Institute  of  Cornish  StudiesFondyans  Studhyansow  Kernewek

Newsletter, October 2014

The  Cornish  World/An  Bys  Kernewek3rd Annual  Conference  of  the  Institute  of  Cornish  Studies

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Dr Caradoc Peters will give the keynote address on 25th October on the subject ofAncient Cornish . Other speakers include Sara Chambers, Bernard Deacon, BenDobson, Ben Harris, Michael Harris, Jane Howells, Sharon Lowenna, Jane Marley, KateNeale and Mike Tripp, There will also be a film premiere of and the Great

presented by John Ault and Louis Allen.

There is no charge for the conference but please email cornishstudies@exeter.ac.ukby 16th October stating if you would like to attend on 24th and 25th or just on one day.

Friday 24th / Saturday 25th

October 2014

Tremough HousePenryn Campus2pm

The third annual conference of the Institute of Cornish Studies focuses on the themeof global connections. Topics to be discussed include the history andcontemporary culture of the Cornish overseas, comparative links with Brittany andpromoting Cornwall in a global context. It will start at 2pm on 24th October with aseries of presentations on the Cornish language, politics, economics and the culturallandscape led by Prof Ken Mackinnon of the University of Aberdeen. This will befollowed by a discussion on future plans for the ICS and a conference social.Refreshments will be provided with the support of the Caroline Kemp bursary.

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Dr Caradoc Peters is this Caroline Kemp speaker. Afterattending school in Cornwall, Caradoc studied in Cardiff andBradford before working in Germany and Switzerland. Hethen completed his PhD at the University of Auckland, NewZealand on Environmental Change and Human Settlementon Rarotonga, in the Cook Islands over the last 8-­‐9,000years. He is author of The Archaeology of Cornwallpublished in 2005. This was the first book to cover thearchaeology of Cornwall from prehistory to the present. Herecently became a bard of Gorseth Kernow (Hendeskonydh).

Following on from the Cornish World Conference, the Cornish Language ResearchNetwork will be holding its first Conference at Cornwall College, Pool on 27th-­‐28thOctober. The event seeks to establish the current research landscape of the Cornishlanguage. If you are interested in attending, please email the Institute at:cornishstudies@exeter.ac.uk and we will forward a copy of the registration form to you.

The  Cornish  World  Conference:  Keynote  Speaker

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The Institute is pleased to announce the appointment of two new ResearchAssociates, Dr Tim Cooper and Dr Joanie Willett, who are actively involved in thefield of Cornish Studies on the Penryn Campus.

Timothy Cooper is an historian of theenvironment with interests that range fromthe history of science and technology tourban and social history. He has particularinterest in counter-­‐narratives and histories,and is currently working on a project on thetheme of .

Dr Cooper is also currently collaborating with Surfers Against Sewage to make use ofthe extensive archive of papers and campaign notes of one of the most importantnational campaign environmental groups, which is based in St Agnes. This is a part ofa wider project on the history of the environment and everyday life in modernCornwall.

Along with co-­‐workers Anna Green and JosSmith, Tim has recently completed an oralhistory project on the Torrey Canyon oil disasterof 1967. He is currently working on a bookwhich will be a history of the disaster.

Joanie Willett is a lecturer in Environmental Politics withthe University of Exeter Department of Politics, and theEnvironment and Sustainability Institute. researchcovers the interplay between identity, the economy and theenvironment, and she has worked extensively on Cornishculture and politics, and its relationship with the UK and theEU.

People  

She took a BSc in Combined Social Sciences with the University of Plymouth, and anMA in Critical Global Studies with the University of Exeter. PhD, entitled

is Cornwall So Poor, Narrative, Perception and was completed in 2010with the University of Exeter. After teaching social theory on a social work degreewith the University of Plymouth she became a faculty member for Exeter at Penrynin 2010.Although firmly based in politics, Joanie has collaborated with economists,geographers, planners and sociologists, and worked with community groups, policypractitioners, and health organisations. One of her current initiatives is to develop acommunity-­‐based for Cornwall and this is discussed in moredetail on p. 8 of the ICS newsletter.

My name is Tom Fidler and I'm a third year Historyundergraduate at the University of Exeter Penryn Campus.Having been President of the History Society last year, I amnow Academic Officer and the Subject Chair for History. Iwas also recently given the exciting role of StudentEngagement Officer for the Institute of Cornish Studiesand presented on behalf of the Tremough Students at this

Gorseth Kernow.

