Long before the Cornish Times offices moved into Webb’s House on the Parade, the King of Saxony was a guest in what was then Webb’s Hotel, the finest establishment in S.E. Cornwall. This was in 1846. A less salubrious tale from the period features the same building: two years earlier, 20 year old Selina Collins was deported for seven years for prostitution. She had ‘accosted’ Sam Hender from St. Cleer outside Webb’s tap-room, and stolen his watch.
‘A Peek into Liskeard’s Past’ is a long overdue look at life in our ancient Cornish market town, first recorded in 1,000 AD, and which experienced a copper-mining boom in the second half of the 19th century.
The author is Brian Oldham, a volunteer at the Museum, current President of Liskeard Old Cornwall Society and a regular speaker, and walk leader with many local groups and societies. Heavily involved in Heritage Open Days and the preservation of ancient monuments as an Area Representative for Liskeard Archaeological Society, Brian has been interviewed on a variety of local topics on BBC’s Spotlight and Radio Cornwall. In his short time in Liskeard - a mere eleven years - Brian has developed a particular interest in the social side of the town’s history, particularly its changing fortunes of the 19th century.
Brian’s approach when compiling the “peeks into the past” has been to take a small snippet of information and develop it further using modern research methods. The “snippets” are various: the cemetery headstone which tells us that the cause of death was “by the falling of a block of granite while he superintended the erection of the Town Hall”, or the newspaper report concerning the respectable Liberal agent for ‘Tommy’ Robartes of Lanhydrock, who spent seven days in Bodmin Jail for non-payment of the Education Rate.
Many fine Victorian homes, lived in by very well-off pillars of society, still exist in Liskeard, but life wasn’t wonderful for one and all. So as well as the occasional Mayor and Attorney, Brian has written about the pauper in the workhouse, the children working in the mines and living in squalor, the many shopkeepers and the many more servants.
The book comes highly recommended by those who’ve already had a “peek”: among them is mayor Simon Cassidy.
“The book is well-researched, funny in parts and sad in others, but ultimately brings Liskeard alive and tells the story of its inhabitants and their daily lives,” said Cllr Cassidy.
“Brian makes history personal and brings to life those all to often forgotten in today’s history books.
“His research work in our museum has led to a huge font of knowledge….he is the go-to person on all things historical in Liskeard and the wider area. He is without a doubt our town’s unofficial Offical Historian.”
The author, designer and the indexer are all Liskeard residents, making a truly local publication which is sure to appeal to those who have even just a passing interest in social history. Currently available in The Book Shop on Barras Street and the Liskeard & District Museum in Pike Street, or online at www.thebookshopliskeard.com, the price is £9.99 with all proceeds going to support our local museum.
Brian will be at The Book Shop on Friday March 11 from 9.30am – 12 noon, with a reading from the book at 10.30am.