copy  to  Gendalls  by  Jan  15;  hope  to  launch  at  Final  Events  at  end  of  April.  

Request  for  circulation  of  draft  text  for  comment.  

 

Further  FU  plans;  Will  Coleman  has  been  asked  to  repeat  input  next  spring.  There  have  been  several  

different  conversation  threads  around  marking  the  fact  that  2015  wil  be  the  750th  anniversary  of  the  funding  of  

Glasney  Colege,  Penryn.  As  yet,  there  is  no  clarity  (or  funding)  about  who  might  take  the  lead  on  such  an  event.  

• Action:  inform  the  Gorsedd  about  the  date  and  see  if  they  have  capacity/inclination  to  take  it  on  –  

council  meeting  in  fortnights  time(!)    

 

Indoor  exhibition  plans  still  fairly  rudimentary,  but  will  involve  the  original  artworks  of  the  illustrators.  

Date,  venue  next  meeting:  

2pm  Monday  12th  January,  Krowji  

Plen  an  Gwari  Project  

Steering  Group  Meeting  4  Minutes  14:00  –  16:00,  12/01/2015,  Krowji,  Redruth  

1. Introductions  and  Apologies  Present:  

Will  Coleman,  Project  Director,  Golden  Tree  

Rod  Lyon,  Gorsedd  Kernow  

Mary  Ann  Bloomfield,  Plen  Project,  St  Just  

Jack  Morrison,  Feast  

Ross  Williams,  ACT/Krowji  

Abi  Squibb,  Marazion  School  

Richard  Mikulski,  freelance  archaeologist  

Dr  Caradoc  Peters,  Truro  College  

Matt  Blewett,  Maga,  Cornish  Languag  Partnership  

 

Apologies:  

Dr  Alan  Kent,  Visiting  Fellow  in  Celtic  Studies  at  the  University  of  Coruna  

Dr  John  Freeman,  Head  of  Theatre,  Falmouth  University  

Prof  Matthew  Spriggs,  Professor  of  Archaeology,  National  University  of  Australia  

Martin  Higgs,  Pensans  School  

Dr  Jo  Mattingley,  freelance  archaeologist  

Sarah  Walsh,  Cubert  School  

Jane  Howells,  Bewnans  Kernow  

Dr  Garry  Tregidga,  Institute  of  Cornish  Studies,  Exeter  University  

Dr  Simon  Persighetti,  Award  Leader  for  Theatre,  Falmouth  University  

Natalia  Eernstman,  PhD  student,  Falmouth  University  

Date,  venue  next  meeting:  Weds  April  15th  2pm  

2. Minutes  of  last  meeting    Read  and  approved  

3.  Project  Update    New  appointment    

Matt  Blewett  has  been  appointed  to  take  on  the  Community  Engagement  strand  of  the  project;  he  will  be  

overseeing  Champions,  Volunteers,  Interns,  Lost  Site  events  etc.  

Educational  Materials    

The  first  tranche  of  materials  are  now  on-­‐line  at      

http://goldentree.org.uk/plen-­‐an-­‐gwari-­‐learning-­‐materials/    

 –  there  are  some  limitations  with  the  web-­‐site’s  template  and  they  could  be  a  little  more  ‘user-­‐friendly’.  A  major  

overhaul  is  planned,  (to  incorporate  the  illustrators’  commissions  and  use  them  as  a  stimulus  for  pupils’  

interpretive  art-­‐work)  

A  consultation  with  Maga  has  been  held  to  discuss  the  materials.  The  major  request  was  to  incorporate  the  

Standard  Written  Form    -­‐  we  are  clear  that  we  wish  young  people  to  have  access  to  first-­‐hand  and  original  

sources  wherever  possible,  but  are  happy  to  also  include  SWF.  

Action:  We  will  also  look  for  ways  to  link  to  Maga’s  existing    ‘Drama  Kernewek’    booklet  and  the  on-­‐going  ‘Tavas  

and  Tir’    project  (run  by  the  Kowethas)  

Schools  Programme  –  two  training  days  were  held  (at  Perranporth  School  and  Cape  Cornwall;  feed–back  

from  participants  (in  addition  to  appreciating  the  saffron  buns)  –  included  ‘I  got  excited’,  ‘it  was  very  liberating’.  

Spring  Term  Dates  are  in  the  diary  for  most  school  sessions  from  Will  (drama),  Jen  Dyer  (music)  and  Mary  Ann  

Bloomfield  (banner  making).      

Illustrator  commissions      

The  illustrators  have  been  busy,  roughs  have  been  approved,  final  versions  are  now  arriving  –  lovely  stuff.    

