Talskiddy
1903: “… The chapel anniversary services at Talskiddy last week were largely attended. The Foxhole Brass Band headed the procession of Sunday-school children and teachers through St. Columb, and a public tea was afterwards held, …” (18 June 1903 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)
1906: “Upwards of 250 partook of tea at the Talskiddy Anniversary on Wednesday week. Queens Brass Band attended and rendered selections throughout the afternoon. …” (7 June 1906 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)
1908: Talskiddy Tea Treat “My great uncle is one of the young boys kneeling in the front row and my grandfather is one of the young men in the back row”. (Photo: courtesy Phil Ellery)
Talskiddy Tea Treat 1908
Threeburrows
The 1812 Wesleyan Chapel later used by the Primitives (Photo: courtesy Tony Mansell)
1907: “…Threeburrows Primitive Methodist Sunday school annual treat celebrated on Saturday. Headed by the Treviscoe Brass Band, the teachers and scholars perambulate the district, and returned to a field…” (11 July 1907 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)
1909: Threeburrows Primitive Tea Treat
1914: Threeburrows Band of Hope Tea Treat with Indian Queens Band
Tolskithy
Tolskithy United Methodist Sunday School Tea Treat (Photo: courtesy Paddy Bradley)
Tolverth
1945: “… Saturday, the scholars of Tolverth Chapel, Long Rock, had their annual … After parading the village, with the Penzance Silver Band, the children went to a field, lent by Mr. B. Stevens, where they were refreshed with tea and buns …” (26 July 1945 – Cornishman)
Torpoint
1911: All Aboard at Torpoint
Townshend
1904: Townshend Wesleyans: “… the festival on Saturday and although the weather was not all that could be desired, a large number attended. Headed by Falmouth and Camborne Bands they went to Leedstown, where they formed a circle and then back Dr Vivian’s lawn, Townshend, where they had tea …” (7 July 1904 – Cornishman)
1947: “Townshend Methodist Sunday school treat on Saturday began with Camborne Silver Band heading the march through the village, followed by a short service at the school. On the sports field children had tea and buns and a public tea …” (10 July 1947 – Cornishman)
Tregajorran
1906: “Tregajorran. The tea treat was held Saturday. The teachers and scholars assembled at the school and forming a procession headed by Camborne Town Band, perambulated the neighbourhood, afterwards adjourning to a field kindly lent by Mr. Chas. Rule for tea. …” (21 July 1906 – Cornubian and Redruth Times)
1908: “Tregajorran. … Wesley Sunday school was held on Saturday. Notwithstanding the inclement weather the school …, headed by Camborne Town Band. Tea was served indoors, and, in the evening, the weather clearing, an enjoyable time was spent.” (16 July 1908 – Cornubian and Redruth Times)
Tregaseal
1925: Tregaseal Wesleyan: “… The valley was gay with flags and banners flying, in charge of officers and teachers, was a fine sight. Marching to the strains of the St Just Silver Band, the gay procession streamed through the valley, Nancherrow Hill and so on through the principal streets of the town …” (1 July 1925 – Cornishman)
1945: Tregaseal Sunday School: “Summer Festival on Saturday… procession which came up from the valley and paraded the town was headed by the Pendeen Silver Band. Returning to the school the children were supplied with tea and buns…” (5 July 1945 – Cornishman)
Tregona
Mrs Cynthia Tonkin on Anniversary Teas at Tregona Chapel 31-12-1985, aged c. 83:
The choir practised for weeks: ‘Hear the Pennies Dropping’ etc. All set off from the Chapel and went out through Carnewas to Bedruthan, Queens Silver Band leading. Mrs Higman, Mrs Old, and their sister Mrs xxx provided most, as people of substance. Possibly provided more than their husbands realised, because when Mr Old’s back was turned his wife was known to throw in ‘another pound of butter’. Mrs Higman made the dough cake and saffron buns, and it was said that the people would get her into a temper so that she would slap the dough around better.
