Projects over fairly recent years.
The enhancement of the Mengu Stone: This ancient Schori rock stone, an important part of the town’s history since time immemorial, marking the meeting point of three Domesday manors, later as the focal point of announcements of declaration of war and peace and all public notices. Situated in the churchyard of the Holy Trinity Church needed much enhancement with the addition of granite kerbing, decorative chippings and a plaque of explanation.
The Restoration of St Gomonda Well: This well is near Roche. Clearing of much detritus including fallen trees and sycamore saplings, the draining of the surrounding area and the planting of many daffodils.
Menacuddlee Holy Well, St Austell: much clearing of undergrowth surrounding the Well.
An explanation plaque detailing the importance of the West Bridge St Austell.
Three plaques listing the history of the old St Austell to Pentewan Railway.
Activities:
Manning a stall promoting St Austell Old Cornwall Society at the town’s St Pirans Day celebrations and to share information about St Austell and its heritage.
St Austell Town Museum
In 2010 when an offer of over 200 posters, printed to advertise local events, and spanning over 80 years was made to the St Austell Old Cornwall Society it was discussed at a subsequent meeting of the Society and agreed to accept the donation as the basis of a museum.
The President and committee endeavoured to find suitable premises, and eventually accepted the constable area with two cells offered by the commissioners of the Market House, for a trial season. These premises were on the ground floor with a door leading in directly off the street opposite the Holy Trinity Church.
Formerly an enclosed store for the Home Hardware Shop established above in the Town Hall much renovation was needed. Dismantling shelving, sorting, cleaning and painting the walls, along with the enclosing metal railings and gates took many hours from the Volunteer Society members.
Thus in June 2011 with a rota of 32 stalwart volunteers from the Society the Town Museum was declared open by the Mayor Sandra Heyward.
The museum opens daily from 10.00am to 4.00pm with Saturdays 10.00am to 2:30pm. Sunday closed.
From that date onwards local and visitor interest was encouraging. Daily records of footfall were kept and more exhibits were forthcoming from local people. Bodmin Museum offered two large free-standing display cases. Over the first year we also compiled albums of photographs – town, people and social events, and others of newspaper cuttings relevant to the town’s history from a set of “Cornish Guardian”. Another folder contained an amazing collection of some very old leaflets, bill headings, catalogues and programmes all relating to the history of St Austell and area. We were able to purchase a TV screen displaying a continuous programme of town views.
So a success story all round and until the crisis of 2020 Coronavirus the museum had been open 10 years.
Valerie Jacob 10/12/2020
The museum is currently closed during the period of the COVID-19 crisis