On 22nd March 2014, several students and I represented the Institute of CornishStudies at the Annual Conference of the Association of Celtic Students of Irelandand Britain in Aberystwyth, highlighting the ever-­‐increasing presence of Cornwallin the Celtic World. I was very lucky at the AGM which followed the conference, tobe elected as this Chair of the Association of Celtic Students of Ireland andBritain, and in doing so, have managed to get the next Conference to be held atTremough. Hopefully this will give students with an interest in Cornish or CelticStudies the opportunity to speak up on their interests and have a chance topresent that to an academic audience. Last Conference featured speakersfrom Cardiff, Aberystwyth, Liverpool, Edinburgh and Dublin to name but a few. Thisyear we hope to attract students from all over the world to present!

The Conference is coming round fast already, with the date set for the 20th-­‐22ndMarch 2015, featuring various trips and Cornish-­‐Celtic entertainment, including aceilidh evening. A call for papers will be going out shortly to any studentsinterested in perhaps presenting. Be sure to check out the Facebook Page whichwe will be updating regularly:https://www.facebook.com/CelticStudentsAssociation

ICS  Student  Engagement  Officer

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There are a growing number of undergraduate students at the Penryn Campusdoing their BA dissertation in the general area of Cornish and Celtic Studies. It isplanned to feature some of these projects in future issues of the newsletter.

One such student is Katie Taylor, who is studying Cornish migrants who have movedoverseas. Katie said, am currently researching migration and identity: the historyof migration, how identities are formed and whether migration affects identities. Iwill be focusing on the Cornish throughout my dissertation, trying to get past thestereotypes of Cornwall and the Cornish, to find out what really makes the Cornishwho they She is organising a number of surveys to provide data for herdissertation so if you can help Katie with her research please go tohttps://www.surveymonkey.com/s/JCHLC7QFuture surveys will be posted on the Cornish Story facebook site.

Studying  Migration  and  Identity

Studying  the  Music  of  the  Diaspora

My name is Kate Neale and I haverecently been awarded ascholarship through the SouthWest and Wales Doctoral TrainingPartnership to complete a PhDexamining Cornish music inoverseas communities. This newprogramme is bringing togethereight leading universities in theregion, and delighted to beworking with the MusicDepartment at Cardiff University,and the Institute of CornishStudies at the University of Exeter.

I grew up in Porthcothan Bay, in North Cornwall and attended school at Penrice in StAustell and Truro College. Although I have always been interested in music, I onlycame to appreciate the richness of musical traditions during myBachelors and Masters degrees at Cardiff University.

My work in ethnomusicology focussed on how Mayday and Christmascarolling traditions can be read as musical performances of community and identity.However, my research into Cornish Christmas carols led me much further afield,into the 19th century, and all over the world. I became fascinated with the idea thatCornish people, thousands of miles away from their homeland, were performingmusic they had brought with them, prompting me to ask what sorts of music wasperformed, and why. been researching these ideas since I graduated from myMA in 2011 and am really excited to be starting PhD research into this area.

This project will begin to document Cornish musical traditions in the diaspora,examine the socio-­‐cultural position of music in diasporic Cornish communities, andlook at musical exchanges between Cornish overseas populations and those inCornwall itself. Although still in the organising stage, this will involve visits toGrass Valley in California, and Moonta in South Australia.

I really look forward to working with Dr Tregidga and meeting other researchers atthe Institute over the course of this exciting project.

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One of the most exciting developments in Cornish Studies recently has been theproliferation of film projects coming from the students who lead them. A dedicatedteam, led by John Ault and Joshua Butt, has brought together three film projects whichspan history and politics. One of those films focused on the recent referendum onScottish independence, while the other two relate to historical and contemporaryCornwall. The students have raised over £20,000 towards the projects from a numberof sources, including the FXU (Students Union), the Annual Fund (University of Exeter)and a series of Crowdfunder campaigns which have received impressive support.

Cornwall  on  Film

How  the  West  was  WonTheir first project is the West was Won which is a film documentary concerningthe events around the 2015 general election in Cornwall. Two years in the planning,the team have been interviewing candidates and MPs throughout Cornwall to gain aninsight into modern elections. The idea was sparked by a film documentary discoveredat the South West Film and Television Archive in Plymouth which showed a grainy, butcolour, film of the 1955 election in Callington, including rare footage of Isaac Footspeaking to the town.The film crews will tour Cornwall throughout April to make sure that the events of thisimportant election are recorded. Will the Conservatives advance against the LiberalDemocrats? Will Labour return a MP in Camborne and Redruth? Will we see abreakthrough by either UKIP or Mebyon Kernow? These are questions the team wantanswered.

