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HeritageCentre February 2013

The new computer hub suite

in the Rowse Room at Stuart House is about to open its doors to local researchers interested in their own or local history. The word ‘researcher’ can bring to mind pictures of mad boffins or sinister figures lumbering about in Nuclear Biological Chemical warfare suits, but for the truth, glance in the nearest mirror!

This facility will be complementing the excellent traditional research facilities next door in the Library, and in addition store and make accessible back issues of the Stuart House Newsletter, plus videos of the Liskeard Heritage Trail and other local heritage files. It will also complement the digital facilities being worked up by the Caradon Hill Area Heritage Project and the Curator of Liskeard and District Museum. It has the potential to be used as an archive for the huge collection of artwork, videos etc. which has arisen from the plethora of Adult Education courses, run both in Liskeard and around the Caradon Hill Project area, that have been facilitated by CHAHP with outstanding support from the Liskerrett Centre.

The hub will also be used by the 15 local groups working closely with CHAHP, many of which have been set up with assistance from the ‘Project. The software supplied by the CHAHP will also allow the Hub to be used by photographers, film and music makers, in out of hours training sessions. A most important feature of the technology is that it will enable people who are not able to ascend the stairs in Stuart House to examine digital files and exhibitions housed on the upper floors by pre-booking a computer that can be brought to the ground floor.

This scheme exemplifies the work we are endeavouring to do in the town and with the partnerships we have built up in the Caradon area, and we are most grateful, for financial support, to Heritage Lottery Fund, DEFRA, Cornwall County, local Town and Parish Councils, and many local organisations.

Iain Rowe

Barras Street, Liskeard, Cornwall PL14 6AB tel: 01579 347347 info@stuarthouse.org.uk www.stuarthouse.org.uk Registered Charity No. 294384

They’re here !After nearly five years of planning and hoping we have at last our computer archive storage and research facility.Thank you Iain Rowe and Caradon Hill Area Heritage Project.

John Batey

What others say -

The Cornish Times has very kindly devoted a half page article to the new computer suite activities under the heading:

Opening window on our heritage

LISKEARD will soon have a brand newresearch centre for those wanting to dis-cover more about their local and family history.Based at Stuart Housein Barras Street, the research hub will be free to use and will give users access to local maps, , parish records, census material and web-sites relevant to researchers, together with the possibility of printing copies of pages at a small cost. Digital copies of the first editions of the Cornish Times from 1857-1900 _

much sought after by mining, social and family historians _ will also be available. The project has been developed by the Caradon Hill Area Heritage Project (CHAHP) and the Stuart House Trustwith funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and DEFRA _ and it is a fantastic boost for Liskeard and surrounding areasay project manager for CHAHP Iain Rowe and StuartHouse member Dr Tony Piper, who were on site this week ahead of the official opening of the suite on Fri-day, February 1. ‘The Caradon Hill Area Heritage Pro-ject aims to involve local residents in all aspects of their history and landscape, and celebrate local distinctiveness,’ said Iain. ‘The ability to find out about the physi-cal and social past of the area is crucially important to those seeking to under

stand how the area we live and work in evolved. Iain continued: ‘Resources and archives in Cornwall have been very much concentrated in the west of the county. It’s important that we maintain some of these resources here in South East Cornwall _ especially those that are relevant to this part of the county. ‘Our aim is to build up a digital archive as we go along, so that research done by local groups or individuals can be loaded onto the system.

Courses

Iain hopes to be able to run courses from the centre, as well as open up the suite to school groups and people who may be interested in using the movie making and music software available on its four state of the art computers. ‘This is the fulfilment of a long-stand ing ambition to widen the appreciation of Liskeard’s history out from Stuart House to the community,’ said member Dr Tony Piper. ‘The CHAHP relies on partner groups who have similar inter-ests and aims all working together.’ Anyone interested in using the new re-search suite should contact the Stuart House Trust by calling 01579 347347 or by e-mailing info@stuarthouse.org.uk

‘FRACTURE’ an exhibition of paintings by JACK CARBERRY - TODDAn intriguing, three day exhibition by this young Artist warmed up the Max Lock Gallery with promise of exciting New things to come this year.

The Artist’s statement read thus: ‘My current work is based on fractures of the landscape.I have represented natural fractures such as cracks in banks as well as manmade fractures; looking at the social,economical and architectural effects of wind turbines on the landscape.

...My observations of this Exhibition were made prior to reading this statement!

An interesting control of large canvases and a fresh, loose style, adequately describes the subject matter. Adding a suggestion of atmosphere enhances the thought provoking images of man’s mark on the landscape.

Currently taking a degree in Fine Art at Falmouth, with this collection of work, Jack has achieved what he set out to do in his Artist’s statement.Congratulations Jack, we enjoyed your Exhibition.and you expressed a wish to return to Stuart House with more of your work at a future date....We look forward to that!

Linda Maynard.

Official OpeningJanuary 31st

Karenza Moore of the Cornish Times with a copy of the first edition of 3rd January 1957.

Hilary Bracegirdle representing the Heritage Lottery Fund, Iain Rowe, and Counsellor Derris Watson who chairs the Caradon Hill Area Heritage Project.They held this pose for several minutes although everybody else was in the Gallery below with the cream tea.

They need not have worried, Duncan was on best behaviour and the large number of guests representing various interested groups were awaiting the intriguing prospect of the welcoming speeches being broadcast by Radio Cornwall, having been recorded the day before. Hilary, however, had brought a special message to inform the gathering of the importance that the HLF places on investing in East Cornwall specifically.

