THE John Harris Newsletter Society No 63 Summer 2018 KYNANCE COVE

Captured in word - and music

Composer-in-residence at Cathe- The piece was performed at a concert schools and cellist Natalie Clein. Tony dral, Dobrinka Tabakova, has set the at Truro Cathedral earlier this year, on Langford takes an in-depth look at the words of John Harris’ poem Kynance May 11, with the BBC Concert Orches- project on page 3. Cove to music. tra, around 100 choristers from local Picture by Thom Alsop, Wikimedia.

JHS 2 Bi-Centenary Festival - engineering company) had been re- sponsible for above ground structures 16-18 October 2020 which could be seen, sometimes from Arrangements are continuing apace great distances, and it seemed that this for the above festival with the bro- spectacle created some sort of jealousy chure (listing the various events) having in my employee! just been circulated ‘across the pond’ Well, when we read of all that John to various groups in their respective Harris achieved during his lifetime in countries. This has brought an initial mining, building, scripture-reading response with people expressing an and the written word, he doesn’t stand interest in being kept informed of its out quite like Brunel’s structures or progress. To those of our members those of my uncle, but nevertheless, his reading this in countries other than success is not to be laughed at for it all Britain, please do not forget to register came at a great cost. I love the gentle- your interest as soon as possible. It ness of some of his poetry such as this won’t commit you to anything at this extract from: stage, but we need to know that it will My Infant Daughter Falling attract enough interest to make it vi- Asleep on my Knee able. (Publicity mailing within the UK How softly dost thou fall asleep will take place later this year.) We are Sweet cherub on my knee! also seeking sponsorship for the event No bird can sing itself to rest and if anyone (at home or abroad) can More carelessly than thee. make a contribution, it will be greatly Five minutes since I heard thy song, appreciated. (Our treasurer’s details And stroked thy little head: are on the back page.) But now I lay thee down to rest Within thy cradle bed Family visits and Sleep on, sleep on, my innocent! When years are sped away, engineering achievements O may thy rest be then as sweet While visiting our daughter Helen, As it is now this day! son-in-law Mario and granddaughter General Data Protection Tamsin in Chippenham (Wiltshire) during the schools’ half-term holiday, Regulation & subscriptions we were quite taken with Isambard You should all have received a GDPR Kingdom Brunel’s brick railway viaduct form for completion and return to the in the heart of the town with traffic secretary. Although this may seem ‘over passing constantly through its arches. the top’ for this small society, we are It was a reminder of John Harris’ 19th obliged to comply with the law so I do century when such intricate work was urge you to ensure that you have given achieved with the least of mechanical permission for your personal data to be equipment. However much we might used solely for the society’s purposes. admire that viaduct, it pales into insig- When completing those forms, please nificance when compared to Brunel’s check whether your subscription pay- engineering feat of constructing the ment is up to date (£6 per annum due Clifton Suspension Bridge that carries on January 1). This payment is some- road traffic high across the River Avon thing that can easily be overlooked so gorge near Bristol or, seemingly, his please check your records and, if ap- even greater feat in constructing the propriate, use the information on the Tamar (railway) Bridge across the River back of this newsletter to settle your Tamar at in East . account. Thank you, in anticipation Built in 1859, it provided the first rail that you will attend to this matter. link between Cornwall and the rest of Lastly, I reiterate my entirely Britain, and is still much in use every personal request but I am asking day in the 21st century when rolling each member to consider mak- stock must surely be far heavier than ing an additional financial gift, when the bridge was built! however small, towards the 2020 A comparison of Festival, as the collective amount would indicate to potential spon- achievements sors a degree of commitment from I once had an employee who had spe- our members which will be greatly cialised in drainage schemes and laying Chairman’s ramblings appreciated. water mains below ground whereas my Kind regards to all throughout the with Paul Langford uncle (who worked for the same civil world! JHS 3

WORDS & MUSIC

Kynance Cove. Picture by: Andy Wright from Sheffield, UK. (Wikimedia Commons) John Harris poem is captured in music

