• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Hayle Heritage Centre

Visit Us For Free!
Closed until further notice
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • About Us
    • What we do
    • Volunteering
    • Events
    • Talks and Tours
    • Our Blog
    • History of the Trust
    • Churks, Clidgy & Doodle-Dashers Third Edition – Now for sale online!
  • Industrial Heritage
    • Engineering
    • Shipping
    • World Heritage Status
  • Collections
    • Introduction
    • Collection Highlights
    • Oral History Collection
    • Pre-history
    • Exhibitions
      • Previous exhibitions
      • Online exhibitions
    • Hayle Community Archive
    • Conservation
  • Educational Resources
    • Maps & Trails
  • Visit Us
    • Getting here
    • Facilities and access
    • Shop
You are here: Home / Collection Highlights / Francis Cargeeg’s Mayoral Chain

Francis Cargeeg’s Mayoral Chain

  May 16, 2017  

Francis Cargeeg was born in Hayle in 1893. His Father was employed at Harvey’s Foundry as an Engine Driver. Instead of following in his father’s footsteps, Cargeeg served his apprenticeship with Holman's of Camborne who had become world leaders in the production of drilling equipment used in the mining industry.

Collection Highlight - Mayoral Chain

He finished his apprenticeship in 1914 and signed up with the Edward Hain Shipping Company of St. Ives, serving as a 4th Engineer on the ss Trevalgan.

He then worked in H.M. Dockyard, Devonport, in engineering maintenance until the early 1930s when he moved back to Hayle with his wife Winnie to pursue his dream of being a full time coppersmith. However, with the onset of World War II, Cargeeg found himself working for Associated Octel who were in the business of extracting bromine from seawater, which was then used to improve the efficiency of advanced aero engines. After the war he went to work for J & F Pool of Hayle, an engineering firm who produced perforated sheet metal.

In the late 1940s Cargeeg was at last able to work full time as a Coppersmith. He and Winnie had moved in with his sister Holly at her cottage ‘Trevean’ on Mellanear Road. From a small workshop he used traditional tools and methods, not dissimilar to those used by his Celtic ancestors, to produce a wide range of decorative items. He was commissioned to produce Regalia for Hayle Town Council and the Cornish Gorsedh.

He was a member of the Gorsedh himself, promoting the language, history and culture of the Cornish.

Much of his work was sold at the former Grigg’s Forge Pottery in Lelant, although his output was limited; many items took more than a year to produce and he desired to create a “small range of styles and sizes in order that I can master my art”. All of his work reflects his deep love of Cornwall, its mythology and its symbolism.

  

Primary Sidebar

Our Contact Details

Hayle Heritage Centre
Harvey’s Foundry Trust
John Harvey House,
24 Foundry Square
Hayle, Cornwall,
TR27 4HH

Tel: 01736 757683
Email: enquiries@hayleheritagecentre.org.uk

Opening Times

In light of government advice regarding the Coronavirus, we will be closed until further notice.

Check our Facebook and Twitter pages, or give us a call in advance of visiting.

Footer

Contact Us

Hayle Heritage Centre
Harvey’s Foundry Trust
John Harvey House,
24 Foundry Square
Hayle, Cornwall
TR27 4HH

Tel: 01736 757683
Email: enquiries@hayleheritagecentre.org.uk

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

OUR LOCATION

Content © Hayle Heritage Centre
Hayle Heritage Centre is owned by Harvey’s Foundry Trust. The Trust is a UK Registered Charity no. 1112920
Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy

Supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund

Website Sitemap | Admin
Website designed & developed by Fibonacci Designs

 Menu

  • About Us
    • What we do
    • Volunteering
    • Events
    • Talks and Tours
    • Our Blog
    • History of the Trust
    • Churks, Clidgy & Doodle-Dashers Third Edition – Now for sale online!
  • Industrial Heritage
    • Engineering
    • Shipping
    • World Heritage Status
  • Collections
    • Introduction
    • Collection Highlights
    • Oral History Collection
    • Pre-history
    • Exhibitions
      • Previous exhibitions
      • Online exhibitions
    • Hayle Community Archive
    • Conservation
  • Educational Resources
    • Maps & Trails
  • Visit Us
    • Getting here
    • Facilities and access
    • Shop