A shepherd’s lantern that once belonged to Reverend Hawker has been shortlisted for the Cornwall Heritage Award’s Object of the Year. The award’s theme this year is celebrating Cornwall’s creativity. Hawker is undoubtably one of most creative Cornishmen of all time, having written many stories and poems, as well as the great Cornish anthem of Trelawney. The winner is decided by a public vote, which is open until the 10th February, you can vote on multiple devices by clicking on the link below. The result will be announced at an awards ceremony in March.

https://letstalk.cornwall.gov.uk/embeds/projects/21587/survey-tools/42467

Every Fortnight, we will be introducing you to an important artifact that is in our collection, here at The Castle Heritage Centre.

We’d love your thoughts, can you guess what it is, how it was used? We’ll follow it up with the answer as we explore another, let’s see how many of you got it!

➡️ The last of 2024’s artefact is a Knitting Stick (also know as a Knitting Sheath).

Here’s a bit of history;

• Knitting Sheaths are small carved wooden sticks that first appeared in the early 17th century. Up until the 19th century, knitting at home was a necessity rather than the past-time it has become today. It also offered a way for both men and women to generate income in the home, as we as provide warm clothing for the family.
• Knitting Sticks (or sheaths) would be fitted into the hole at one end of the sheath, which would then be tucked into a pocket or a belt on the right side of the knitter’s waist. This had a two-fold benefit: most importantly, it gave the knitter greater control of the yarn and its tension, as the hand would be independent of the needle; secondly it freed up the right hand between stitches to aid in multi-tasking around the home without the need to sit or put your knitting down.
• Not only were knitting sheaths incredibly practical tools, they became decorative and much-loved items, which often carried special meaning for the owner. Many men would carve their own, or carve one as a love token, including initials, quotes and personalised decoration.
• This Knitting Stick is more than one hundred years old and comes from Morwenstow.

Did you guess correctly? Well done, we had some brilliant answers, some correct, some close and some, well, just a bit random, but it made us giggle!

Look out for the next one in January 2025 and see if you can guess what it is?

Did you know we hold an inspirational collection of documents and artifacts that play an important role in Bude, Stratton and the surrounding parishes rich heritage. You can also visit us seven days a week as we are open from 10am every day (including bank holidays).

Every Fortnight, we will be introducing you to an important artifact that is in our collection, here at The Castle Heritage Centre.

We’d love your thoughts, can you guess what it is, how it was used? We’ll follow it up with the answer as we explore another, let’s see how many of you got it!

➡️ This week’s artifact is a pair of Victorian Sugar Nips.

Here’s a bit of history;

• For as long as tea has existed in the Western world, it has been sweetened with sugar. So much so, in fact, that by the end of the 17th century, British imports of sugar were estimates at around 70,000 tonnes.
• Covered sugar bowls and boxes were standard tea set equipment by the early 1700s, often sold along with teapots and tea caddies. The rules of etiquette dictated that tongs were also required to transfer lumps of sugar from the sugar bowl to the teacup.
• Sugar tongs were initially based on fire tongs, having slender arms and curved ends. Early sugar nips/tongs of the late 17th century were even formed after miniature fire andirons. In order to make them spring suitably for their purpose, their ends were heated and hammered many times to give them sufficient tension. These early forms of sugar tongs had small, flat oval bowls; these were soon replaced with dished bowls, more practical for the job of gripping and moving the sugar lumps Between 1720 and 1730, the tongs were formed to resemble little pairs of scissors. By 1770, however, the scissor design had faded out, and bow-shaped tongs formed from one piece of metal featuring springs were the fashion.

Did you guess correctly? Well done, we had some brilliant answers, some correct, some close and some, well, just a bit random, but it made us giggle!

Look out for the next one and see if you can guess what this one is?

Did you know we hold an inspirational collection of documents and artifacts that play an important role in Bude, Stratton and the surrounding parishes rich heritage. You can also visit us seven days a week as we are open from 10am every day (including bank holidays).