BY TONY LANGFORD ing way to block chords.” welcoming and enthusiastic about this But that is not all. Gray says: “There project,” says Dobrinka. When Dobrinka Tabakova, compos- are also more subtle effects like dreamy In preparatory workshops they were er-in-residence at Truro Cathedral, harmonies that, for me, evoke memo- joined by choral scholars from Truro was looking for a suitable text for a ries of hazy sunshine at the end of a Cathedral. new Cornish work she recalled reading day on the beach.” The culmination of the venture was about the life of John Harris. In preparing Kynance Cove, Do- a concert at Truro Cathedral on May She wanted to “bring a stronger brinka Tabakova collaborated with 11 this year, with the BBC Concert Cornish connection to the piece” and Truro Cathedral and the BBC Concert Orchestra, around 100 choristers from thought “the descriptive nature poems Orchestra, where she is also composer- local schools and cellist Natalie Clein. of Harris would fit the image.” Do- in-residence. In the words of Dobrinka Tabakova brinka selected his 1855 poem Kynance The involvement of three local it brought “the downs and cove of Cove. schools – Truro High School for Girls, Kynance to the grand cathedral.” The finished piece is 12 minutes long Truro School and Richard Lander The wide range of music in the and, in the words of Christopher Gray, School – was another aspect to this concert also included an arrangement director of music at Truro Cathedral, work. “They have all been extremely of the folksong Shenandoah, a Bach “Dobrinka has delivered something concerto and a recent work by Cornish really special.” Dreamy harmonies composer Graham Fitkin. He highlights the direct way “she has It was recorded for BBC Radio 3 depicted the rolling waves in semiqua- evoke memories of and a CD will be released later this vers that act as an undercurrent run- hazy sunshine at year. ning through most of the music.” John Harris captured the beauty and He points out how the “wondrous the end of a day on atmosphere of Kynance Cove in words. cliffs” of the Harris poem are repre- the beach Now Dobrinka Tabakova has captured sented by “the waves occasionally giv- his words in music. ‘ JHS 4

Extracts On the Tresavean man-engine A singular hobby horse After the miners had gone down, and Mr. Blitz, jun., son of the Signor Blitz, from the most of them had returned, many of whose slight-of-hand performances West Briton the visitors descended a few fathoms. are so well known, astonished the We went to the bottom, at a time inhabitants of , on Wednesday, - life in when nearly all the candles (placed in by travelling down the steep street of the shaft) were burnt out. While we their town on a wine-puncheon! Cornwall were on the journey, our light was ex- The barrel was placed on its side, in the early tinguished, and there we were, moving and Mr. Blitz, standing on the centre, up and down, making no progress.... propelled it with his feet . . . 19th century 4 November 1842 Stopping his singular hobby-horse in [The man-engine at Tresavean the hill, and turning it round at pleas- comprised two parallel rods of wood ure, he arrived at the bottom of the running down the shaft, power-driven street “safe as a cat”. from surface. Each had steps spaced He then, still keeping his place on along its length. As one rod was made the cask, ascended the street at the to fall the other rose, pauses in their western end of the town, and returning movements allowing miners - by the in the same manner, finally “drew up” light of candles fixed to their hats - to his conveyance in front of the green step alternately from one to the other, market, where he was loudly cheered and so progress up or down the shaft. by the crowds who had assembled to This was the first machine of its kind witness his performance. in Cornwall, where miners were accus- 11 November 1842 tomed to climbing up or down thou- sands of feet of vertical ladder roads.] Woollen mill at Ponsanooth Our light was On Saturday morning last . . . a fire extinguished, and broke out in the woollen factory, belonging to Mr. Lovey, at Ponsanooth. there we were, mak- The factory consisted of five stories, ing no progress.... and the upper storey contained a quan- tity of wool, some of which was skin wool of the current half year, and there Income tax collectors was a quantity of oily wool from the In a parish on the eastern side of carding engines, which is technically Falmouth harbour, where the Income known as “flyings” . . . Tax to be collected amounts to be- It is supposed that the fire originated tween one and two hundred pounds, either in the skin wool or the flyings, the assessor, in the course of his duty, by spontaneous combustion . . . after walking one hundred and four The fire then communicated to the weary miles, collected 11s. 6d. This, we lower part of the building, which believe, is by no means a solitary in- contained a large quantity of valuable stance, as the assessors in general, who machinery, comprising “willies”, card- are allowed 3d. in the pound, complain ing engines, spinning frames, mules, ‘ tucking mills, and washing mills. The of earning very poor wages for their trouble. The tax is, in truth, highly whole of this machinery was rendered unpopular, and there will be great dif- totally useless . . . ficulty in collecting it. 3 March 1843 The engines from Penryn were very [An income of property tax was soon on the ground, and prevented the first levied in this country during the destruction of the adjoining buildings, Napoleonic Wars and was removed containing a large quantity of wool and in 1816, after the return of peace. Its basils [tanned sheepskins], and also the reintroduction at 6d in the pound, in water wheel in the Engine-house. 1842, caused general dismay. To this 23 June 1843 was added anger as the tax surveyors set about their work, not only because Once every three months of their enquiries into people’s private affairs but also because they frequently Gaol. The 43rd rule is that disregarded the income returns sub- all prisoners, except debtors, should

