Blog
Tags: Archeology, Conservation, Books, Cornwall, Archives, History, Collections
Vale Martin Crosfill
The library recently lost another good friend in Martin Crosfill. Martin passed away on 9th September at the age of 94. He joined the library back in 1978, and during that time was a loyal volunteer, supporter and friend. Martin served as a Library Trustee, and at various times held each of the Officer posts with the exception of Treasurer (for which he was extremely grateful!). Most recently, until 2019, Martin was our Honorary Librarian, providing inspiring and generous support to Lisa, our present Librarian, as she negotiated her way into the unique world of the Morrab six years ago. He organised the lecture series, chaired the Book Selection Committee, and organised themed book displays. Martin also started the Morrab book fairs which became a national event in the booksellers’ calendar. He organised a Spanish Armada symposium – a three day event with lectures by experts from all over the country – as well as theatrical evenings with music and poetry. He always rolled up his sleeves and worked incredibly hard, sending out letters, putting up posters, organising festival evenings, moved an inordinate number of books up and down the stairs before the days of the lift, and even helped clean the drains .
Even in retirement from holding a Trustee role, Martin continued to volunteer until 2023, teaching himself the dark art of Excel spreadsheets so he could contribute to adding our paper-based archival index to the National Archives DISCOVERY catalogue. Throughout the Covid lockdowns he would ask the librarian for projects he could complete at home to ‘maintain his sanity’ as he put it, and generated a prodigious number of spreadsheets for us, returning in person as soon as he was able. He also attended the weekly Shakespeare classes at the library until April this year. A dedicated bibliophile, Martin was always full of fun and exciting ideas , with many stories to tell of his time working as a surgeon in the Scottish Isles and here in Penzance, and hosting many parties at his home in Heamoor with his late wife Jean.
He was a loyal friend and cared for his friends and the staff at all times, giving them voice even if he disagreed with them. He will be greatly missed by so many of us.
Rebecca Harvey and Lucy Sparrow – new installations for their Artist Residency at The Morrab Library
Throughout 2024, ceramicist Rebecca Harvey and poet Lucy Sparrow have been working on a collaborative artist residency at The Morrab Library. Their work has responded to the setting and is a dialogue between their respective practices: poetry and porcelain. When visiting the Library, you may have read Lucy’s poem, ‘a living library’ etched into Cornish China Clay slip on the window of the Rees Room, or paused in the Literature Room to read ‘The Archivist’.
These pieces are still on display and have now been joined by two further installations in the Art Room and Natural Sciences Room.
In the Art Room (on the ground floor), you will find a new and rather unique sculpture ‘Porcelain Sound Box’. For this piece, the pair were joined by Lucy’s son and composer Fintan O’Hare.
The ‘Porcelain Sound-Box’ is constructed from discarded ceramic fragments chosen from Rebecca’s studio by Rebecca and Fintan, with the aim of finding objects with particular sound qualities and resonance. These are struck by electric motors with the order of the sounds loosely based on conversational interaction; each motor gradually increasing or decreasing in speed, and continuing, interrupting or imitating the previous sound. The work requires the listener to press the START button to initiate a sequence of sounds. Each sound sequence lasts a few seconds and is different each time it is played.
Lucy has accompanied this piece with a haiku. She says:
“Cornwall has had a long association with the China Clay industry and The Morrab Library has a large collection of primary and secondary sources relating to this subject. In addition, the use of porcelain in musical instruments dates from around the 8th century. Being Cornish, and with a keen interest in music and local history, I relished the opportunity to spend time in The Morrab Library exploring these subjects and to create a poem that focussed on the resonance of sounds within porcelain and linking it to the environment from which it was originally sourced.
The accompanying poem is written in the form of a haiku, and the few carefully chosen words aim to compliment the complex dynamic art work from which it took inspiration. As the poet I saw this fragile interactive sculpture tapping into the hidden voice of granite. I am very grateful to the support of the librarians at Morrab library and their curation of a wide range of texts relating to the subject of Cornish China-clay in my research for this piece of work and to my co-collaborators Rebecca and Fintan.”
There is a notebook beside the installation to write your thoughts, feedback and comments about the piece.
Upstairs in the Natural Sciences Room, Rebecca Harvey has installed a bowl, made of a piece of bark, mounted on a wooden plinth. She is asking members and visitors alike to write, on the piece of paper provided, why they think The Morrab Library is a special place and leave it in the bowl.
