https://www.facebook.com/124362554096903/

Helston Old Cornwall Society

Home
United Kingdom
Helston
Helston Old Cornwall Society

Directions

Helston Old Cornwall Society meetings and events.

22/10/2026

08/10/2026

Pete's brother sent him this photo of a tombstone he saw in Moonta, South Australia. We wonder if there is anyone who can provide a connection with WH Beaglehole. There was a Beaglehole on Helston Town Council in 1923 and a number of Beagleholes on mid 19th century censuses for Helston and Breage. A (presumed) descendant was involved in a massive irrigation project in S Australia and built a brewery in Adelaid

06/06/2026

We were delighted to show staff and volunteers from the Museum of Cornish Life our ‘Cornwall in Print’ exhibition recently and highlight some of Helston’s printers.

One such printer was William Penaluna, perhaps one of Helston’s oldest printers. William, born in Stithians in 1780, began his career working with John Heard in Falmouth around 1808, but the partnership was dissolved a couple of years later when John Heard moved to Truro and founded the West Briton. Between 1811 and 1815, William took over the printing of Lean's Engine Reporter, a broadsheet devoted to specialist interest and 'the comparative duty of the mine engines in Cornwall'. However, he is probably most famous for printing and publishing etched of views of Cornwall.

We hold a copy of William’s will and court papers relating to his business affairs after his death. His family took the executors of the will to chancery court for not administering the will and estate correctly.

If you’d like to see some original printing presses, the Museum of Cornish Life have some on permanent display.

07/05/2026

1857 West Briton, 15th May: ‘The Weather throughout the day was fine as could be desired and the attendance of strangers was far more numerous than had been known for some years past. The entrances to most of the inns were decorated with boughs and evergreens. In the early part of the day a procession, which caused much amusement, started from the ancient city of St. Johns where a self-elected corporation has of late years been formed. The Mayor and other officers of that city having been duly sworn in, they commenced to parade the streets of Helston, in the following order: attendant on horseback, constables and police; ‘Aunt Mary Moses’ on horseback fantastically dressed in flowers and attended by her ‘knights and squires’; band of music; the Mayor of St Johns in cocked hat and wig, in a carriage dressed with evergreens and flowers drawn by six Jerusalem ponies (donkeys) ridden by juvenile outriders in full costume; city crier in a carriage and pair; aldermen and councilmen two and two. A proclamation of the rules and customs of the city was read by the crier in different parts of the town, and after parading the streets until after mid-day they again returned to St Johns (Jenkin 2013, 35).

28/04/2026

The Blue Anchor in Helston, Cornwall, started life in the 15th century as a rest house run by monks brewing mead on the site.

After the Dissolution of the Monasteries, it became a tavern and a brewery. Today, it sells its own ales, which it has been brewing on-site for hundreds of years.

Brewing is an ancient occupation which became an organised industry in the Middle Ages.

Until the appearance of large industrial brewers in the 18th century, most brewing was done in brewhouses attached to inns and pubs, like the Blue Anchor.

22/04/2026

Laura here:
We're so excited! 😃
Behind the scenes, we've been slowly chipping away at getting together a wonderful cohort of heritage friends, and an engaging, varied performance schedule together...
COMING SOON
Meanwhile, here's the Event Poster for our big Heritage Day in July; in collaboration with Lore & Piece and Institute of Cornish Studies❤

Address

Hens Horn Court, Station Road
Helston

Website

facebook.com

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Helston Old Cornwall Society posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.