Falmouth  and  the  Great  WarPublic History is a key part of the studentexperience in History at the University ofExeter, Penryn Campus, and this being thecentenary of the outbreak of the FirstWorld War, students wanted to get toknow more about the history of Falmouthand the experience of those involved in it.Again the team raised money throughCrowdfunder and the support of theCommonwealth War Graves Commissionand Falmouth Town Council.

and the Great will be the first of the projects to come to the screen atthe end of October at the ICS Conference (see p. 1). With an impressive array of experthistorians, the film contextualises war in the greater conflict. The navalbattles, the military accidents and the Western Front as well as the often untold story ofthe Great War POW all appear.

Filming  at  The  Hooge  Crater  cemetery,  North  of  Ypres,  Belgium

Asylum  Stories:  

Asylum Stories is a project put together bya research group from the Institute ofCornish Studies and mental healthprofessionals from Cornwall NHSFoundation Trust Mental Health Team.With funding from FEAST (Arts Council) andBodmin Community Chest Fund (CornwallCouncil) they have been collectingmemories of the hospital from formerpatients, staff and members of thecommunity. Written and oral histories arebeing collated, alongside memories andanecdotes linked to photographs andobjects. To date, seventeen people havehad their oral histories recorded, to bearchived with CAVA (Cornish Audio VisualArchive). The project has recently beenentered for the annual South West DivisionInnovation Prize awarded by the RoyalCollege of Psychiatrists.

The researchers are still keen to make contact with anyone with memories/objects todo with the hospital. Please email asylumstoriesbodmin@gmail.com

Alternatively,  write  your  story  down  and  send  to  Dr  Jo  Esra/  Dr  Jess  Allsop,Institute  of  Cornish  Studies,  College  of  Humanities,  University  of  Exeter,

Penryn  Campus,  Penryn  Cornwall,  TR10  9FE

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first psychiatric hospital was located in Bodmin: St formerlyCornwall County Lunatic Asylum, or simply Bodmin Asylum. At its height, itaccommodated well over a thousand patients, and was the main employer in theBodmin area. It operated as a self-­‐contained community, and produced its own foodthrough its farms, bakery and abattoir. For some, thoughts of St producesnostalgic recollections of a or : for others, it still signifies stigmaand fear.

In addition to the oral histories from ex-­‐patients, ex-­‐staff and families, memorieshave also been shared in writing; via email and in person; and through two RadioCornwall phone-­‐ins. A coffee morning was held in June at St CommunityChurch, the old asylum church, with people bringing photographs and artefacts, andproviding further written memories of the hospital. Funding enabled the AsylumStories team to work with creative practitioners, to host a week of creativeworkshops, historical talks and interactive displays.

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Citizens  Take-­‐Over  of  Cornwall  Council  at  County  HallSaturday  1st November  10am   4pm

In the afternoon we will work with participants to develop adiscussing what you think the priorities are for Cornwall. This will be presented backto an invited audience of keynote listeners, drawn from councillors and other personsinvolved in planning, strategy and service delivery in Cornwall.

This is a free, family friendly event, as part of the European Social and EconomicResearch Council of Social and we will be providing participantswith refreshments and a pasty lunch. Please join our discussion.

Tell us what you think about livingin Cornwall, and what you think thefuture holds for you here.Helped by Dr Joanie Willett and WillColeman (pictured right), participantsfrom across Cornwall are invited todiscuss their stories of life in Cornwall;what it is like to live here, and how youimagine past, present andfuture.

The Maritime History of Cornwall is a significantaddition to the literature of international maritimehistory and is indispensable to those with an interest inCornwall past and present.

The  Maritime  History  of  Cornwall

Cornwall is quintessentially a maritime region. Almost an island, nowhere in it isfurther than 25 miles from the sea. It is perhaps surprising then that, despite thecentral place of the sea in history, there has not yet been a full maritimehistory of Cornwall. The beautifully illustrated volume sets out to fill this gap, exploringthe rich and complex maritime inheritance of this unique peninsula.

