Library Talks
Pillas: Our Forgotten Grain a talk by Harriet Gendall
Pillas “sometimes called “pill-corn” or “naked oats, […] was formerly a common crop in Cornwall, but seems now to have become quite extinct.” (Morton Nance, 1930) In earlier centuries, adventurers and botanists described this intriguing grain as cultivated in abundance near Land’s End. It made a hearty porridge known as ‘pillas-gerts’ and was used to fatten pigs and calves, while thatching-rope and bonnets were woven from its fine straw. But by the mid-19th century it was gone from Cornish fields.
This year—for the first time in over 150 years—pillas is being harvested in Penwith. Its remarkable survival in seed banks has enabled ethnobotanical researcher Harriet Gendall to explore its reintroduction, in partnership with local farmers and growers. In this talk at Morrab Library on Wednesday 13th September 2023, Harriet Gendall spoke about about her journey with pillas, as well as it’s forgotten history and complex entanglement with Cornish identity—including a fascinating twist involving Morrab’s very own Head Gardener William Watson (1929-1951).
You can watch the talk here.
Byzantine Silk on the Silk Road: A talk by Sarah E. Braddock Clarke
Co-editor and contributing author Sarah E. Braddock Clarke gave an excellent talk at the library about the new book by Bloomsbury Visual Arts, London, ‘Byzantine Silk on the Silk Roads: Journeys between East and West, Past and Present’. Unfortunately, technical difficulties meant that the sound failed to record, so Sarah has kindly given us permission to share her Powerpoint here instead.
Sarah reveals glorious Byzantine woven silks from the infamous Silk Roads. The content will be explored with examples of historical textiles from world-class museums and archives. The influence of the rich Byzantine era is still felt today where contemporary textiles and fashion deliver evocative imagery, rich textures, and patterns in jewel-like colours – a feast for the eyes and the mind.
Sarah is Senior Lecturer in Fashion Design at Falmouth University. Her area of research lies in materials and technologies, fashion, textiles, and cultural identities with a particular interest in East – West exchanges.
Sarah’s Powerpoint presentation is available to download here to watch.
Published by BLOOMSBURY VISUAL ARTS. Cover image: Dolce & Gabbana Autumn-Winter 2013-2014, Milan, Italy. (© GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP/Getty Images)
Pre-Raphaelite Mythbuster: Gossip, Scandals and Secrets
Did Elizabeth Siddall’s hair really grow in her coffin?
Why did Effie Gray really divorce Ruskin?
Did Rossetti really seduce all his models?
Did Holman Hunt see gnomes?
Dr Serena Trowbridge, Reader in Victorian Literature at Birmingham City University & Chair of the Pre-Raphaelite Society, will look at the evidence & explore a number of myths surrounding the Victorian artists associated with the Pre-Raphaelites. She will use serious research to answer daft questions.
Watch the video here.
Who was Frank Latham and what did he do for Penzance?
Captain Frank Latham was the Borough Surveyor & Engineer for Penzance from 1899-1938 & designed the Jubilee Pool, that much most people know, but what else did he do for the town?
Can we still see the contributions he made to the fabric of Penzance and why do we know so little about him?
In this talk Robin Knight will try to answer questions that surround the life of this interesting man & will take you on a tour of Latham’s Penzance.
Watch the video here.
The Second Sea: An illustrated talk from Des Hannigan
Des Hannigan talks about the SECOND SEA, his name for the impressions that professional seagoers retain in their deep memory.
The talk is built round excerpts about the sea from the works of famous writers and poets and also from Atlantic Cornwall, Des Hannigan’s own popular trilogy of prose and poetry about Cornish deep water fishing and the county’s extreme sea cliff landscapes.
Des is a journalist and travel writer who has written over fifty books for Lonely Planet and AA Publishing.
Watch the video here.
William Borlase, Uniformitarianism and the Ice Age in Cornwall | With Professor James Scourse
For natural scientists working in Cornwall, Borlase is where it all started. His descriptions and observations are hugely valuable and his interpretations are well ahead of their time.
Professor James Scourse’s talk focused on his observations on the geology at Porth Nanven (Cot Valley). He explained why Borlase was years ahead of the movers and shakers in geology at the time in interpreting the sediments, in terms of processes operating now (the actualistic principle that underlies Uniformitarianism) rather than resorting to Biblical explanations.