Down Mwemory Lane mitted, made higher assessments, and have the tepid bath once in every three

compiled by Eve Parsons seized goods to the required amount months. We [the magistrates] thought where necessary.] that unnecessary . . . 30 June 1843 JHS 5 LIBRARY PRESENTATION

FdA English Studies student Kerri Bridgeman (centre) at the Morrab Library with members of the John Harris Society, from left: Paul Langford, Gillian Langford, Tony Langford and Steve Crossman. Poetry event gives reason to rhyme

BY BRITTONY DUFF nephew, Tony Langford spoke at the mines but also his joy in the Cornish Reigniting passions for poetry, the event and felt that it was a fantastic landscape.” John Harris Society visited the Morrab opportunity to educate the community. Thrilled with the popularity of the Library in to encourage and Tony said: “It’s been a pleasure work- event, India Vaughan-Wilson from inspire young people by talking about ing with Kerri and we’re really grateful Morrab Library commented: “One of the poet’s life and works. that she thought of the idea for this our regular members said that it was With the aim to keep John Harris’ event. It’s so good to see young people one of the best events that we’ve had spirit alive, members of the society led becoming interested in the John Harris here at the library. It’s great to get an exploration into the background Society, particularly with the help of involved with the younger community and works of the Cornish miner and the students from Truro and Penwith and it’s fantastic to make a link with literary figure, reading extracts from College.” the college too, something that we’re both his poems and his autobiography. Dr Vanessa Hager, FdA English keen to get more involved with in the Organised as part of her English Studies Programme Leader at Truro future.” degree course at Truro and Penwith and Penwith College, was pleased that Fellow English Studies degree student College, Kerri Bridgeman was pleased Kerri had organised a fantastic event Chloe Roach attended the event and that the event was well attended and to celebrate the poetry of John Har- found it beneficial to gain an insight brought in an assortment of people of ris, demonstrating the academic and into John Harris’ life and works. Chloe all ages, backgrounds and professions. professional skills needed for future said: “What makes this course so spe- Kerri said: “You can see that peo- employment. cial is having the opportunity to organ- ple were genuinely interested in the Vanessa said: “Speakers from the John ise and attend events like this, focusing speakers and the good turnout really Harris Society took the audience on on the works of Cornish writers and shows the need for more events like a moving journey through the life of literature within the community.” this in the future. I’m so grateful that this Cornish miner and poet. Kerri’s To find out more about the English the English Studies degree at Truro project captured the spirit of the Eng- Studies degree course at Truro and Pen- and Penwith College has helped me to lish degree at the college, which has a with College, visit the website, www. organise this event.” strong focus on identity and sense of truro-penwith.ac.uk/uni or contact the Keen to get more involved with the place; John Harris’s poetry powerfully University Courses team, heenquiry@ younger generation, John Harris’ great- evokes the epic endurance of life in the truro-penwith.ac.uk, 01872 267061. JHS 6 POET’S LIFE John Harris - A chronological view