Hardback  Illustrated  in  colour  and  black  &  white  Published  price  £65Offer  price  £45  for  Associates  of  the  Institute  of  Cornish  StudiesISBN:  978  0  85989  850  8  October  2014  

Orders  should  be  sent  to:  University  of  Exeter  Press,  Reed  Hall,  Streatham  Drive,  Exeter,  EX4  4QR,  UK  Telephone:  +44  (0)  1392  263066        Fax:  +44  (0)  1392  263064  |  uep@exeter.ac.uk  |  www.exeterpress.co.uk

Edited  By  Philip  Payton,  Alston  Kennerley  &  Helen  Doe

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Friends  of  Gunwen

For  further  details  on  the  Friends  of  Gunwen go  to  their  Facebook  page:  www.facebook.com/groups/gunwen or  telephone  Ivan  Phillips  on  01208  831734  (please  leave  a  contact  number).  

They  have  recently  produced  a  calendar  for  2015  based  on  views  of  the  scenic  Gunwenand  Helman Tor  area.  Copies  can  be  obtained  for  £5  and  can  be  obtained  by  telephoning  the  number  above  or  email:  cornishstudies@exeter.ac.uk

A key aim of the Institute of Cornish Studies is tocombine research and teaching with communityengagement. By working with a range of culturaland heritage organisations we seek to promote agreater knowledge of historical and contemporaryCornwall. One of the groups that the ICS iscurrently working with is a new community-­‐basedgroup entitled the Friends of Gunwen. Its aim is torenovate and transform the historic chapel atGunwen near Bodmin so that it can fulfil acommunity heritage role alongside its traditionalactivities as a place of worship. The earlyassociation with William and the BibleChristians is important both for Cornish andBritish Methodist history.

Nearby sites like Helman Tor are significant from an archaeological perspective, while thelocal work of the Cornwall Wildlife Trust means that there is already an environmentaldimension. With the support of the Institute of Cornish Studies the aim is to a) explorethe religious history of the area; b) develop an oral history and storytelling programmeand c) bring together research in relation to cultural landscape. Initial work hasalready been put in place with Sarah Chapman and Garry Tregidga working with thegroup in relation to Cornish cultural traditions like Crying the Neck and Twelfth Night,while Katie Taylor, a Public History student at the Penryn, conducted a project in 2013-­‐14based on contemporary and historical perspectives of the local landscape. There areplans to establish an interpretation centre covering the cultural, environmental andhistorical story of the area. The Institute will also work with the Friends of Gunwen todevelop a programme to mark the bicentennial of the Bible Christians in 2015. This willinclude an educational resource for local schools and a conference on and BibleChristian history on 17 October 2015.

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There  will  be  a  series  of  short  presentations  and  discussion  forums  to  establish  a  framework  for  further  research  and  community  engagement.  

Broad  questions  for  the  day  include:

-­‐down  approach?

day  conference  will  consider  the  role  and  importance  of  Cornish  culture  and  identity  in  developing  a  sustainable  Cornwall  for  the  future.  

Sustainable  Cornwall   Exploring  the  Cultural  Connection  Friday,  21  November  2014  (09:15   16:00)

Environment  and  Sustainability  Institute,  Penryn  Campus,  Cornwall,  TR10  9FE  

Ecosystem Services is an increasingly important concept that transcends scientific,political, social and economic boundaries. It endeavours to better understand ourdependencies and impacts on a range of environmental goods and services that we asindividuals, communities, businesses and organisations depend upon for our wellbeingand prosperity. comprises the non-­‐material benefits people obtainfrom ecosystems including cultural heritage, recreation and tourism but these are themost difficult to quantify and as such are they undervalued?

Together with the Environment and Sustainability Institute (ESI), ICS aims to facilitatedebate on cultural, environmental, economic and social issues that contribute to asustainable Cornwall and how this might look. Delegates will be invited from a widerange of sectors including: public (policy makers), cultural organisations, environmentaland community groups, social enterprises, businesses and wider general public. It ishoped that discussions will lead to knowledge exchange; foster new ideas forinterdisciplinary cultural research, collaboration and partnership as well as build andstrengthen links with the ICS and ESI.

Lunch  and  refreshments  will  be  provided

To  reserve  a  place,  please  contact:  Colette  DefoeResearch  and  Knowledge  Exchange  Managerc.defoe@exeter.ac.uk