The following article was received by email from Michael Key on 9th January 2013:- The following strange coincidence may be of interest. Alfred Snowden who is commemorated on the St Ive/Pensilva war memorial was the grand uncle of my wife Dawn Key, nee Peters. Born in 1880 Alfred Snowden, a…

A fascinating article, kindly sent to us by John Tinham. John lives in Farnborough, Kent which he tells us is now in the London Borough of Bromley. John has lived there since 1953. At the beginning of the Second World War, at the tender age of eleven, I suddenly found myself uprooted from my South…

Daniel Gumb was the most celebrated character to live on the moors near Pensilva. He is best known for his home among the rocks at the Cheeswring, which in Daniel's day was a very remote place indeed. He was born in the parish of Linkinhorne on 14th April 1703 and his main occupation of stone-cutter…

The following has kindly been sent by John Tinham who was evacuated to Pensilva during the war. John has lived in the village of Farnborough in Kent since 1953 and which he tells us is now actually in the London Borough of Bromley. When the Second World War started my parents and I were living in…

The following article, written by J.S. Wenmoth, appeared in the Parish Pump some twenty or so years ago. "A prophet is not without honour save in his own country". As was often the case, people born in a Rectory had a better chance of carving a name in history than others whom poverty and toil was…

The following has been received from Mrs. Bennett who lives in Hertfordshire:- I was born in Pensilva in 1935 at a farm called SILVER DOWN but since it has been named Silver Dawn. My mothers family were named Davis and lived in a farm across a field from Silver Down named SPRINGFIELD. My uncle was…

The following talk was given by Jane Mann to the Pensilva History Group on Wednesday 28th November 2012. The full content of Jane's talk will be reproduced here by instalments over the next few weeks. "I left school and went straight to Guy's Hospital in London to train as a nurse. I loved the…

This copy of a postcard was sent to us by Susan Maunder. The postcard was sent at 6.45pm on 30th May 1908 to Susan's Grandfather, Mr. H. Kelly, Trecorme Farm, Quethiock and the postage was one halfpenny.

The following article has been written and researched by Sandra Pearson, Secretary of the Pensilva History Group. From The Cornish Times June 5th 1953. TELEVISION AT PENSILVA The day started with the television programme when over 80 persons gathered at Mr D. Gilbert's workshop and Mr T. Harvey's…

The distinguished looking gentleman sporting a long white beard and carrying a bell in his upraised right hand is a local character called Peter Skews. The photograph was taken in 1892 looking west along the length of Fore Street in Pensilva. The census of 1881 shows him as a 'Blind Pauper' who was…

The following article has been written and researched by Sandra Pearson, Secretary of the Pensilva History Group:- Here is a flavour of how Pensilva and St Ive celebrated the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria on 22nd June 1897. Transcription from the Cornish Times of June 26th 1897: St Ive…

This photograph and the following information had been kindly sent by Ruth Baker of Pensilva. Sunday School outing 1973 Pensilva, taken outside Daniel's Garage. Maureen Skews in flowery dress. Me (Ruth) at the front looking into camera in white poncho. Toby Wheddon in red coat at front. Please…

The above photograph has been kindly sent to us by Deborah Hodgson, the daughter of Marie Bennett. The photograph shows Daniel and Emmeline Davis and their children outside their farmhouse 'Springfield' believed to be in 1922. 'Springfield' is in Lower Middle Hill in Pensilva. Daniel and Emmeline…

The Independent Order of Rechabites was a Friendly and Temperance Society who took their name from a biblical tribe who were 'commanded to drink no wine' by their leader Jonadab son of Recab, and they successfully resisted when tempted to do so. Taking their inspiration from the story, the founders…

This family history has been compiled and kindly sent to Pensilva History Group by Anne Jackson of Melbourne, Australia assisted by her friend, near neighbour and relative Lyn Collins. Family research shows the Northcott family originally came from Devon settling in Cornwall in 1720. Initially in…

The photographs show the Salvation Army Hut in Lower Middle Hill in Pensilva. As well as the Salvation Army the hut has accommodated the village Scout Troop. Lower Middle Hill is known locally by older residents of the village as 'Army Lane'. The following information was kindly provided by Rob…

The following email has been received from Janet Knowles:- My maiden name was Janet Tregilgas born 19/02/1951 in Burnley, and I am the daughter of Ernest Lee Tregilgas born 10/05/1925 and died this year 07/02/2015. He was the son of James Henry Tregilgas born (I think - 1878) in Pensilva who was…

World War One 1914 – 18 BROWNING, Herbert John 2nd South African Rifles 491 Died 1/05/1918 Age 45 Mangochi Town Cemetery, Malawi. Contains 60 war graves Son of John and Louisa Browning, Pensilva b –June ’73, Liskeard BUCKINGHAM, William Charles Gunner  Royal Field Artillery 337th Bde, Ammunition Col…

In 1850 the renowned Victorian author Wilkie Collins visited our area with his artist friend Henry Brandling. In his aptly named book Rambles Beyond Railways, for Cornwall was a remote corner of the country and Brunel's railway from England would not cross the river Tamar for another nine years, he…

The following history of the Bath Family has been kindly provided by Professor Michael Jefferson. William Bath was originally a copper miner, born in Wendron on January 4th, 1818, who died in Pensilva (September 28th, 1869) reputedly from lung disease picked up while mining. He had married Mary…

William Pollard was born around 1776 in Menheniot. The 1856 Post Office Directory shows a William Pollard as "Farmer and Tax Collector of Woolston". The census of 1841 shows his household as follows: William Pollard Age 62 Farmer In County, Thomas Pollard Age 24, William Pollard Age 22, John…

William West was part of that generation of engineers who brought the performance of the Cornish engine to its peak. He was reputed to have erected more engines in his career than any man in Cornwall. William was born at Dolcoath Mine near Camborne in 1801. He had a poor childhood and an even poorer…