A HERITAGE plaques database has been launched by Cornwall Heritage Trust to preserve the history of the local area.
Many plaques are already listed on the site but the Trust hopes the public can help ‘fill in the gaps’ with photographs and information about their local plaques.
Cornwall has a rich and unique history and over the years achievements and events have been commemorated by erecting plaques to ensure that their memory and legacy lives on – these plaques can be found all over Cornwall.
Over the last few years Cornwall Heritage Trust has been encouraging its supporters to send in details of the heritage plaques that they spot around the Duchy in order to create a central record.
Cathy Woolcock, CEO of Cornwall Heritage Trust, said: “We now have a database of nearly 80 plaques so we thought it was time to share our collection in the hope that people may identify some omissions or be able to help us out with photos of the plaques we have identified but don’t have images for.
“The database is accessible on our website and is fully searchable; it covers a wide range of subjects and topics and can be searched by people, buildings, objects or sites.” Since launching the database there has been great interest from the public and the Trust has received several more submissions from people exploring their local area.
Cathy added: “We would emphasise that we are not encouraging anyone to break the current rules regarding travel. However, we have received emails from people who have taken photographs during their lunch break or daily exercise, which is fantastic. We believe it is so important that these plaques are documented so that everyone can enjoy them and appreciate the heritage that they represent.”
Local plaques already found and listed include:
l Ann Glanville (1796-1880) the champion rower lived in Saltash from 1845 to 1880.
l Outside 48 Culver Road, Saltash, a plaque reads ‘Here lived Mary Newman afterward wife of Sir Francis Drake and Mayoress of Plymouth. Died 1582,’
l A D-Day Plaque in Fowey was presented by the officers and men of the US Navy attached to the US Naval Advanced Amphibious Base at Fowey during 1943-1944. Named on the plaque is Cmdr I W Snell DSNR Base Commander.
l Warren Cottage, The Warren, Polperro. Birthplace of Jonathan Couch 1789.
l Dorothy Penrose Foster MM, RRC, TFNS, (1875-1953) lived in Trevills Park, Lodge Hill, Liskeard, which was built by her father, Lewis C Foster. Liskeard & District Museum, originally erected at Trevills Park, also hold six medals presented to Dorothy for her work nursing behind the front lines in WWI.
l At Liskeard Station there is a plaque to Joseph Thomas M.Inst. CE (1838-1901) who designed the connection of the Looe and Caradon Railway with the GWR at Liskeard via a junction at Coombe, which opened on May 15, 1901.
l St Ive, near Liskeard, is home to the birth place of Emily Hobhouse (1860-1926) who is famous for revealing the terrible conditions in British concentration camps in South Africa.
l Digory Isbell’s Cottage, Wesley Way, Altarnun carries a plaque to mark where Methodist preacher John Wesley preached and rested.
l Newport Roundhouse in Launceston was built in 1829 and referred to as the Temple Of The Winds but was better known as the Newport Town Hall. It was built to cover the broken shaft of The Newport Cross as remains today.