Ponsanooth is a village about four miles southeast of Redruth and two and a half miles northwest of Penryn on the A393 Redruth to Falmouth road

 

Unknown formation date.

1861: Ponsanooth Brass Band active. (John Brush)

1862: Mr Eddy, the well-known advocator of the temperance cause. Also in the procession was the Ponsanooth Band, a large number of adults, the Band of Hope children, with a profusion of flags, and the fife and drum band. (4 July 1862 – West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser)

1874: Twelve year-old Edwin James Paddy joined Ponsanooth Band and played bass. He later toured as a string bass player (“bass fiddle”) with the D’Oyley Carte Opera Company and played a brass bass in the Royal Italian Brass Band. (Edwin James Paddy was my Gt grandfather – Tony Mansell)

Before 1875: Ponsanooth Brass Band folded. (John Brush)

October 1877: Ponsanooth Brass Band formed. (John Brush)

1877 to early 1880s: John H Bishop, Ponsanooth Brass Band MD. (John Brush)

1878: The officers and children assembled at the chapel when a procession was formed headed by the Ponsanooth Brass Band. (26 July 1878 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)

1878: Ponsanooth Brass Band. Some years ago this village was favoured with an excellent brass band but through removals by emigration and death it was obliged to succumb. Its loss was much felt in the district and about. (23 August 1878 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)

1879: Donkey races afforded considerable amusement to the large crowd of spectators. During the day the Ponsanooth Private Brass Band, under the conductorship of Mr W Davey, Perran-ar-worthal, played. (3 July 1879 – Cornishman)

1880: Riders run the risk of them being in a state of intoxication. During the day the Ponsanooth Brass Band, under the conductorship of Mr Joseph Martin, discoursed some very pleasant music. (8 July 1880 – Cornishman)

1882: Ponsanooth Brass Band gave three highly appreciated selections. (9 December 1882 – The Cornish Telegraph)

1884: The United Methodists procession numbering about 150, was headed by the Rev. Mr Jones and Mr H P Vivian. The Ponsanooth Band had been engaged but did not turn up. (5 June 1884 – The Cornish Telegraph)

1884: This school engaged the services of the Ponsanooth Band, who failed to put in an appearance in time for the demonstration, consequently there was unpleasantness amongst the officials. (6 June 1884 – Cornubian and Redruth Times)

1885: Their arrival was witnessed by a large concourse of people, many of whom came from a distance and the Ponsanooth Brass Band, which was in attendance, played appropriate airs. (25 September 1885 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)

1886: Ponsanooth Band contesting. (Contest archive)

1887: In full regalia, headed by the brass band from Ponsanooth. Trinity pilots with beautiful banners, preceded by the Falmouth Temperance Band; Lifeboat crew (coxswain, E. Hall), in their cork jackets and belts ; the officials of the town and members of public … (24 June 1887 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)

1887: The Jubilee. Ponsanooth Brass Band, Foresters and Shepherds Temperance Band, lifeboat’s crew, officials and the members of public bodies, the mayor, town clerk, rector of the parish, … (30 June 1887 – Cornishman)

1887: Wesleyan Sunday scholars had tea in a field near the chapel, having previously formed into procession, and walked to Lanner. Ponsanooth Band was in attendance. (29 July 1887 – Cornubian and Redruth Times)

1887: The party proceeded towards Penryn, headed by the Ponsanooth Brass Band. (5 August 1887 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)

1888: Ponsanooth Brass Band formed with 14 players and instruments bought through public subscription. (John Brush)

1888-1892: J H Bishop Ponsanooth Brass Band MD. (John Brush)

1888: Ponsanooth. The Brass Band [presumably Ponsanooth] was in attendance. (13 January 1888 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)

1888: Band of Hope tea on Whit-Monday. The friends met at 1.30, and formed a procession headed by the Ponsanooth Brass Band and walked to Chacewater and back to a field kindly leant by Mr. Wm. Hall, where they were served with tea and cake. (24 May 1888 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)

1889: Ponsanooth Band secretaries were Henry G Halse and William J Trebilcock and the Treasurer was Charles W Boot. (John Brush)

1889: On midsummer-day the children held their annual treat. They formed in procession, headed by the Ponsanooth Brass Band. (11 July 1889 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)

1889: Devoran Regatta. The Ponsanooth Brass Band played a selection of music on board the committee boat during the races, and there was a large number of spectators. (15 August 1889 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)

1890: An Entertainment was given in the Lecture-hall of the Perranwell Institute on Saturday evening. The Ponsanooth Brass Band gave several selections. (27 February 1890 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)