As a little girl, and she attended the Chapel over 80 years, Mrs Tonkin and her family would walk across the footpath from Treburrick, ‘a lovely walk it was, and we always walked right by the hedge, wouldn’t dare tread on the corn. We always hoped there was no cows in the field at the top, then they would take the harmonium out on a wagon in the field and we would all stand outside. The field belonged to Mr Hellyer from Tolcarne [or William Hellyer from Tregona Farm]. The nearest cottage was occupied by Will Tabb, the hind, and the lower one by Miss [or Mrs] Jane Bilkey, her daughter Mrs Higgins, and her son, who sadly suffered from fits and used to be covered in dust and mud from falling down in the road.
Saffron cake for Anniversary Day was mixed in a great wooden kieve.
Apropos of drinking tea, an old neighbour, who died at 91 when Mrs Tonkin was 10, used to say ‘’Ere cheel, ave a cup of tay, and drink en standing up so it’ll warm you right down to your toes.’
(Richard Garry)
Tregrehan Mills near St Austell
Tregrehan Mills Primitive Methodist chapel Anniversary tea in either 1906 or 1907 and the postcard image is the creation of the undoubted master of the Cornish Methodist social history photograph, S Dalby Smith of St Blazey. The table is adorned with some of the chapel’s china and participants crowd around to be included in the picture. Just check out the best clothes.
With this particular card we are quite lucky in that there is quite a lot of information written on the back. We learn that this Anniversary event always took place on the Thursday after the first Sunday in July each year. The lady standing on the far right is Mary Symons (the table server) while going to her left we have Jimmy Stephens, Hilda Hobba, Will Hobba, Bertha Pellymounter and Bessie Penhall (wonderful Cornish names). In the middle of the picture somewhere is Lewis Penhall, while on the left side are a Bert White and a George Martin. The past owner of the card had the foresight to record all these details. (David Thomas)
Treleigh
1887: Treleigh Wesleyan Sunday School: “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)
Trenwheal
1910: Trenwheal Wesleyan Sunday School: “… On the following day, under sunny skies, the annual gala was held. Headed by Deveral Brass Band (conducted by Mr T Pascoe) the officials, teachers and scholars perambulated the vicinity, returning to a field in the heart of the beautiful valley where tea was provided.” (21 July 1910 – Cornubian and Redruth Times)
Treruffe Hill
1920: Treruffe Hill Tea Treat with Illogan Band under Rev. H Oxland (Photo: courtesy Paddy Bradley, Redruth)
Tresillian
1870: Tresillian Sunday School: “… The teachers and scholars assembled at the Wesleyan Chapel, where a procession was formed, headed by the Sticker Brass Band. After perambulating the village, they proceeded to a field kindly lent by Mr R White, …” (4 August 1870 – West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser)
1905: Tresillian. “… After tea, sports were indulged in. The Foxhole Brass Band was in attendance and played various selections during the evening. The weather was fine …” (29 June 1905 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)
Treswithian
“The picture is a Treswithian Wesleyan Sunday School tea treat group, posing for the camera outside the Cornish Choughs Inn in the village in around 1905. It is truly amazing to think that such a comparatively small settlement in the Edwardian period could generate such a large Sunday School group.” (David Thomas)
Trethosa Moor
Rechabites assembling for a parade (possibly a tea treat) at Trethosa Moor, less than a mile from St Stephens in 1909 (Photo: courtesy Alan Blake)
Tretoil
The tiny Tretoil Bible Christian Chapel (Photo: courtesy Frances Gibbs)
Tretoil Bible Christian Sabbath School celebrated its anniversary In June 1879 and the following day it held its annual tea fete. The “Royal Cornwall Gazette” reported: “the tables were presided over by Miss Grace Morris and Miss Emma Hick assisted by Miss Mary J Woolcock and Miss Charlotte A Hendy. The Tretoil Fife and Drum Band were in attendance, and greatly enlivened the proceedings. It is believed that this band, under the efficient conduct of Mr Alfred Hendy, will soon be second to none in the county.” Garry Tregidga added that in the 1950s, just before the chapel closed, social functions were held in the field across the road.