COMPILED BY DEREK REYNOLDS marry John. When she died, John was 1858 very upset and wrote ‘Treslothan’. Second book of poems published, 1820 1842 ‘Land’s End, Kynance Cove and Other John was born on 14th October at ‘6 Diary entry made by John: ‘I will Poems’. Chimneys’, a short row of cottages at devote Mondays/Wednesdays to Gram- 1859 Bolenowe Carn, oldest of ten children mar, Tuesdays to History, Thursdays to February - John Alfred Harris, second of John (Snr) and Kitty Harris. His Poetry-Reading, Fridays to Composi- son, born. father was a miner and smallholder tion, Saturdays - Miscellaneous Works 1860 (seven acres leased) and an ardent and Sundays for Theology’. Methodist. Third book of poems published, ‘The 1840s Mountain Prophet, The Mine and John’s youth was idyllic according to He bought a Bible, a hymn book and him. He was early taught to kneel and Other Poems’. Shakespeare’s works. He became a local 1863 pray, and he learned to read from the preacher and met Jane Rule, a milliner. Bible. Fourth poetry collection, ‘A Study of 1845 Carn Brea, Essays and Poems’ pub- 1829 On 11th September John and Jane John went to work for a distant rela- lished. ‘Carn Brea’ considered by many Rule were married at Parish to be John’s best work (autobiographi- tive, George Harris, on his smallhold- Church. ing - no wages, just one meal a day. By cal). 1830, John was an assistant to Waters, a 1846 1864 tin-streamer. On 1st April a daughter Jane was born John won the poetry competition at Polgine Mine (House - two rooms). to celebrate the Tercentenary of 1830 10d. a day wage. Rich vein of ore dis- John became a Dolcoath miner - Shakespeare’s birth - April 23rd. His covered in summer. £200-work started reward was a gold watch. John had got working ‘above grass’, wheeling around on building a new home. ore in a ‘Cornish barra’. He began to to know many Quakers in Falmouth, write rhymes about his boyhood, fam- 1848 among them Caroline Fox, the Diarist, ily members, farm duties, Christian John, Jane and little Jane moved into of Penjerrick. anecdotes. He would recite them if their new home on Troon Moor. On 1866 pressed. 23rd April, John (Snr) died. Fifth book of poems published - 1832 1849 ‘Shakespeare’s Shrine’. Great Reform Bill. John went under- Lucretia, John’s youngest daughter, 1868 ground (‘below grass’) at Dolcoath to born. Billy Bray died - 25th May. Dr George work with his father. 2,000 feet, 75 1853 Smith and Captain Charles Thomas, miles of adit and shaft. Publication of ‘Lays from the Mine, both supporters of John, died. Sixth 1830s Moor and Mountain’ - published in bookj of poems, ‘Luda, Lay of the John loved the countryside, nature, London. Druids’. long walks, Carn Brea being a favourite 1854 1869 place. He saved five shillings to buy a John’s youngest brother died in Mel- Constantine Tolmen or Maen Rock dictionary. bourne, Australia. destroyed. 1836 1855 1871 Foundation stone of Bassett Memo- Man-Engine (single-rod) installed at John wrote about Maen Rock’s de- rial laid - 30,000 attended. John was, Dolcoath (fourth in Cornwall). Saved struction in ‘Bulo’, seventh of poems. no doubt, among the 1,000+ miners 2,000 feet ladder climb to surface. Jane, his daughter, left home to be mar- who marched to the summit. John was Crimean War still raging - freezing ried (emigrated 1876/1877 - they never made a Sunday School teacher at Troon weather. met again). Methodist Chapel, later librarian. Lucretia died of pnemonia, aged 6 1872 He also became Superintendent of a years 5 months - John’s greatest tragedy Eighth book of poems, ‘The Cruise Sunday School at Black Rock, Crowan in his life. of the Cutter’ (peace verse tracts) parish. 1857 published. These peace tracts had been 1838 First son James (John) Howard born. written for John Gill, friend, Quaker, John ‘became enamoured’ of Eliza Became Head of Board pacifist and vegetarian. October 29th Thomas (1814-1847), one of three School. Wrote ‘Porthleven’ and some - Driver Westlake (Par) - heroic act sisters who wrote poetry. At 23, Eliza new poetry. Autumn - John and family immortalised in verse by John. wrote ‘Treslothan Cottage’; she would moved to Falmouth - new job as Scrip- Derek Reynolds, October 2000. not leave her widowed mother to ture Reader. To be continued in the Autumn newsletter. JHS 7 Folk opera Kynance Cove (1855) The wondrous cliffs are polished with A loving smile is ever on thy face, at St Ives the waves, And Beauty revels mid thy gold ar- And flash and flicker like huge mineral cades, The John Harris folk opera, walls, Along thy glittering grottoes tones are Copper Has Colours, per- Their scaly sides are clothed with leafy heard formed by Cornish theatre gold, Like songs at evening by some distant company Women On The And burn with beauty in the light of lake. Verge, will be at the Porth- day. Thy coloured crags, on which the sea- meor Studios in St Ives on The sands that lie on this Elysian cove birds perch, August 13 and 20 at 3pm. No Are all ring-straked with painted ser- Are tuneful with the tread of tiny feet. tickets - donations only. pentine: No harsh discordant sound is heard in The hollow caves the waves have fret- thee; ted out And he who journeys through these Are dashed with images of fiery hues: sculptured creeks, Walk at And on the rocks, like beautiful psalm- And gazes on those hills of serpentine, leaves, Where Nature sits upon her chiselled Are odes of music lovely as the light, throne, Camborne Trilled by the sea nymphs in the watery Smiling benignly in her samphire robes, robes. Wearing her best, her craggy gem of The annual summer evening crowns, walk in Camborne, led by lo- I’m fond of travelling old deserted When clustered once more in his lov- cal historian David Thomas, paths, ing home, takes place on Friday, June Searched by the winds and soft with Will feel a sweetness flowing through 22. Please meet at All Saints solitude his heart, Church, Tuckingmill, at Of matchless Nature in her robe of And more exalted views of Nature’s 6.30pm. £2 donation. crags, God. Or fringed with flowers, or edged with velvet moss; Why seek for beaty in the stranger’s Treasurer’s And shout together, “God hath made clime, us all!” – When Beauty’s state-room is gay Of odorous heaths, that oft inspire my Kynance? notes Muse, Why seek for visions courted by the And lift me high on Inspiration’s steep; Muse? Thank you to all members Of musing lonely by old Ocean’s shore, When Kynance opens like a mine of who have supported the And roaming wildly through the fields gems? Society so well. The commit- of thought; Why seek for language from the waves’ tee works hard on your behalf White castles, towers and palaces white lips to promote the story of John uprise, When Ocean’s organ fills this pictured Harris’s life and works. Built with chaste light, and roofed with Cove with hymns? We rely on your annual burning gems, Why seek for caverns striped with membership fees of £6 per But starting from my song trance one natural lays, person to pay the costs of bright morn, When they are stained here by the newsletters and exhibitions And turning down yon crooked curious surging sea? etc. If you have not already lane, Why seek for islands girdled with the done so, we’d be grateful if These fancy-pictures floated in the main, you could either send me a dark, When Kynance holds them in her cheque for £6, payable to As rock on rock uncurtained to my feathery folds? “The John Harris Society”, gaze, So mused I in the sea-damp Drawing- or pay by PayPal, the ad- And rolled upon my vision like a spell. Room, dresses for which are both on While through the Bellows rushed a the back of this newsletter. Hail, fairy-featured, beautiful Kynance! flood of song. You could arrange to pay by standing order on January 1 each year, and if you ring me on 01209 713863, I will give you the bank details. Copy deadline for the autumn Once again our thanks, Christine Cowls newsletter is September 3, 2018 JHS 8 THE JOHN HARRIS SOCIETY CONTACTS This newsletter is published three times per year, by the John Harris Society, free to members. All articles for inclusion to: Press and publicity officer Stephen Crossman 8 Rose-an-Grouse Canonstown, TR27 6JN. Phone: 01736 753912 Email: John Harris 1820 -1884

