by admin | Nov 1, 2011 | Uncategorized
We thought this little book apt for wishing everyone a happy halloween. By ‘a mere phantom’,it was published in 1880 by Houlston and Sons. “The increased use of the Magic Lantern as a means of beguiling the long evenings of winter, render a brief and simple guide for the unscientific purchaser not only desirable, but necessary.”
by admin | Oct 14, 2011 | Morrab Library
Wednesday saw the first in our 2011/12 Winter Lecture Series here at the library. Chris Wiblin gave a fascinating and very well illustrated lecture on John Vibert, the Penzance printer, bringing a car-boot full of framed prints both from his own collection and borrowed, and also showed some of the Vibert prints we have here in the archives at the library. During the tea break, everyone enjoyed looking at Chris’s collection of prints – and also the display Sheila (volunteer) had put together in the library reception room – as well as the Saffron cake that was on offer… Many thanks to Chris for his insightful lecture – also to Ros et al for tea-making and washing up duties.
Next month’s lecture will be on Wednesday 9th November at 2:15pm and is being given by John Rawles – ‘Mathematics, Morality & Metaphor’. The lectures are open to members and non-members so if you’d like to come along please do – admission by donation, (free tea + cake).
by admin | Oct 6, 2011 | Uncategorized
by admin | Sep 18, 2011 | Uncategorized
We’re all gearing up for this year’s Book and Postcard fair, to be held at St. John’s Hall, Penzance, this coming Saturday 24th September from 10 – 4. It promises to be a great day – loads of second-hand and antiquarian book stalls, postcard stalls, raffle, delicious cakes, tea & coffee – all to raise money for the Morrab Library. Everyone is welcome, so do please come along and support the library. Hope to see you there!
by admin | Sep 2, 2011 | Uncategorized
This month’s offering from the slide collection. We have a fair bit of information about this one, but if you have any more we’d be really grateful – thank you.
‘Loading Stone Boats’ on the South Pier at Newlyn c1970
This is a Ruston diesel Loco (LM 40, No. 375315), used to deliver the millions of tons of ‘Blue Elvan’ stone quarried at Penlee (started in 1880s and originally called Gwavas Quarry). Vessels were moored alongside the railway, and the trams, each containing two and a half tonnes, tipped the stone chippings into the hold. The narrow gauge railway ran from the end of the Lighthouse Pier back to the quarry ‘bins’ which have since been demolished. In 1973, a new conveyor system replaced the familiar little trains, and the whole quarry operation ceased in the 1990s.
The brass plate on the tram (bottom right) refers to a Newlyn man: Mr. John W Jenkin, a much respected and long serving employee of the firm. The loco driver (just visible – you can see his hand + a boot!) could well be Mr. Bill Sleeman and the figure helping to tip the trams is possibly Mr. Louis Lawry.
In the distance you can see glimpses of Newlyn – to the left, the houses above Sandy Cove and the road to Mousehole. And to the right the houses above the Fishermens Arms Inn extending up to Lynn Terrace and St. Peter’s Hill.
The Penlee story is well documented and a major part of Newlyn’s history.