Every Fortnight, we will be introducing you to an important artifact that is in our collection, here at The Castle Heritage Centre.

We’d love your thoughts, can you guess what it is, how it was used? We’ll follow it up with the answer as we explore another, let’s see how many of you got it!

➡️ This week’s artifact is a medieval pomander. This hollowed, ball-shaped container was filled with a mixture of herbs, spices, flowers, or ambergris, carried or worn to combat bad smells and protect against disease. Here’s a bit of history:

Origin
The word “pomander” comes from the French pomme d’ambre, which translates to “apple of amber”. The wealthy would wear a carved circle of ambergris around their necks.
Construction
Pomanders were often made of wood, silver, or gold, and were decorated with filigree work, enamel, niello designs, pearls, or precious stones. They were usually perforated in a variety of openwork techniques.
Fragrance
The spices in the pomander would produce a sweet scent that could be inhaled when the pomander was raised close to the nose.
Wearing
Pomanders were worn around the neck or suspended from a girdle.
Evolution
Pomanders eventually evolved into perfume, sachets, and various forms of aromatherapy, as well as Christmas decorations.

Did you guess correctly? Well done, we had some brilliant answers, some correct, some close and some, well, just a bit random, but it made us giggle!

Look out for the next one and see if you can guess what this one is?

Did you know we hold an inspirational collection of documents and artifacts that play an important role in Bude, Stratton and the surrounding parishes rich heritage. You can also visit us seven days a week as we are open from 10am every day (including bank holidays).

Every Fortnight, we will be introducing you to an important artifact that is in our collection, here at The Castle Heritage Centre.

We’d love your thoughts, can you guess what it is, how it was used? We’ll follow it up with the answer as we explore another, let’s see how many of you got it!

➡️ This week’s artifact is a headlight blackout cover, used during the second world war. Here’s a bit of history:

A World War II blackout headlight cover was a device used to mask the lights of a car during a “brownout” when streetlights were dimmed to deter air raids. Blackout headlight covers could be made from a variety of materials, including metal, canvas, and artificial leather. They were typically circular and back-mounted, with a black finish and a hooded front cover that concealed a strip of glass. During WWII a night-time blackout was instituted, policed by ARP wardens. Virtually all street lights were switched off, while those left burning were dimmed and shielded to deflect their light downward. Traffic lights and vehicle headlights were fitted with slotted covers to deflect their beam down to the floor.

Did you guess correctly? Well done, we had some brilliant answers, some correct, some close and some, well, just a bit random, but it made us giggle!

Look out for the next one and see if you can guess what this one is?

Did you know we hold an inspirational collection of documents and artifacts that play an important role in Bude, Stratton and the surrounding parishes rich heritage. You can also visit us seven days a week as we are open from 10am every day (including bank holidays).

⭐ ‘FREE Castle Heritage Tour’ with Janine King ⭐ 11am – 12pm ⭐

Join Heritage Curator Janine King, for a guided tour of The Castle at our Heritage Festival. Built in 1830 by Sir Goldsworthy Gurney as one of his many experiments, today it houses a unique collection of artefacts. Discover more about Bude’s fascinating and diverse history, as well as the history of The Castle itself and its past residents.

ℹ️ Tours will last approximately 1 hour and commence at 11am. Please meet at the main entrance to The Castle approximately 15 minutes before we depart. The tour is accessible for wheelchair users with limited Disabled Parking next to the entrance at the top of the driveway.

➡ To book your FREE space, book online use the link. You can also call 01288 357302 to book a place.

Tuesday 10th December – https://wegottickets.com/event/632456

ℹ️ Tours will last approximately 1 hour and commence at 11am. Please meet at the main entrance to The Castle approximately 15 minutes before we depart. The tour is accessible for wheelchair users with limited Disabled Parking next to the entrance at the top of the driveway.