NEWSLETTER [email protected] BY TONY LANGFORD John Harris was born in 1820 at About Six Chimneys on Bolenowe Carn, Subscription fee - £6 per year near Camborne, the eldest of 11 (and other cheques) to: children. the Hon treasurer Largely self-educated - he started Christine Cowls school when he was six or seven ‘Trematon’ years old, before finishing at the poet 20 Westborne Road age of nine - John had an insatiable Camborne, TR14 7JD appetite for reading from his early and when no paper was available, years. Phone: would scratch his poems on slate, On his ninth birthday he started using a sharp pointed nail. 01209 713863 work, briefly as a ploughboy, then In his mining days his miner’s Or by: for a tin-streamer, or - tinner oper- ‘hard’ hat was sometimes used for PayPal to: ating in Forest Moor. this purpose. When no ink was

SUBSCRIPTIONS [email protected] When he was 13, John went to available, he used blackberry juice. work underground at Dolcoath. He fitted his writing into a busy He was to ply this arduous occupa- life that, apart from his work and tion for 24 years, seeing the famous his family responsibilitiies, includ- mine pass from copper to tin. ed being a Methodist lay preacher WEBSITE Poetry, or verse-making as he and a Sunday School teacher. www.johnharrissociety.org.uk called it, had been part of John’s John Harris left Dolcoath in 1857 life since his first attempts at to take up an appointment as a FACEBOOK rhyme at school when he was just Scripture Reader at Falmouth, a

ONLINE www.facebook.com/johnharrissociety eight years old. post which he threw himself into Whatever he was doing, verses with enthusiasm. were forming in his mind and he He continued writing poetry, and scribbled these down whenever began writing peace tracts and President: Peter Bickford-Smith and wherever and on whatever became a Quaker. he could. He used the clean side John Harris died in 1884 and lies Chairman: Paul Langford of cast off labelled tea wrappers, buried in Treslothan Churchyard. 01209 213146 [email protected] Grateful thanks go to all those who have contributed news articles in the Secretary: Tony Langford past and more articles from you, our readers, will be most welcome for 01209 215918 possible inclusion in future editions - anything connected with Cornwall,

OFFICERS [email protected] John Harris, poetry, including other poets and Cornish life. JHS