Action:  Will  to  sort  some  roughs  for  Matt  to  post  to  Facebook  page  

Mary  Ann  informed  us  that  Lafrowda  commissioned  a  ‘patchwork  of  paintings’  some  years  ago  and  that  she  has  

scanned  versions  of  quite  a  few  that  are  directly  Plen-­‐related;  these  might  be  suitable  for  inclusion  in  the  book.      

Action:  Mary  Ann  to  send  these  to  Will  

Action:  members  to  let  Will  know  if  they  have  interesting/quality  photographs  of  pictures  that  might  be  relevant  

to  the  book  

Book  writing  

Will  has  completed  about  15,000  words  and  is  close  to  a  first  draft.  

Action:  Contents  and  Chapter  summary  to  be  circulated  for  comment  

Action:  Will  to  print  off  relevant  Tithe  maps  held  at  Kresen  Kernow    

Action:  Rod  to  send  Will  photocopy  of  relevant  Church  Terrier  docs  

‘Probable’  and  ‘Possible’  PaG  sites    

Discussion  centred  around  evidence  for  the  two  Ruans,  St  Buryan  (Pendrea),  Rod’s  new  discovery  at  St  Wenn,  

Innis  Downs  (‘Probable’  or  ‘Possible’?)  and  Penryn.  Rod  requested  members  help  in  locating  missing  maps;  eg  St  

Buryan  1840,  Charles  Moody.  Ross  suggested  that  the  Kresen  Kernow  initiative  might  be  keen  to  host  something  

in  Redruth.  

Action:  Caradoc  kindly  offered  to  supply  his  research  into  the  Penryn  location  

Action:  Will  to  Send  St  Buryan  ‘crop-­‐mark’  map  to  Rod  Lyon  plus  reference  

Chronology/Timeline    

The  decision  had  been  made  to  extend  the  chronology  forward,  through  the  discoveries  of  texts,  the  

publications  and  the  revivals.  

Action:  please  add,  comment  or  make  suggestions    

4.  Next  steps  Final  Events  –    

The  Final  Event  at  St  Just  Plain  an  Gwarry  is  scheduled  for  the  afternoon  of    

April  30th  –  all  plans  progressing  well.  

Perran  Round  issues  -­‐  The  farmer  at  Perran  Round  is  planting  corn  in  the  field  adjacent  and  there  will  be  no  

parking  available  during  April.  Having  spent  considerable  energy  on  trying  to  work  around  this  issue  an  

alternative  solution  was  proposed.  It  is  suggested  that  school  groups  visit  Perran  Round  separately  as  a  ‘trip’  but  

that  the  Final  Event  for  that  cluster  could  be  held  at  Playing  Place.  

Action:  Will  to  contact  Kea  school,  Kea  Parish  Council  and  then  inform  all  parties  of  the  new  arrangements.  

Lost  site  events  –  Matt  Blewett  

Richard  explained  the  possibilities  of  geophysical  surveys  of  sites,  Caradoc  offered  access  to  the  equipment  

owned  by  Truro  College.  By  working  with  students/interns/volunteers  the  project  can  achieve  more.  Richard  

would  set  up  the  surveying  process  on  a  Saturday  morning  and  would  need  no  more  than  6  students/interns  

helpers.  The  surveying  would  then  proceed  all  weekend.  However,  a  whole  weekend  would  not  achieve  a  full  

site  coverage.  There  was  some  discussion  whether  to  concentrate  on  perimeter  mapping  or  to  look  for  internal  

‘Devil’s  Spoon’;  features  or  even  to  look  for  further  internal  features  at  Perran  Round.  There  was  some  

discussion  around  which  sites  to  prioritise.  Two  sites  that  have  definite  ‘Plen  an  Gwari’,  Cornish  language  place-­‐

name  evidence  and  have  some  physical  sweep  of  hedge  suggesting  a  partial  round  are  St  Hilary  (Marazion)  and  

Ruan  Minor.  

Action:  Abi  to  identify  landowner  at  Marazion  and  broker  contact  for  permission  

Action:  Will  to  do  same  at  Ruan  Minor  

Action:  Matt  to  liaise  with  Richard  and  Caradoc  –  organize  the  weekends;  possible  dates,  first  two  weekends  in  

Feb.  

