T s ELIOT reckoned that "history has many cunning passages, contrived
corridors and issues", and the third in the series of afternoon talks
in the Acorn by historians and writers Jo Mattingly and Margarert
Perry, "Stories of Old Newlyn and Mousehole", took the large audience
on a fascinating, informative journey through an assortment of cunning
passages, contrived corridors and issues of local history.
Jo Mattingly
has just completed a study of old Newlyn and Mousehole for the Victoria
County History Society while Margaret Perry is renowned for her books
on local history. They brought the past alive with their explorations
and explanations of, what the King of Siam would call, "puzzlements",
such as the origins of the name Mousehole and the petrified forest of
Gwavas Lake, not to mention the Girdle of the Mayoress of Mousehole.
Looking at the letters and lives of the people involved and events
associated with some of the well-known events, the Spanish invasion of
1595 for instance, rather than the events themselves that most people
are already familiar with, they reminded one that almost everything
that is said and done, however trivial, will at some future point be a
matter of history and of interest to future generations.
From
tales of the "royal touch", a sought after cure in the 18th century for
scrofula, the "king's evil", to the perils of the press-gang, from
tales of the smugglers or free traders, a mix of Methodism, brandy and
baccy that makes the Wild West look tame, to the mystery of the death
of a member of the crew of the Wolf, a body in a boat, Jo Mattingly and
Margaret Perry came up with enough material for a dozen novels or films.
Perhaps
the last word on their talk is best left with J R A Hockin who, as they
pointed out in the leaflet they thoughtfully supplied, wrote in Walking
in Cornwall, published in 1936. "The fishing industry may have declined
but there seems to be no lessening of the luscious smell of both Newlyn
and Mousehole: a proud and noble stink that cannot have been seriously
interfered with since the Spaniards burnt these ports in 1595." Very
likely its stimulating flavour has something to do with the vigorous
originality of the Newlyn artists. The little town has been an arts
centre longer than St. Ives; even in the fastidious fifties it was
recommended to all artists who entertain a proper sense of the value of
dirt.
The Victoria County History of Cornwall paperback Cornwall
and the Coast - Mousehole and Newlyn by Jo Mattingly with contributions
from Margaret Perry, Tony Pawlyn and others, is due next May.
article copyright THE CORNISHMAN
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