Subsequent discussion was intense but friendly, though many were keen to test the computers and examine the digitised Cornish Times records.

Stuart House Garden

There is little going on in the garden just now although some bulbs are poking through. It has survived the heavy rain well so far and the frosts have only been about what we would expect. We have done some alterations, and will work on a few more, but it is worth recording that the team of volunteers, the Down to Earth group from U3A, are putting in an average of 20 hours a month throughout the year to make the garden as presentable as it is. Paths, edgings, hedge trimming and of course the inevitable weeding are interlaced with taking out the old and planting new.

The one big improvement we would like to make sometime is to replace all the tables and chairs with new ones of a common pattern. This would make it all look a lot smarter and more attractive to our visitors.

Tony Wood

More on Computers

There is a worrying tendency, or maybe it’s just my paranoia, for computers to appear to be our masters, and we their slaves. We must keep them in their place! To do this we need only two things:

first -a project that we wish to pursue, for our interest and pleasure, and with which a computer can assist us. Stuart House can help if you have not yet found one.

second -the ability to keep it in its place by being confident in its use. If you have not yet gained this skill and confidence there are free courses available in Liskeard to help you. One of these is very close at hand, in the Public Library next door to Stuart House.Details are advertised on the lLibrary door.Another free course is soon to start, but a

few yards away in St Martin’s Church Centre. This is the ‘SMart Internet Cafe’, open to everybody. The first course, lasting six weeks on Friday mornings, will be delivered by the national Charity, ‘Citizens Online’. Further details, and enrolment, may be obtained from the Church Office, 01579 347411, or Sheri Sturgess 01579 346411. Sheri can also be contacted by e-mail (if you have a helper!) at sheri.sturgess@gmail.com.

After these courses you will be able to thank your helper and send them on their way. You will have access to a resource which in former times was open only to Learned Societies or the super-rich, with their vast libraries of books, either in your home or the new facility in Stuart House.

Events Diary February 2013

The House and Garden are open 09.30 a.m. - 3.30 p.m., The Old KItchen Café 10.00 a.m till 2.00 p.m., each weekday,

and until 12.30 p.m. and 12.00 noon respectively on Saturdays.

The House is open these same times for all events unless otherwise stated above.The Office is open every weekday until 2.00 p.m.

Subject to change depending on the availability of volunteers (could you help?)

Monday 4th - Saturday 16th

Table Top sale by Terri Alcock, open 09.30am - 3.30pm

Thursday 4th and every Thursday

“Knit n’ Knatter”, 10.30am – 12.30pm

Monday 11th Poetry Group meeting, 4.30pm - 6.30pmSaturday 23rd - Sunday 24th

Workshop for Liskeard’s Fabulous Promenade Show featuring Liskeard’s finest entertainers 10.00am - 6.00pm; see below.

Advance NoticeSaturday 2nd March Roll Up for Liskeard’s Fabulous Promenade Show featuring Liskeard’s finest entertainers! This fun, interactive show is aimed at the under 12’s and their families. The drama begins inside Stuart House, then the audience follows the actors, singers, musicians, dancers and rappers along Fore Street, before ending back at Stuart House for a grand finale in the garden where warming refreshments can be purchased. Wear warm, waterproof clothing as much of the play will take place outside.

11.00am and 2.00pm. Tickets (limited to 30 per show) available from 1st February from Stuart House on 01579 347347 (cash only, must be collected in advance). Tickets £1 (adult) 50p (children).For more info’ email mail@playitagain.org.uk or call Claire Patrick on 01579 349882

We have an Open Art/Craft Exhibition coming up in March and are looking for entries. Below are details of the event and entry forms can be obtained from the office. As this is the first of our Open Events of the year it would be great to have as many entries as possible:- “Once Upon A Myth”

Open Art & Craft Exhibition.25th March – 6th April 2013.

Stuart House, Liskeard.Ever wanted to show your fantasy artwork, pottery, jewellery, glasswork, etc.?Here’s your chance! The work has to be inspired by a myth or legend from anywhere in the world, let your imagination run wild!You can submit up to three items, these items can be sold with 25% commission on sales to Stuart House. Items need to be delivered to Stuart House by 18th March, along with an entry form which can be obtained from Stuart House in Liskeard and Tiger Treats of Looe, 3 The Quay, East Looe.

Sponsored by Tiger Treats of Looe

Our Partner Group Events

Painting workshop - Painting mixed mediaFriday 08 February 2013, 10:00 - 16:00

by tammyBeginners and improvers are welcome on these painting workshops with Jennie Boniface, taking inspiration from the Caradon Hill Area, exploring atmosphere, weather and seasonal change using a range of different

painting techniques to express texture, light and colour.This week techniques use a variety of water-based media to create a textured collaged painting.

Cost per session £5.00, subsidised by Caradon Hill Area Heritage Project.

Location : Liskerrett Community Centre, LiskeardContact : Jennie Boniface on jennieboniface@hotmail.com or admin@liskerrett.co.uk

Liskeard Promenade is an Arts Council fundedcommunity theatre performance which takes place on March 2nd and March 16th 2013 in Liskeard.After 3 months of devising and script development, we are now looking for 4 male performers, aged 35 and over to perform in this vibrant, promenade production aimed at under 12s and their families. The commitments are as follows:Rehearsals at your convenience fromFebruary 3rd to 22ndDress Rehearsal February 24th (daytime)Performances:March 2nd - 11am and 2pm; March 16th - 11am Interested?For more information contact Claire Patrick (actor/manager at Play It Again) on 01579 349882