Champions  

It  was  suggested  that  ‘Lost  Site  visits’  could  coincide  with  the  survey  weekends  eg  visit  Landewednack  and  Ruan  

Major  before  visiting  the  team  working  at  Ruan  Major  and/or  visit  Sithney  and  Crasken  (Helston)  and  Germoe  

before  visiting  the  team  working  at  St  Hilary.  The  Champions  could  be  involved  in  recording  the  phenomenology  

of  each  site,  also  exercises  involving  measuring  and  data  collection.  It  would  be  good  to  arrive  at  some  statistical  

data  around  average  diameter  of  amphitheatres  and  distance  from  church.  

Action:  Matt  to  plan  the  above,  re-­‐contact  all  Champions,  keep  informed  of  plan.    

Outdoor  Exhibition  redesign  is  underway  

On-­‐line  Field  Guide  –  prototype  for  comment  will  be  available  soon  

Higher  Education  

Will  reported  that  Falmouth  University  have  suspended  their  Theatre  course.  He  has  been  asked  to  lead  another  

one-­‐day  visit  to  Perran  and  St  Just  with  the  final  intake  of  first  year  students  but  not  to  repeat  the  full  input  from  

last  year.  Whilst  there  are  individual  members  of  staff  who  remain  interested  and  committed,  to  date,  the  

University  as  a  whole  has  shown  little  interest  in  engaging  seriously  with  this  material  or  marking  the  750th  

anniversary  of  Glasney  College.  

Plen  an  Gwari  Project  

Steering  Group  Meeting  5  Minutes  14:00  –  16:00,    

Weds  15th  April  2015    

Krowji,  Redruth  

AGENDA  

1. Introductions  and  Apologies  Present:  

Will  Coleman,  Project  Director,  Golden  Tree  

Jack  Morrison,  Feast  

Ross  Williams,  ACT/Krowji  

Matt  Blewett,  Maga,  Cornish  Language  Partnership  

Dr  Jo  Ezra,  Institute  of  Cornish  Studies,  Exeter  University  

Jane  Howells,  Bewnans  Kernow  

 

Apologies  

Rod  Lyon,  Gorsedd  Kernow  

Abi  Squibb,  Marazion  School  

Sarah  Walsh,  Cubert  School  

Mary  Ann  Bloomfield,  Plen  Project,  St  Just  

Prof  Matthew  Spriggs,  Professor  of  Archaeology,  National  University  of  Australia  

Martin  Higgs,  Headteacher,  Pensans  School  

Dr  Alan  Kent,  Visiting  Fellow  in  Celtic  Studies  at  the  University  of  Coruna  

Dr  Garry  Tregidga,  Institute  of  Cornish  Studies,  Exeter  University  

 

Date  of  Next  meeting  (final  wash-­‐up)    

Weds  3rd  June  2pm    

2. Minutes  of  last  meeting    Read  and  approved  

3.  Project  Update    Educational  materials    

Will  reported  that  he  has  completely  overhauled  the  Educational  materials.  

The  new  incarnation  has  received  the  critical  review  ‘Lush’,  from  Matt  Blewett.  

On  the  Golden  Tree  web-­‐site,  teachers  are  given  a  few  taster  images  and  invited  to  make  contact.  They  are  then  

sent  a  link  to  the  Dropbox  containing  the  full  materials  to  download.  Teacher  feedback  has  been  very  positive  so  

far.  

 

Schools  Programme  

Is  progressing  well,  Will,  Mary  Ann  Bloomfield  and  Jen  Dyer  have  been  delivering  sessions  in  schools  across  mid  

and  West  Cornwall.    Schools  are  enthusiastic  and  looking  forward  to  our  celebratory  event  at  St  Just  Plain  an  

Gwarry.  

 

Results  of  Ruan  and  St  Hilary  surveys  

With  a  good  crew  of  volunteer  support  we  have  conducted  preliminary  geophysical  surveys  at  two  ‘lost’  sites.  

Ruan  Minor:  

Matt  tabled  images  and  interpretation  and  the  ‘Trethvis  Estate  map  1778’  

Evidence  from  Rev  Polwhele  1807  suggested  we  were  looking  in  the  right  place  (although  Rod  Lyon  and  the  

landowner  both  disagreed  with  our  interpretation).  Over  the  weekend  survey,  volunteer  Rosemary  Stone  

produced  the  ‘Trethvis  Estate  map  1778’  showing  n  extension  of  the  curved  hedge  to  meet  the  road.  This,  in  our  

opinion  clinches  the  location.  We  surveyed  for  two  whole  days  but  still  only  covered  a  fraction  of  the  site.  

The  survey  did  reveal  some  interesting  features  (line  of  hedge  now  removed,  a  right-­‐angle  feature  and  lines  of  

potential  ‘pavilion  postholes’).  The  whole  site  needs  further  detailed  surveying  –  there  is  almost  certainly  more  

to  be  discovered.  