Trevellas Downs
1909: Trevellas Downs Wesleyan Tea Treat heading back up through Trevellas towards the chapel. St Agnes Band is leading the procession and it is clearly a hot day as the bass player on the right has undone his tunic jacket. Next to him is the unmistakable Charlie Chegwyn who played in the band for over 50 years. (Photo: courtesy Clive Benney)
1914: Trevellas Downs Wesleyan Tea Treat with Summercourt Band (Photo: courtesy Clive Benney)
1914: The girls with their buns at Trevellas Downs Wesleyan Tea Treat (Photo: courtesy Clive Benney)
Trevellas and Crosscoombe
Trevellas and Crosscoombe Methodist Chapel (Photo: courtesy Clive Benney)
The “West Briton” in the 1960s reported that the Trevellas and Crosscoombe Methodists held their old-fashioned tea treat when the children were given large saffron buns and soft drinks. “The fete was opened by Mrs W Gilmore who was on holiday with her husband from South Africa and staying with her parents at Trevellas. She was a member of the former Crosscoombe Chapel and was welcomed by the Revd P D Williams and thanked by Mrs T S Jennings. The fete had stalls and sideshows and radio music was provided by Mr Harry Thomas, a trustee.”
Horace Drew, nicknamed “Cor Blimey,” a greengrocer from Perranporth, used a horse and cart for his door-to-door deliveries and for local tea treats and fetes where he would sell his produce. In this, he had a rival in Johnny Letcher from Trevellas, and it seems, there was considerable competition that often got out of hand and on one occasion, fists were raised. (1)
Treverbyn
1905: Treverbyn Tea Treat with Bugle Band (Photo: courtesy David Jane)
1905: Treverbyn Tea Treat with Bugle Band (Photo: courtesy David Jane)
Treviscoe
Trewalder
1864: Trewalder Sunday School: “… headed by the Delabole Brass Band after which the children were regaled with tea and cake in the open air, and about 150 friends took tea. …” (1 April 1864 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)
Trewennack
1869: “The children connected with the Trewennack Free Church Sunday School, received their annual tea last Tuesday, in a field contiguous to the chapel. The Porkellis Brass Band was in attendance. In the evening, a meeting was held, when several addresses were delivered.” (24 July 1869 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)
1887: “Trewennack United Methodist Free Church Sunday-school tea was held Thursday, Gweek Rifle Band being in attendance. Mr Jenkin kindly lent a field near the chapel for the open-air festivities.” (28 July 1887 – Cornishman)
Troon
St Johns Chapel, Troon (Photo: courtesy David Thomas)
1881: “Two teas were held at Troon on Friday—Wesley and Free Church. Large crowds were attracted from almost every quarter. ‘Betsy,’ from Camborne, said ‘twas a regler feer’.” (30 June 1881 Cornishman)
A Troon Tea Treat (Photo: courtesy David Thomas)
From the book “Faith and Fire” by David Oates we have an evocative image painted by Rosie Mitchell who takes us back to 1906 for a description of her village’s big day. “One very important day in Troon was Midsummer Day. What a joy that day was. Everyone hoped for fine weather, for there were no weather forecasts then. The week before June 24th, the scholars would go to their respective Sunday schools for a ticket which would enable the children to have a bun on the day of the tea treat, big as a dinner plate, full of currants and full of goodness. The Eve of Midsummer there would be great preparations in the home. The girls would have their hair plaited or curled. This ‘hair do’ was kept in position until the last possible moment.
During the morning, the people with their stalls would arrive and how lovely they looked at night, when they were lit, not with gas or electricity, but with Naphtha flares. The things one could buy at the stalls: fairings, which consisted of sugared almonds and gingerbreads kept in big round glass jars. Fruit was plentiful and so cheap compared with the prices today. Strawberries were 9d or 1/- a basket, cherries 6d a pound, bananas seven for 6d. I well remember Mr and Mrs Bray who always had a stall on Midsummer Day. Then there was the limpet and cockle stall with the tiny plates, pepper and vinegar, and pins which enabled the customer to pick up the limpet or cockle from the little plates.
Each chapel would have its own band and over a long period of time Camborne Town Band has come to Troon for Midsummer day. The bands would head the Sunday school and the scholars would walk to Newton Road, Fore Street, Pendarves Street, Treslothan Road, Laity Road, New Street, New Road and then back to the Square where the circle would be made, with the bands in the centre. Everyone always enjoyed the music and watching the children. In those days there were no wagons for the younger children, everybody walked.
During the evening, the bands would play in the tea treat field. The young teenagers played Kissing Ring, Dugging Ring and Jolly Miller, while the older teenagers with a ‘shiner’ would stroll off towards Treslothan, or ‘The Reens’ in the lovely summer twilight. There would be sports for the younger children with a skipping rope, egg and spoon race and the money won would be well spent. The summer fairs paid a visit on Midsummer Day. That, as an attraction, with the side shows, goldfish in glass bowls won by playing hoop-la and of course, the din which was, and is, a part of any fairground. When it was time for the bands to finish, they would unite and play a hymn. This usually took place outside the Grenville Arms. Midsummer night would end on a joyous note, especially for the friends and relations who had ‘come home’ for Midsummer Day.”
In his book, “Faith and Fire!” David Oates portrays a picture of Troon’s special day. “The power that the church, of whatever persuasion, exerted in the village was extensive, and is most forcibly shown in a newspaper report in June 1905 of the Midsummer festivities, on the Feast of St John, the most important feast of the miners’ year. This was the day of Troon tea treat, still held in affection by many today.” The report says: “The annual tea treats of the Wesleyan and United Methodist Free Church took place on Monday in beautiful weather in the presence of hundreds of persons. Altogether about 700 officials, teachers and scholars perambulated the principal streets of the village, headed by bands of music. The Wesleyan procession was headed by the greatly improved band of H Co. 1st VB DCLI (Hayle) and the UMFC by Camborne Town Band. Public teas were held in the schools’ respective fields. About nine o’clock the massed bands played in the Square, which was greatly appreciated. Midsummer has always been the day of the year in Troon. Probably a pagan festival, linked to the longest day, it was doubtless hijacked by the church, and moved a little to fit the Feast of St John, known in early days, when Cornish was widely spoken, as ‘Gol Jowan’. It was the holiday of the miners, which probably accounts for its strength in Troon. It was relegated in later years to the Saturday nearest the Feast of St John but in its heyday it was held on the 24th of June, even if it was a week day with the school closing and everyone having a day off.”
1905: “The Mission Sunday-school, Troon held their annual tea treat on Wednesday last at Carbis Bay. Camborne Rifle Band was engaged for the occasion. The band and school, with the Rev. Marriott, marched in procession through the village …” (5 August 1905 – Cornubian and Redruth Times)
Troon Tea Treat (Photo: courtesy David Oates)
David Thomas introduces a series of photographs from his collection. “Tea treats: This great annual celebration traditionally took place on the 24th June each year, the festival in the church calendar known as the Nativity of St John the Baptist, which was also the meridian point of the calendar year, Midsummer’s Day. The tea treat celebrations in Troon stand out by the fact that they took place on that particular day, rather than on the more traditional date used for Cornish chapel and church tea treats, and indeed throughout the UK, which was Whit Monday, the day following Whit Sunday, the Church’s birthday, when the Holy Spirit came upon the Apostles. In other parts of Britain these processional occasions were known as ‘Whit Walks’.
Careful study of the Troon images of tea treat parades over several years from various angles has revealed that there seems to have been a degree of consistency in the ritual protocol that manifested itself on such occasions. The basic order of the great procession was usually as follows: The Sunday School Superintendent, with assistants, the band hired for the occasion, the older female scholars, the junior female scholars, the older male scholars, the junior male scholars. The last four groups were usually preceded by their sectional class teachers. There was a definite way in which things were done, certainly in the Edwardian period.”