She writes:
“The Morrab Library is often described as a ‘special place’. Do you have a favourite room? Or thoughts about what makes The Morrab Library special to you? Please contribute to artist in residence Rebecca Harvey’s research into the popular phenomena by writing your thoughts on the pieces of paper provided and popping them into the bark bowl below”.
Rebecca will then make these pieces into a Morrab ‘thought book’ which will be on display towards the end of their Residency in December.
Shakespeare classes at The Morrab Library
Mary Cahill MA runs a very popular Shakespeare class at The Morrab Library on Wednesday mornings from 10am-12.15. She has a limited number of vacancies in the group and the classes will start on Wednesday 2nd October. Come and enjoy a close read and deep exploration of the context, ideas and imagery of Shakespeare’s plays. This term the group will be looking at Measure for Measure and Coriolanus. No previous experience required or expected – just come along and enjoy.
Cost: £90 for 10 week term. Contact Mary Cahill to reserve a space: cahillm037@gmail.com
Reading List | The Bayeux Tapestry and the making of the Middle Ages
Mark Cottle has given many brilliant talks at The Morrab Library, and other venues locally, on subjects ranging from illuminated manuscripts to Arctic exploration. He always provides a Reading List for his fascinating talks and study days – and they formed part of the inspiration for our new series of ‘Reading List’ blogs published on our website following each of our Library talks.
Mark ran a Study Morning in the Reading Room on Saturday 14th September on the subject of the Bayeux Tapestry and the making of the Middle Ages.
The Bayeux Tapestry captures one of the great turning points in English history. William’s victory at Hastings, his reign and those of his two sons, William Rufus and Henry I were transformational. In just 69 years the foundations of medieval England were laid: feudalism, knights, castles, the Exchequer, great cathedrals. With the help of course files the team looked at a remarkable period somewhat overshadowed today by the Plantagenets and Tudors.
With the help of Harry Spry-Leverton, our Honorary Librarian at The Morrab Library, we have put together a display of some the books on Mark’s list, which will be on display for the next few weeks in the Reading Room.
I.Here are some of the titles we hold on the subject that are available to borrow, and their Dewey decimal number to help you find them – please do ask at the reception desk if you can’t find the book you’re looking for and we’ll do our best to find it. Or email the library (enquiries@morrablibrary.org.uk) if you’d like to reserve any.
F Barlow : William Rufus : 942.021
T Baker : The Normans : 942.02
D Douglas : William the Conqueror : R942.021
HWC Davies : England Under the Norman and Angevin Kings : 942.02
J Gillingham : William II : 942.021
C Hicks : The Bayeux Tapestry : Second hand shelf
C W Hollister : Henry I : R942.021
D Howarth : 1066 The Year of the conquest : 942.02
J Messent : The Bayeux Tapestry Embroiderers’ Story : 942.021
G Slocombe : Sons of the conqueror : R942.021
L Thorpe : The Bayeux Tapestry : R942.021
C Tyreman : Who’s Who in Early Medieval England : R942.02
D Wilson : The Bayeux Tapestry : 942.021 (Reference only)
The following suggestions are not currently part of the library’s collection but they may be available to borrow from the public library. If you have a copy that you would like to donate to us then please email enquiries@morrablibrary.org.uk.
R Bartlett : England under the Norman and Angevin Kings.
R Bartlett : The Normans (DVD)
E Fernie : The Architecture of Norman England
E King : Henry I
E King : Medieval England
M Morris : The Norman Conquest
M Morris : William I
L Musset : The Bayeux Tapestry
Last month, we shared a reading list to accompany Dr Serena Trowbridge’s ‘Stories of the Stones’ talk featuring fiction, children’s novels and non-fiction available to borrow from the Library. You can catch up on this Reading List, and others, over on our blog
The Morrab Library Poetry Group
The Poetry Group is now entering its seventh consecutive year and there are a limited number of places for new members starting in September.
The group meets on alternate Thursdays at 1.30pm in The Morrab Library to read and discuss poems by a variety of poets, chosen by a member of the group.
The first session of the new term will be on Thursday 26th September and the poet will be A.E. Stallings. Subsequent poets this term include Spender, Grigson and C Day Lewis.
Please contact the Group’s convenor, George Care, by email (mlpoetrygroup@gmail.com) if you would like to find out more information and/or join the group.