St  Hilary:  

Our  2nd  day  at  St  Hilary  got  rained  off,  but  we  did  achieve  quite  a  lot  in  a  single  day.  We  showed  that  there  is  a  

ditch  inside  the  existing  hedge  which  once  curved  around  into  the  centre  of  the  field.    A  second  feature  on  the  

results  is  probably  a  second,  outer  ditch.  Once  again,  the  entire  site  really  needs  to  be  properly  surveyed.  

‘Lost  site  ‘visits  held  

We  had  good  attendance  at  both  our  ‘Lost  site’  safaris  and  the  new  outdoor  exhibition  boards  proved  invaluable  

as  an  interpretation  aid;  they  were  much  admired  and  studied.  

Will  reported  how  much  he  had  enjoyed  visiting  the  sites  in  the  company  of  Dr  Caradoc  Peters  who,  as  a  ‘proper  

archeaologist’  was  able  to  point  out  clues  and  features  that  most  of  us  would  normally  miss.    Through  his  input  

we  have  gained  important  new  positioning  details  about  the  sites  at  Ruan  Minor  and  Landewednack.    

  ‘Lost  site‘  visits  to  come  

One  and  All  are  welcome  to  attend  the  next  wo  visits    

Mon  20th  April,  Playing  Place  (Kea)  with  Kea  School,  3:30pm  

Weds  22nd  April,  Islington  Wharf,  St  Gluvias,  Penryn  with  Penryn  Junior  School    

 

On-­‐line  research  by  volunteers  

Matt  reported  that  the  on-­‐line  research  process  has  been  very  lengthy  BUT  he  has  been  delighted  by  the  way  it  

has  got  people  involved  

26  volunteers  so  far  (the  list  keeps  growing)  have  engaged  in  learning  

• how  to  research  on-­‐line  

• that  the  Heritage  Gateway  exists  and  how  to  use  it  

• how  to  convert  Grid  refs  to  co-­‐ordinates  or  Longitude  and  Latitude  

• how  to  locate  on-­‐line  versions  of  old  maps  

 

On-­‐line  field  guide  

The  On-­‐line  field  guide  IS  coming  soon.  Again  the  process  has  been  very  complex  due  to  the  sheer  volume  and  

diversity  of  the  data.    Matt  has  been  working  closely  with  the  web  developer  (Simon  Rickwood  of  Bang  Bang  

Creative)  to  make  the  whole  thing  attractive  and  user-­‐friendly.  

Book  publication  timetable  

Will  reported  what  a  productive  and  rewarding  time  he  had  spent  studying  the  original  manuscripts  in  the  

Bodleian  Library,  Oxford  University  and  that  the  First  Draft  of  the  book  is  now  completed.  Will  has  had  

interesting  and  helpful  dialogue  with  Prof  Gordon  Kipling  (Uni  of  California)  and  generous  support  and  material  

from  Prof  Matthew  Spriggs  (Uni  of  Australia)  

Will  is  delighted  that  both  Prof  Matthew  Spriggs  and  Jack  Morrison  have  agreed  to  read  the  draft  and  peer  

review  it.  The  steering  group  also  suggested  that  a  similar  request  be  put  to  Rod  Lyon  (as  author  of  the  original  

research  that  uncovered  so  many  lost  sites)  and  to  Dr  Caradoc  Peters  (as  a  leading  authority  of  Cornish  

Archaeology)  Will  to  action.  

The  pre-­‐publication  Crowdfunder  campaign  goes  live  as  of  Monday  20th  April.  Steering  Group  members  are  asked  

to  help  publicise  this.  They  may  purchase  a  copy  at  the  pre-­‐publication  price  of  £20  (rrp  will  be  £29.99).  Physical  

publication  should  be  June  or  July.    

4.  Next  steps  Final  Event:  St  Just,  April  30th  12:30  –  1:30  

One  and  All  are  welcome  to  attend.  

There  will  be  more  than  300  school  pupils  present  performing  exerpts  from  the  plays,  music  ,  song  and  dance!  

The  ‘Cornishman’  newspaper  is  coming  and  we  have  booked  a  professional  photographer  of  our  own  as  well.    

Evaluation  

Matt  is  still  collating  photos,  images  and  feedback.  

If  any  Steering  Group  members  have  anything  they  would  like  to  contribute  feedback  (particularly  positive  

comments  about  the  project’s  impact)  Matt  would  be  pleased  to  receive  them.  

Legacy  and  Development  ideas  

More  surveys?  

There  was  a  general  agreement  that  this  project  has  provoked  a  great  deal  of  interest  and  that  there  is  a  

widespread  desire  for  further  work.    

