A project is being established to study the history of hand beaten copper works of art, produced in Newlyn by the industrial class from 1890 to 1930.A steering group is being formed and anyone with an interest is invited to join.

It will collate and classify pictures of pieces, uncover documents, drawings and articles in period journals, as well as providing a comprehensive account of tools and techniques. It will attempt to capture oral history by collating information from the descendants of people who worked with Newlyn copper.

Volunteer project leaders Daryl Bennett and Colin Pill said copper played an important role in the social and artistic development of the Newlyn community.

Daryl Bennett, an amateur historian, said: "The starting point for the project is the belief that copper working at the Newlyn School of Industrial Art from the 1890s represents an important part of the arts and crafts heritage of Cornwall and Great Britain and to date, there is very little published information about it. While there are many examples of Newlyn copper in private collections and some important pieces in public collections, no comprehensive appreciation of the work exists.

"This project will support the revival of copper working as a leisure, learning, therapeutic, and economic activity in Cornwall and the UK."

Significant pieces of Newlyn Copper might include large commemorative plaques or special commissions for churches, schools etc or copper work with unusual imagery, for example, frogs, animals or fantasy creatures or depicting landscapes and buildings.

For information, or to support the project, contact Daryl Bennett on 0114 2682981 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or Colin Pill on 01225 309400, e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

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