Chilsworthy is just upstream from Gunnislake
Unknown formation date.
1860: Chilsworthy and Latchley Brass Band played at a ceremony known as “hunting the stag”, which consists of carrying the effigy of a man known to have violated the sanctity of a neighbour’s household. John Bodenner (a member of the band) and Richard Piper had a bare-knuckle fight over some girls, egged on by a crowd of over 200 people. Sadly, Bodenner was knocked to the ground and fatally injured after nearly two hours of battle. (9 November 1860 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)
1860: “… carrying out the effigy of a man who has been known to violate the sanctity of a neighbour’s household. The Chilsworthy Brass Band [assumed to be the Cornish village] was present, the man Bodenner being one of the players. The public-house, the Rising Sun, at Latchley, was filled with visitors …” (9 November 1860 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)
1863: “The members of the Chilsworthy and Latchley Brass Band respectfully beg to inform the public generally, that they are now open to treat with all parties for further engagements and having selected suitable music for all occasions, arranged by some of the best men of the day, (the same, being under the management of J C Purtox, Esq, Plymouth), they hope as hitherto to give satisfaction to their employers. Applications to be made to Mr W Stenlake, Chilsworthy, Gunnislake, Calstock.”(Cornish Times 1863 / JB)
1907: A photograph of the 1907 Chilsworthy and Latchley Brass Band (unfortunately not available here) shows a balanced band of 15 players. (John Brush)
Unknown closure date.
Compiled by Tony Mansell (Bardh Kernow)
This collection is a part of the Cornish National Music Archive (CNMA) project to Collect, Preserve and Share our Cornish Heritage and Culture.
It is based on location as each may have had more than one band.
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