For  instance,  there  is  a  need  for  more  surveys  re-­‐visiting  the  same  sites  but  with  more  thorough  coverage  and  at  

least  4  other  suitable  locations.  These  surveys  would  help  us  understand  more  precisely  how  to  discriminate  

archaeologically  betwee  Iron  Age  round,  Plenys  an  Gwari  and  those  sites  that  had  been  used  in  both  ways.      

A  new  plen?  

Will  confessed  that  he  has  been  thinking  about  how  and  where  would  provide  an  iconic  (‘brown-­‐field’?)  site  to  

build  a  new  Plen  an  Gwari  for  future  cultural  and  dramatological  research  (and  thus  avoid  some  of  the  ‘Ancient  

Monument’  issues  when  trying  to  recreate  early  practice.  

 

Manuscripts  return?  

The  Kresenn  Kernow  (Cornish  National  Archive)  bid  to  the  HLF  has  recently  gone  in  and  Will  has  helped  them  

with  a  strand  relating  to  the  proposed  ‘visit  home’  of  the  original  manuscripts  (which  would  not  be  until  

2019/2020)    

 

Bewnans  Ke?  

There  is  (understandably)  a  great  deal  of  interest  in  St  Kea  parish  for  a  revival  of    

Bewnans  Ke  –  it  was  suggest  that  perhaps  we  should  be  exploring  whether  the  HLF  would  consider  funding  such  

a  proposal.  

 

Bewnans  Meriasek?  

Jo  Ezra  reported  that  Ellie  Rycroft  (Bristol  University)  had  contacted  the  Institute  of  Cornish  Studies  saying  that  

she  was  about  submit  a  bid  to  the  ARC  to  fund  a  revival  of  Bewnans  Meriasek  at  Perran  Round  in  2016.      There  

was  quite  some  concern  around  the  steering  group  at  this  news.  The  general  feeling  was  that  despite  years  of  

marginalization  there  was  finally  enough  expertise  and  interest  developing  here  in  Cornwall  to  develop  and  

deliver  such  a  full-­‐scale  project  ourselves.  The  worry  being  that,  once  again,  with  a  Bristol-­‐based  initiative,  all  

control,  all  finance  and  all  benefit  would  be  held  outside  of  Cornwall.  

Will  was  able  to  reassure  the  group  somewhat  that  the  previous  project  ‘Staging  the  Scottish  Court’  seemed  very  

well  managed,  academically  sound  and  culturally  sensitive  and  that  the  team  responsible  had  also  approached  

Wild  Works  as  potential  partners  (who  had  declined  to  be  involved).  Will  promised  to  make  contact  with  Ellie  

Rycroft  and  report  back.  

Date  of  Final  Steering  Group  meeting;    Weds  15th  July2pm    

Krowji,  Redruth  

 

Cc  

Matt  Blewett,  Mary  Ann  Bloomfield,  Tamsin  Daniel,  Natalia  Eernstman  ,  Lindsey  Hall,  Prof  Sydney  Higgins,  Martin  

Higgs,  Jan  Horrell,  Jane  Howells,  Dr  Alan  Kent,  Pete  Kirby,  Rod  Lyon,  Ian  Marsh,  Jack  Morrison,  Jacky  

Nowakowski,  Sarah  Pym,  Dr  Simon  Persighetti,  Ian  Rowe,  Ian  Saltern,  Julie  Seyler,  Matt  Allcock,  Professor  

Matthew  Spriggs,  Dr  Garry  Tregidga,  Deborah  Tritton,  Ross  Williams,  Dr  Gemma  Goodman,  Sarah  Walsh,  Dave  

Hunter,  Dr  Misha  Myers  ,  Dr  Jo  Mattingly,  Richard  Mikulski  Dr  Jo  Ezra,  Dr  Caradoc  Peters,  Abi  Squibb,  Dr  John  

Freeman,  Chloe  Phillips,  Dr  Ellie  Rycroft,  Ben  Gilby,  Dick  Cole,  Sue  Hill  ,  Prof  Gordon  Kipling  

 

 

 

 

Appendix  ii)  Publicity  Materials  Original  Flyer:  

 

Training Day Flyer:

 

‘Bookmark’  flyer  for  the  Book:  

 

   

Final  version  of  Exhibition  Panels:  

 

 

 

 

 

Appendix  iii)  Commissioned  Illustrations    Brian  Hoskin:  

 

 

Emily  Henshall:  

   

Heidi  Ball:    

 

   

 

 

Daryl  Waller:  

   

Trystan  Mitchell: