The 'Penwith Points of View' Project

The Bewnans Kernow Penwith Points of View Project took place between February 2014 and February 2016  in Madron near Penzance. 

The project was funded by the People's Health Trust and was designed and delivered by Jane Howells to  celebrate and develop Cornish culture, heritage and identity, local history, and community well-being.
In the Press
Read about the project courses and events as published in the local press:
Penwith Points of View was also regularly reported in the  Down Your Way Madron section of the Cornishman thanks to the local correspondent
“The project has brought us so many interesting speakers and given us such comradeship.  It has been great”
Project Flyer
                     Madron
The history of Madron parish was an important part  of the project.  From prehistoric sites to influental residents and from  distinctive cultural traditions to engineering excellence, the vast and fascinating history of Madron was always interesting to participants.
Event flyer

Madron History Group

Weekly 'Points of View' meetings
From April 2014 to March 2016 nearly 100 weekly local history meetings were held for people from Madron Parish with over 50  individual speakers plus films, debates and discussions. The subject was always Madron Parish - its history and its people past & present. 

The members of the group will now continue to meet regularly as Madron History Group

Film

A series of  4K films recording many of Madron's long-standing residents were made as part of the project by local film-maker Orson Cornick.

School Resources

St Maddern's School
The project has provided St Maddern's School with:
  • A series of Cornish language lessons
  • A Cornish language resource pack
  • Cornish Wrestling training
  • A Cornish culture costume making workshop
  • A series of artist-led workshops to make mosaics based on historic local sites.

Research Group

A small group of  volunteers met regularly throughout the project to research the history of the parish and prepare publications.

Events

The Penwith Points of View project held a number of  events  including a busy Open Day and joint meetings with the  Carfury Antiquarians.

Cornish Culture Courses

        Cornish Culture Courses

Many Bewnans Kernow partner organisations, academics and specialists provided a series of courses on Cornish culture and history.  The courses were free to attend and were a substantial learning experience for those attending.

The course topics were:

•Cornish Culture
•Cornish Language
•Cornish Mining
•Cornish Wrestling (x 2)
•Cornwall's Maritime History
•Traditional Cornish Pub Singing
•Cornish Surnames
•Cornish Comedy
•Cornish History
•Farming in Cornwall
•Running a Cornish Heritage Project
•The Plen an Gwari
•Guided walk to Mulfra Quoit and Bodrifty
•Medieval Cornish Churches

Posters of the courses

Gallery

Penwith Points of View Meetings

Cornish culture courses

Course speakers included:

Recording residents on film with Orson Cornick

Two Cornish Wrestling weekend events

What participants told us


Madron History Group

              The Next Stage

The members of the Penwith Points of View Project formed the Madron History Group as soon as the project ended.  This organisation is flourishing and holds popular talks on the history of Penwith on the fourth Thursday of every month as well as special events and regular local walks.  
Picture
Photo of Madron History Group 2019: James Kitto