The front leading portion of the Wesleyan procession in June 1910 in New Road. We have the Superintendents followed by the band and behind them come the older women with their very long dresses. In the far distance the darker suits of the boys. The band appear to be having a breather. (Photo: W J Caddy of Redruth, courtesy David Thomas)
This picture is undated but judging by the women’s hats is from around 1912-1914. The photographer, from an elevated position has captured part of the female section of the procession turning into Laity Road from Pendarves Street, though I am not sure whether this is the Wesleyan or Free Methodist procession. Spectators line the pavements in Pendarves Street while once again the boys dutifully follow on behind. (Photo: courtesy David Thomas)
“I could not resist enlarging a part of the previos picture. Here we have the shop front captured for posterity while three young ladies in the procession turn to get their faces recorded by the camera. We have a wonderful selection of onlookers, including a very portly gentleman and (second from right in the rear) a newspaper delivery boy, with the papers tucked under his left arm.” (Photo: courtesy David Thomas)
“The next three are views of the tea treat processions of the chapels, again undated and probably from just before 1914. The photographer has positioned himself on a hedge on the eastern side of the southern end of Newton Road and quite close to the Wesleyan chapel. The row of cottages at a right angle to Newton Road identifies the location precisely.” (David Thomas)
“This photograph shows the four classes of the junior boys, each with two teachers preceding them. Some of the lads look quite young so this could be the primary section of the chapel’s Sunday School.” (David Thomas)
“The younger girls’ section of the parade being closely followed by the older boys, heading into the village from Newton Road but it is the detail in the background of the photo that makes it quite special. Look carefully and you will see the members of the band facing the other way, northwards towards Camborne, though they do not seem to be playing their instruments. So, what is going on here? We know that the two Wesleyan and Free Methodist chapels in Troon paraded on the same day and would inevitably have passed each other at some point, so what is shown might very well be the head of the other rival chapel’s parade just forming up to perambulate the village. Newton Road is a long straight road and makes a good marshalling point. It is also worth saying, from what I have been told, that the banter offered by the two rival chapel processions, as they passed, was not always of a very complimentary nature!” (David Thomas)
“An altogether different group of younger girls followed by older boys at the same location, so this would suggest that this image is of the other village chapel parading. The two ladies on the left side appear to have very flamboyant hats. If only we knew which chapel was which and had the full sequence of postcards to follow the whole story through. What is clear however is that the photographer remained in position to capture all the day’s events as they happened.” (David Thomas)
“In this 1921 photo we have a wonderful scene of a female group on one of the wagons specially decorated for the occasion. Can you spot the imperial Japanese flag at the top left of the photo, probably saved up from the First World War, as Japan was a UK ally in that conflict? Note the small boy at front right with his flat cap and watch chain.” (David Thomas)
“The final picture in this group, probably from 1921, shows journey’s end. The parade has taken place, the band has played, and the tea treat buns have been distributed in the tea treat field to be enjoyed by this group of younger girls. I am just wondering who the gentleman in the frock coat and top hat is very smart indeed. We must commend those early postcard photographers for recording so much of this very special day for us and helping us to understand it all.” (David Thomas)
1916: Troon Sunday School Tea Treat with Camborne Band (Photo: courtesy Paul Phillips)
1916: Troon Tea Treat (Photo: courtesy David Oates)
1921: Troon Tea Treat (Photo: courtesy Terry Knight)
Troon Tea Treat (Photo: courtesy David Oates)
In a Facebook response, Mary Gwennap wrote about her mother’s memories of the tea treat at Troon in 1927. “My Mum, Eudore Dunstan, remembers Troon tea treats from Centenary Chapel: it was the highlight of their year as kids. They would follow the band and enjoy the superb saffron buns and treats at the end. My grandpa was a gold miner in South Africa and sent home beautiful silks every year and my Gran made Mum dresses especially for the tea treats, they were that important and special.”
“The main activity of the whole year, even surpassing traditional festivals such as Christmas, was the Midsummer festival or tea treat always held on Midsummer day, the Feast of St John. All work stopped and the chapels would parade around the village, in association with the congregation from the parish church. The parade would take a traditional route, each chapel with its own band leading them. Camborne Band, however, was always the leading band and one of the joys of the year for my grandfather, who was one of the cornet players, to ‘come home fer tea treat’. My grandmother would say he was never at home, either at work, at the British Legion (as a WW1 veteran) or at the band room. As they reared eight children he must have spent some time in a domestic setting!
The ancient roots of this festival, linked to the summer solstice, show customs and cultures overlaying each other – right back to our far pagan past.
Several large travelling fairs would visit Troon for the week in which tea treat took place and on the day itself the streets and fields would be packed with stalls and activities. To assess its popularity it was said that in the early 1900s some seven hundred children would parade – mothers, children and miners dressed in their summer finery – all bought for tea treat.
However, despite all female finery of tea treat, Troon was very much a male preserve for much of its life as an active mining community. Sport would have been almost exclusively for the men of the community and there was a thriving Liberal Club and a Men’s Institute. In later years it was a stronghold of the Labour Party with ‘street wardens’ appointed to keep the faithful on target! Some of those wardens were known to this writer – stalwarts of the chapel and deserving of the description ‘Christian Socialists’.
