On a rare dry morning yesterday, our Curator, Daisy, and artist Elizabeth Loveday, set out to explore the sights and stories of Hayle.
We have received funding from Little Parc Owles for a collaborative project with Elizabeth, in which she will be creating a large-scale textile banner for our new museum entrance, for permanent display once we relaunch in 2027.
Elizabeth returned to Hayle yesterday to further develop ideas for the banner’s imagery; her characters and motifs will embody the stories of the town’s people, landscape (and landmarks), traditions and industry.
Elizabeth and Daisy ventured from Foundry to Copperhouse by way of East Quay, looking out to Hayle Bar where they imagined that triumphant day in 1891 when the SS Ramleh, the largest ship built by Harvey’s – as well as the largest built in Cornwall – was launched. She was almost 294 feet long, with a 40-foot beam and a gross registered tonnage of nearly 4000. The Cornishman reported that, upon her christening, a bottle of wine decorated with flowers was dashed upon her stern. The report told how “with the Union Jack and her own flag flying from the deck, the Ramleh slid almost noiselessly down the greased groves and with scarcely a tremor dipped into the water, and ploughed onwards smoothly and gracefully, amid the cheers from onlookers and the music of the Hayle Volunteer Band. Many persons remarked that they had never seen a vessel launched so evenly on her keel, nor take to the water with such ease and rapidity; and a few minutes later success to the vessel and her owners (Messrs William Wheatley and Co.) was being drunk in champagne and lemonade by numerous well-wishers.”
Daisy and Elizabeth continued along King George V Memorial Walk (the route of the old Hayle Railway), admiring the local flora, and then headed uphill to Phillack Church and St Piala’s Holy Well. Piala was one of a group of Celtic Christian saints believed to have travelled from Ireland to Cornwall (landing at Hayle) in the early medieval period to minister the Cornish. The group was led by Fingar (or Gwinear), Piala’s brother. Tragically, Piala and some of her fellow missionaries were martyred, slain by the tyrant King Teudar. Piala’s story will feature in Elizabeth’s banner.
At Phillack Church, Elizabeth and Daisy observed the 5th Century Chi-Rho stone which, found in the 1800s and rebuilt into the south porch gable, evidences very early Christianity in the area (another was found in St Helen’s Oratory at Cape Cornwall), possibly rejecting theories which claim Christianity didn’t exist in Cornwall before the arrival of the saints.
These are just a few of the many captivating stories that will be captured in fabric for visitors to enjoy and explore once the final banner is on show.
We will be sharing more images from Elizabeth’s studio as the banner takes shape – watch this space!
Elizabeth will be making the banner entirely from recycled fabrics. If you have any fabric which you would like to donate (especially if it has a Hayle connection), please get in touch by emailing daisy@harveysfoundrytrust.org.uk