1890: They met in the schoolroom at 1.30, and, forming themselves into a procession, headed by the Ponsanooth Brass Band. (26 June 1890 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)

1890: Stithians Agricultural Society’s Show. Ponsanooth Band, which has recently shown signs of considerable improvement, and which now plays most creditably for a village band. (17 July 1890 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)

1890: The children paraded the town, headed by the Ponsanooth Brass Band, and carrying their new banner and many gay flags. (14 August 1890 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)

1890: Devoran Regatta. Ponsanooth Brass Band was in attendance on the committee-boat and during the afternoon supplied a variety of stirring melodies! (4 September 1890 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)

1890: Ponsanooth Brass Band performed gratuitously for the evening. (4 December 1890 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)

1891: At the Stag Hunt Hotel, Mr. William C. Wickett presented an ingenious music stand to the Ponsanooth Brass Band. (12 November 1891 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)

1892: New Wesleyan School for Ponsanooth. A procession formed in front of the chapel, consisting of scholars and friends, headed by the Ponsanooth Brass Band, under Bandmaster J. H. Bishop, and marched to the site. (3 November 1892 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)

1892-1896: J George Hallett, Ponsanooth Brass Band MD. (John Brush)

1893: Headed by the Wesleyan Ministers of the surrounding circuits, followed by the Ponsanooth Brass Band conducted by Mr E Hallett. (18 May 1893 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)

1893: The Wesleyan Sunday School met at 1.30, formed a procession headed by the Ponsanooth Brass Band under the conductorship of Mr. Hallett. (6 July 1893 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)

1893: The cutter Victoria, lent by Mr J Chard, Falmouth, was utilised as the committee boat and during the day the Ponsanooth Band, under Mr J Hallett, delighted the public with its excellent playing. (24 August 1893 – RCG)

1893: Annual treat met in the schoolroom, formed a procession headed by Ponsanooth Brass Band, and marched to Mellingey. (10 August 1893 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)

1893: Ponsanooth Brass Band was engaged. (24 August 1893 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)

1893: New Sunday School at Ponsanooth. Officers, teacher and scholars of the school formed into procession outside the chapel, and, headed by Ponsanooth Brass Band, under Bandmaster Hallett, proceeded to the new building, where a short service was conducted by the Rev. W. H. Thompson. (31 August 1893 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)

1894: Concert at Ponsanooth. Ponsanooth Brass Band was in attendance, and opened the programme with a selection. (15 February 1894 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)

1894: In Kimberley Park, Falmouth, on Sunday afternoon, Ponsanooth Band, under the conductorship of Mr G H Hallett, played sacred music before a large gathering. (17 May 1894 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)

1894: Lanner Wesleyan tea treat.. Pool and Ponsanooth Bands were engaged. (27 July 1894 – Cornubian and Redruth Times)

1894: Perran-Ar-Worthal Horticultural Show. Sweet music was discoursed by the excellent Ponsanooth Brass Band. (23 August 1894 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)

26th December 1894: Ponsanooth Brass Band folded. (John Brush)

Ponsanooth Brass Band resumed playing. Members were: T Odgers (farmer), William Martin (farmer, George Timmins (innkeeper), Edwin George, James Trevena and William Henry Trevena. (John Brush)

1895: A VILLAGE BAND IN COURT. MORE DISCORD THAN HARMONY. His Honour Judge Granger had a curious case to deal with in Falmouth County Court yesterday. Messrs. T. Odgers (farmer), William Martin (farmer), and George Timmins (innkeeper), sought to recover from Edwin George a baritone instrument value £5 10s., from James Trevena (mason), a euphonium value £6 6s., and from William Henry Trevena a bombardon value £9. Mr. W. J. Terrill for the plaintiffs and Mr. R. Dobell (Truro) for defendants— His Honour went fully into the arguments placed before him as to whether or not there was consideration for the note, and after examining both the parties to the action, stated he would send his written judgment to the Registrar. (14 December 1895 – Western Morning News)

1895: Ponsanooth’s Brass Band, to prevent further anxiety and litigation, are asked to invest the instruments and other property in the hands of trustees, who will act for the public.” (19 December 1895 – Cornishman)

1900: The scholars assembled the chapel, and headed by the Ponsanooth Brass Band, with their banner and flags, marched to St Day returning to field near the chapel. (5 July 1900 – West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser)

1900s: Ponsanooth Band active. (BBHD)

1912: Possessing musical ability of no mean order, he was a member the defunct Ponsanooth Band, and was in request as a cornet player. (18 January 1912 – West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser)

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.

Our thanks go to all of the organisations and individuals, whether named or not, who have provided information and photographs for this archive.

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