Troon is still a community with very distinctive traits but when the mine died, so did much of its vigour and vitality. Those with any ‘get up and go’, ‘got up and went’ – to the four corners of the earth and until relatively recently it was common to see folk in broad brimmed hats, from Africa, Australia or North America ‘come ‘ome fer tea treat’. My ancestors, on both sides of my family, came from this mining stock and this is a matter of great pride to me – brought home in great measure when visiting a Cornish community in the USA and asking folk who had never left the USA where they came from. Frequently back came the answer – Troon, Camborne or any other number of the small communities that dot Cornwall rather than their present abode.” (David Oates in his article “Troon” for Cornish Story)
1940s: Troon Tea Treat (Photo: courtesy David Oates
The following group of photographs were taken by K J Knight during 1955 to 1960. We are indebted to his son, Terry Knight, for allowing them to be included in this project.
Truro
1831: “On Thursday an immense number of children of both sexes, belonging to the Sunday-schools of the Methodist and Dissenting connexions, having been collected under their Ministers and Teachers; walked In procession through the streets of Truro, some of them carrying banners, and a very pleasing sight it was. The children were all decently dressed and were marched into a field prepared for their reception behind the Western Inn, where they were regaled with tea and cake. At the close of the repast a hymn was sung, and a suitable address delivered by the. Rev. Mr. Martyn, Wesleyan minister. The children were then dismissed. A great number of persons were present, but the utmost decorum prevailed.” (Royal Cornwall Gazette – Saturday 17 September 1831)
1876: Truro Band of Hope: “…the Band of Hope held their annual festival on Thursday afternoon, when they formed a procession, and, headed by the Truro Brass Band, went through the town to Comprigney, where they had tea and cake in a field kindly lent by Mr Gill…” (Royal Cornwall Gazette 22nd July 1876)
Truro Methodist New Connexion
1914
Truro Wesleyan
Truro Wesleyan at Trefusis July 1908 (Photo: courtesy Valerie Jenkin)
Tywardreath
Tywardreath Church Sunday School Tea Treat Procession in Well Street (Photo: courtesy Mac Waters)
Ventonleague
1911: “… in doughtful weather the teachers and scholars of the Ventonleague Band of Hope held their annual festival on Saturday. Headed by the Town Band, under Bandmaster Trebilcock they marched from the school to Commercial Road, Copperhouse, back to Poumaro Park…” (24 August 1911 – The Cornish Telegraph)
1939: “Ventonleague Methodist Sunday-school held their tea-treat in a field lent by Mr. G. Ingrain, on Saturday. Gweek Silver Band was in attendance.” (29 June 1939 – Cornishman)
Veryan
1912: “Veryan Band of Hope took place on Monday. The members and their friends met at the Vicarage, and headed by Stenalees Temperance Band, marched around the parish and thence to the Veryan School, where tea was provided for the juvenile members.” (30 May 1912 – West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser)
Wall near Hayle
1914-18: Not only did the children of Wall Sunday school enjoy their tea treat buns but, according to Cedric Appleby in “Wall Methodist Church”, they also sent these delicious treats to ex-scholars serving in the forces.
