St Ives Museum

CTC St Ives Locals 144x202.indd 1 CTC St Ives Locals 144x202.indd 1 14/06/2021 12:51 14/06/2021 12:51

St Ives Museum: A brief history of the building

by Andy Smith, Honorary Curator

Take a walk from Smeaton’s Pier to Porthgwidden, and your route will take you through Wheal Dream and past Bamaluz. Along the way, you will come across St Ives Museum. This wonderful collection of historical artefacts related to the town are housed in a building which itself is of significant historical interest.

The building, which overlooks the rear of Sea View Place and Bamaluz beach, has its origins in the fishing industry: in the 19th century, when it served as a pilchard pressing cellar, and part of this has now been recreated within the museum.

After falling into disuse for many years as the fishing industry declined, the building had by 1915 become the Island Laundry, complete with a boiler room which is now buried under the small Wheal Dream residents’ car park. This was the first of two relatively short-lived elements of its history: with the advent of silent pictures, it became a cinema for a brief period. life of St Ives. Operated for the first 25 years by the National Sailors Society, it was absorbed into the Worldwide British Sailors Society in 1940.

Affectionately known as “the Mission”, the building became a popular place for fishermen, other seafarers and St Ives townsfolk to meet, talk and enjoy social activities. Many will remember the table tennis, snooker and billiard tables from their younger days! Snacks were available, and on occasion the Mission hosted concerts, no doubt supported by Mr J T Barber with the Mission Minstrels.

In 1919, a letter in the St Ives Times of 4th April announced that the National Sailors Society had rented “the Spacious Accommodation above The Old Island Laundry in Wheal Dream”, with Mr William Lyon appointed as Port Missionary. The building went on to play an important part in the Two periods of weekly worship were decreed when the Mission opened in 1919 – 2.30pm on Sundays and 6.30pm on Wednesdays, and this was maintained until its closure in 1968. The building’s ground floor provided facilities for other purposes such as the Powell and Wells Pottery, which in turn gave way to Troika of St Ives in 1962.

In 1969, the building became the home of St Ives Museum, and has remained so for the last 52 years. Much of the building’s story cannot be told in this short article – but it is sufficient to say that it is held in deep affection by the people of St Ives.

Liz’s Quizzes

Liz is back with her St Ives Local quiz! Catch her live at the Castle Inn, St Ives, on Monday evenings; the Bird in Hand, Hayle, on Wednesday evenings; the Balnoon Inn, on Thursday evenings; and the Cutty Sark, Marazion, on Sunday evenings. For full details, and to book tables where necessary, follow St Ives Liz’s Quizzes on Facebook.

1. The name of which popular sauce, when translated, means ‘pound’? 2. Which British graffiti artist describes himself as a ‘quality vandal’? 3. Writing’s on the Wall was the theme song to which James Bond film? 4. According to the nursery rhyme, where was Simple Simon going when he met The Pieman? 5. What is the name of the concert hall on the River Thames which was opened in 1951? 6. In which country is Cancun airport? 7. In the Tales of Beatrix Potter, whose garden does Peter Rabbit stray into? 8. What was the Spice Girl name of David Beckham’s wife? 9. What type of creature is a Manx Shearwater? 10. The Ebor Handicap is a flat race held in which city? 11. How many raindrops are there on the Met Office symbol for light rain? 12. Sacremento is the capital of which American state? 13. Bird, clear, and smash are all terms in which indoor sport? 14. What could be a 14 in London, a 10 in New York, and a 42 in Paris? 15. Forever After is the fourth film in which series? 16. In the novel Jane Eyre, what is Mr Rochester’s first name? 17. When he emerged from the magic lamp, how many wishes did the Genie grant Aladdin? 18. Alex James and Dave Rowntree were members of which British band? 19. Babylonia is an historical region in which modern day country? 20. What name is given to the needle of a vinyl record player? 21. Anna Scott was the name of the character played by Julia Roberts in which film? 22. In which century did Art Nouveau become popular? 23. What is the main vitamin found in oranges? 24. Which animal appears in the name of the 2018 and 2019 Grand National winner? 25. What number is represented by the Roman numeral MM? 26. Who wrote the 1966 play A Song at Twilight? 27. In the Christian Church, Pentecost is celebrated seven Sundays after which day? 28. Which Greek letter shares its name with that of a river mouth? 29. What is the more common name given to somnambulism? 30. The name of which Greek god means a brief sleep when spelled backwards?

Answers on page 46