Zachary Woods, currently studying an undergraduate degree in History at Exeter University, has conducted research and written an article on the posters on display in our link corridor.

Welcome to the museum’s collection of posters. As part of my Undergraduate History Degree at Exeter University, I undertook a placement with the Museum of Cornish Life and chose to research and discover more about the poster collection. These posters span just under 50 years, from 1947 to 1994. They show different aspects of Cornish life such as leisure, religion, sport, and general notices. They have distinct points that they are attempting to get across: advertising events within Helston and wider Cornwall, spreading awareness of certain issues and providing general information for the public.

Posters have always been a popular form of advertisement due how they catch your eye. Over the years, posters have become more unique and interesting. New colours, fonts and sizes brought to life a new way to advertise events and reel viewers in. As you read through this article you will see how these posters have changed and developed over time.

This poster advertises a Harvest Festival Service that was being held on Friday, the 7^th of October 1947. The service was being conducted by Rev. A. D. Moon, who was blind,[1] the Vicar of Helston. The service in the Rodney Inn was the first service of its kind to be held in Helston. There was an opportunity to give gifts, and all the donated gifts and money were given to the Blind Institution. The Rodney Inn was named after George Brydges Rodney, who has been claimed to be the most celebrated naval hero of the mid-1700s.[2] It has been used as one of Helston’s leading venues for events like the Harvest service and many others that celebrated other areas of Cornish life.

This poster advertises the Harvest Festival Services at the Methodist Church on Church Street in Helston. The Harvest Festival was created by Reverend Robert Hawker in 1843 for the parishioners in Morewestow in north Cornwall. It is uncertain why Hawker introduced the harvest festival, but many people think it was to bring together his community. It is something that has remained within the Christian practices of the Church of England ever since.[3] The services took place on Sunday 9^th September at 11am and 6pm and were conducted by Rev. J. Rodney Bickle, who was originally from Plymouth and entered ministry in 1947. In between the morning and evening service, there was Sunday school for the children. A few days later Tuesday 11^th September there was a public meeting with Rev. J. Rodney Bickle and Rev. S. K. Lamming. B.A. speaking. When comparing this poster to the previous Harvest Festival Service ones you can see the difference in detail, colour and font which could be due to more events happening within the Harvest Festival such as multiple services and speakers. The first poster seems to be far more concise and straightforward, with only the necessary information. The posters being ten years apart shows the potential changes in use of colour, font and spacing on the page.

This poster advertised Anniversary Services being held at Helston Methodist Church on Church Street. There were two services on Sunday 21^st October 1956 at 11am and 6pm, both being conducted by Rev. E. Harold Chappel who was the Reverend of Penzance. It makes reference to different posters for other events that the Methodist Church was putting on within that week.

This poster advertises the Gooseberry Fair, Children’s Sports that the Helston branch of the British Legion put on Monday 15^th July 1963 at the football field at Clodgey Lane in Helston. The Gooseberry Fair originally marked the gooseberry harvest. However, in its modern revival, it had become far less about the gooseberries but about the celebrations and festivities. Apart from the name of the fair,[4] nothing that happens within the celebrations is linked to gooseberries. They had a parade with many historical English figures, such as Henry VIII, his wives, and Elizabeth I. It brought local and regional history to Cornish people and tourists, as most people do not know about the history within Helston and wider Cornwall. There were many different events and sports for children such as relay races, egg and spoon races and slow bicycle races.

This poster advertises a wrestling contest in the Dolphin Hall in Helston on Friday 26^th November 1965 with the main event of The Blue Angel Vs Seamus O’Malley. This wrestling match would have been one of the biggest wrestling events in Helston, Seamus O’Malley was a famous wrestler from Ireland going against the mysterious Blue Angel who was well known for never showing his face wearing a mask. Dolphin Hall has always been a popular venue to host and watch wrestling. The first ever wrestling contest was held in the Godolphin Hall, which is now known as Godolphin Club, in 1934.[5] Wrestling was a very popular sport within Helston and Cornwall as it brought crowds to all its events and matches. Many people were arguing for wrestling events to be at Helston’s Harvest Fair. However, in 1934, when this was brought to Helston Town Council meeting, it was turned down as they believed that it was too violent for a Harvest Fair.[6]

This poster advertises the world-famous Sir Robert Fossett’s Mammoth Jungle Circus visit to Helston in Fairfield, Porthleven Road, in the 1960s. In 1927, the circus was called Edward Fossett and sons. However, after Edward’s death in 1952, the name changed to the Fossett’s circus.[7] In the 1960s, the show became Fossett Bros Circus, which is still the name of the company today. The circus travelled around Britain and Europe and in 1978 was named “Britain’s greatest name in circus entertainment” by the Reading Evening Post.[8] The poster is jam-packed with all the acts within the show and additional information such as capacity, costs, and car parking.

This poster advertises the Helston Flora Day on Saturday 7^th May 1994. Flora Day is an annual festival that is often held on 8^th May. It celebrates the end of winter and the arrival of spring and summer. Helston is decorated with greenery and floral arrangements to show the time of summer has begun. It’s a festival that has been celebrated for over 100 years, and it is believed to have first been celebrated in 1790 but there is no definite beginning date.[9] The festival begins with an early morning dance that begins with the strike of a bass drum at 7 in the morning. Hal an Tow is a colourful parade that tells the history of Helston with characters, dancing and singing. The poster explains the plan of the day, detailing where and when the events are happening.

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[1]https://www.patrickcarroll.co.uk/helstonia-the-rodney-inn-meneage-street-helston/

[2]https://www.patrickcarroll.co.uk/helstonia-the-rodney-inn-meneage-street-helston/

[3] https://museumofcornishlife.co.uk/2024/01/18/cornish-customs-of-the-corn/

[4] Cornishman – Thursday 24 July 1947

[5] Cornish Post and Mining News – Saturday 17 November 1934

[6] Cornishman – Thursday 13 September 1934

[7]https://www.fossettscircus.com/our-story/

[8] Reading Evening Post – Wednesday 27 September 1978

[9] https://cornishstory.com/2022/05/07/helston-flora-day-the-basics/