Wendron
1870: Wendron – Crelly Wesleyan Sunday School: “… The teachers and children met in the chapel at two p.m., where they formed a procession with flags and banners, headed by Porkellis Brass Band, and marched through Bodilly, perambulated the grounds of Mr. B. Johns, Churchtown, and then went through Trenear and Higher Crelly…” (30 June 1870 – West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser)
1885: “Wendron Wesleyan Band-of-hope members … enjoyed a capital tea. Porkellis Brass Band under the able leadership of Mr Penaluna, supplied enlivening music and two fruit and confectionery stalls were ministered…” (13 August 1885 – Cornishman)
Wesley Rock
“The annual treat in connection with Wesley Rock Sunday School was held in brilliant weather on Friday. After an early dinner, scholars, parents and friends, assembled outside the church, awaiting the arrival of the buses and great was the joy of the youngsters when a ‘double-decker’ made its appearance amongst the conveyances. A move was soon made for Prah Sands, that combination of sand and green sward a delight to old and young. The afternoon was spent according to taste. Of course, bathing was popular, and even some of the more timid ventured in to paddle. The weather was warm. Is it ever anything else when kiddies want to bathe? About four o’clock the children were called together for tea. No second invitation was necessary. An ample supply of good things was available, and each had sufficient, even if some specialised on the ‘fancies’. Another romp while the grown-ups were having a refreshing cup of tea with a lot of good nature badinage thrown in. The next move was to the green above the beach, and here several sports were carried out. Prizes were numerous. Jumping, running, tug of war, a veritable Olympic Games in miniature, and how the kiddies vied with each other. Nor were the adults forgotten. A tug-of-war, ladies versus gents, ended disastrously for the sterner sex. About eight o’clock, tired but happy, the return journey was commenced. Ringing cheers announced the arrival at Heamoor, children happy, and teachers happy that another treat had been brought to a successful conclusion.” (The Cornishman and Cornish Telegraph 18th August 1932)
Val Thomas’ memory of Wesley Rock Sunday School treat circa 1960 is a visit to Carbis Bay by coach. She said, “There was no band but we did have tea treat buns”.
Wheal Busy
Wheal Busy Sunday School Tea Treat
Wheal Buller
Four Lanes Band was on hand for the 1872 Wheal Buller Wesleyan School annual tea. The procession made its way through Carnkie and Four-lanes and then to a field near the chapel. (Royal Cornwall Gazette 10th August 1872)
Wheal Frances
1889: “Wheal Frances. The Annual tea treat in connection with the chapel was held on Thursday, when the Bolingey Brass Band was in attendance, and everything was well carried out.” (30 May 1889 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)
Wheal Rose
Margery Matthews née Keskeys recalled that Wheal Rose Bible Christian or Bryanite Sunday School tea treat processions were led by a brass band (often Camborne Town) down to Williams’ Creamery (almost to Scorrier) and then to the field adjacent to the chapel. Occasionally, chapel events were held in the garden of Rose House Farm. (2)
Wheal Rose Bible Christian Tea Treat c. 1912 (Photo: Govier courtesy Clive Benney)
Zelah
1906: Zelah (Photo: courtesy Viv Moses/Derek Brooks)
1906: Zelah Tea Treat (Photo: courtesy Viv Moses/Derek Brooks)
1906: Zelah Feast (Photo: courtesy Paul Solway/Derek Brooks)
1906: Zelah Feast (Photo: courtesy Derek Brooks)
1907: Zelah (Photo: courtesy Derek Brooks)
1908: Zelah Tea Treat (Photo: courtesy Viv Moses/Derek Brooks)
1914: Zelah Band of Hope Tea Treat (Photo: courtesy Viv Moses/Derek Brooks)
1914: Zelah Band of Hope Tea Treat (Photo: courtesy Viv Moses/Derek Brooks)
1914: Zelah Band of Hope Tea Treat (Photo: courtesy Viv Moses/Derek Brooks)
1914: Zelah Band of Hope Tea Treat (Photo: courtesy Viv Moses/Derek Brooks)
1914: Zelah Band of Hope Tea Treat (Photo: courtesy Viv Moses/Derek Brooks)
1914: Zelah Band of Hope Tea Treat (Photo: courtesy Viv Moses/Derek Brooks)
1914: Zelah Band of Hope Tea Treat (Photo: courtesy Derek Brooks)
1915: Zelah Band of Hope Tea Treat (Photo: courtesy Derek Brooks)
Zelah Band of Hope Tea Treat (Photo: courtesy Rachel Bellairs Fields/Derek Brooks)
1915: Zelah Band of Hope Tea with Indian Queens Band including Clair Menear in Military Uniform (Photo: courtesy Dick Cole)
Zennor
1859: “On Monday last the teachers and scholars of the Porthmear Sunday School, Zennor, headed by the Gulval Brass Band paraded the principal places in the parish, and afterwards partook of their annual tea.” (Royal Cornwall Gazette 1st July 1859)
End notes:
- “Mithian” (ISBN 0-9545583-0-8) by Tony Mansell (Trelease Publications – out of print)
- “Blackwater and Its Neighbours” (ISBN 0-9545583-4-0) by Clive Benney and Tony Mansell (Trelease Publications – out of print)
