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Old Truro ‘Old Cornwall’ Banner newly discovered - 22nd February 2023

'Old Cornwall' movement banners make a colourful spectacle at many events throughout the Cornish heritage year. From their own festivals, The Prayer Book Rebellion Service, the Gorsedh Kernow Esedhvos and in just a few days’ time St Piran’s, Cornwall’s National Day parades held throughout Cornwall. Over the years older banners have been replaced and stored away and those from societies that have closed have been lost. It was terrific news to hear from Bert Biscoe about the discovery of one such old banner. 

This year marks the centenary of Truro Old Cornwall Society. We know precious little about what it got up to in its earliest days. Now, however, we have an artefact from those days.

The Old Cornwall movement started in the aftermath of WW1. There was much change in Cornwall – estates were being broken up; mining was declining, families were adjusting to profound loss and changed circumstances. People felt that much of what they associated with life in Cornwall would disappear. They set about ‘gathering the fragments lest they be lost’.

One such fragment has re-appeared thanks to someone who cared for former Old Cornwall Society President, Arthur Lyne. Current President, Bert Biscoe arrived home on Saturday 11th February to find a package secreted under his backyard bench. It turned out to be a folded canvas banner, oil-painted, featuring a chough and the words ‘Truro City Old Cornwall Society.’

A booklet, written by David Stark, published in 2007 by the Federation of Old Cornwall Societies, entitled ‘The Banners of the Old Cornwall Societies’, ‘ tells us of Truro’s banner:

"Unfortunately, no record exists relating to the history of its first banner.

A new banner was shown to members of the Society on 10th September, 1985 when it was recorded that the old banner had disintegrated with the passage of time. This new banner had made its debut at the Gorsedd, which had been held at Perran Round on the previous Saturday." The new banner was designed by art teacher, Christine Oates.

Arthur Lyne took the old banner home and pushed it behind his wardrobe, which is where it has recently been found.

Bert Biscoe said:

Many thanks to the person who left the banner in my back yard. Arthur Lyne had a very Cornish trait – he couldn’t bear to throw anything away, so here we are with what may well be the oldest surviving Old Cornwall Banner. It was a thrilling moment to unfold it. It clearly did not ‘disintegrate’, as we were told in 1985. I wonder if there’s anybody who recalls it being paraded. The Old Cornwall Society is delighted to have this link with its origins restored to it. It will be treasured and respected.’

The Banner was shared with the Society’s most recent meeting last Tuesday at St George’s Church Hall amid much excitement. There are elements in the design which must have influenced others, like the centrepiece Cornish Chough. The original strapline is different to that eventually adopted – reading ‘Nyns yw marow maghtern Arthur’ translated from the Kernewek spelling of that time as ‘King Arthur is not dead’.

I’m sure many people throughout Cornwall will know of the existence of older ‘Old Cornwall’ banners no longer in use. It would be wonderful for both the ‘Old Cornwall’ movement and for Cornish heritage if these could be identified and shared. Anyone knowing of such banners please contact Len Sheppard at associationcornishheritage@gmail.com who will pass on any such message.

Bert Biscoe & Len Sheppard

Truro Old Cornwall Society - First Banner
Colourful 'Old Cornwall' banners at St Just in 2019

Click images for larger view