He then explained our current understanding of these and associated sediments and how we can interpret them to paint a picture of how Cornwall has evolved over the last 120,000 years, latterly coinciding with archaeology and cultural evolution.
Watch the video here
Morvoren: Poetry of Sea Swimming
On Wednesday 15th March 2023, four of the Morvoren poets – Ella Walsworth-Bell, Abigail Ottley, Kerry Vincent, Kate Barden and guest poet Morag Smith – gave a fantastic poetry performance at the library.
Watch the video here
The library holds archive collections on three of these great women, and Maggi and Melissa bring all of their stories to life in this talk.
Watch the video here
Forced To Flee – a talk from Dr Lynne Jones
Her book is dedicated to “all those forced to leave the place they call home” and bears essential witness to the refugee crises of France, Greece, Italy and Mexico over a period of five years. In this talk, Dr Lynne Jones will discuss what forces families to make these journeys – including the climate and ecological crises – and strikes a sharp chord with the stories of displacement currently at the forefront of our minds. Her diaries records the voices of those we very rarely hear from and shares their extraordinary tales.
This video contains strong language. All views, comments or opinions expressed are the speaker’s own and should not be interpreted as those of Morrab Library.
Watch the video here.
The British Way of War, Sir Julian Corbett and the battle for a national strategy.
On Wednesday 13th April 2022, Professor Andrew Lambert gave Morrab Library members a fascinating insight into the uniqueness of British war strategy. British security needs have been maritime and oceanic, rather than military and continental, unlike those of other major powers, and when British Governments forget that reality the results have been devastating, in lives and resources.
At the centre of the lecture is Sir Julian Corbett, (1854-1922), the brilliant strategist who developed the concept of a distinctive ‘British Way’ working with the Royal Navy, Government and the academic community.
Andrew Lambert is Laughton Professor of Naval History in the Department of War Studies at King’s College, London, and Director of the Laughton Naval History Unit. His work focuses on the naval and strategic history of the British Empire between the Napoleonic Wars and the First World War and the evolution of seapower. He has published widely and is winner of Anderson Medal of the Society for Nautical Research and the Gilder Lehrman Prize for Military History.
Watch the video here
From East End to Lands End: A talk by Susan Soyinka
On Wednesday 16th February local author Susan Soyinka gave a talk at Morrab Library about the evacuation of Jews’ Free School, London, to Mousehole in Cornwall during WWII. In June 1940, about 100 children from Jews’ Free School, London, were evacuated to the Methodist village of Mousehole. Remarkably, most of the evacuees quickly integrated into village life, and were accepted by the villagers as their own.
During this talk, author Susan Soyinka, gives a flavour of this heart-warming story, using illustrations and readings from her book.
Watch the video here
Robert Burns – The Curly-Heided Swan: A talk by Des Hannigan
On Wednesday 26th January 2022 we celebrated the Scottish poet, Robert Burns, with Scotsman Des Hannigan, through stories and verses and a recital of the bard’s famous narrative poem ‘Tam o’ Shanter’.
Poet of the people and the pastoral, Burns merged a liberal, humane approach to life, salted with realism and romanticism, and more than a hint of bad behaviour. In Tam o’ Shanter, he spins the glorious, cautionary tale of the drunken farmer Tam and his grey mare Meg as they become entangled with witches and warlocks during a night of wild weather – a tale without a tail.
All views, comments or opinions expressed are the speaker’s own and should not be interpreted as those of Morrab Library.
Watch the video here
Morrab Library Short Story Competition 2021
In 2021, Morrab Library held a Short Story Competition. This page presents the winning entries. The competition was sponsored by member Nigel Castle, and prizes were donated by the Edge of the World Bookshop and we are grateful for their support.
The Weather Woman by Evelyn Murdoch – Winner of the Morrab Library Children’s Short Story Competition 2021
Listen to Des Hannigan reading the short story here.
The Allotment by Gabrielle Johnson – Winner of the Morrab Library Short Story Competition 2021
Watch the video of actress Maxine Peake reading the short story here, recorded live at the prize giving event in November 2021.
Christmas Video – Some Christmas cheer from the library trustees – December 2019
We’re pleased to share this light-hearted look at Christmas and our library 100 years ago from the trustees.
Watch the video here.
