New Books
(Beatrice Trevan nee Ash is 3rd from left)
Glimpse of everyday life in Cornish Village
by Aaron Davies
on work experience
A Porthpean pensioner has added to the chronicle of local history with his latest book,
Porthpean Church and Village
.
Harry Woodhouse, who was born in St Austell in 1930, worked for ECC in Singapore before retiring to Porthpean in 1988.
He has pursued an interest in Cornish culture with his previous books,
Cornish Bagpipes, Fact of Fiction
(1994) and
Face the Music - church and chapel bands in Cornwall
(1997) for which he won the Gorsedd prize for the best book written by a Cornish author.
The story of
Porthpean Church and Village
is told through the eyes of the people who lived in the area, reinforced by historical research.
Harry said he was delighted that his book was so different from the usual history books and ancient archives, and the work of real historians, in that it contained the "recollections and memories of local folk, many still alive today."
This gives the reader an interesting glimpse into the everyday life of people in the last two centuries, something rare in most historical texts.
The book covers the recorded origins of Porthpean in 1354 when Sir William de Bodrugan mentions "Porthbyghan". It also examines the roots of the village's name.
Harry writes about the Sawle family who were linked to Porthpean from the 15th century and had been in the area since the Norman Conquest of 1066. They built St Levan's Church as a family chapel and kept it until the death of the last of the Sawles in 1971.
He looks at bygone village life through the stories, memories and writings of its occupants. These recollections are highlighted withstories of particular events that were important to village life.
An entertaining example is the last smuggling run made on Porthpean beach in 1836 under the noses of the watchmen who had a watch-house on the beach. In his account of smuggling and its importnace to the life and culture of the village, Harry reveals the existence of caves, passages and bolt-holes that underlie the quiet village, showing "that small can be interesting, as well as beautiful".
Porthpean Church and Village
(ISBN 1 900147 19X) is illustrated with a number of old pictures. It costs 4 pounds 99 pence and is available from Drakes Books in St Austell, Mount Charles Post Office and Charlestown Post Office, or by ringing Harry Woodhouse on 01726 73608.
Page created on 28 May 2000, last modified 28 May 2000 and published
