Charlestown Hostory Group’s latest practical project is unveiled this spring in the form of a new history trail around the village.
Set up with the assistance of the Parish Council, the interactive trail consists of two main introduction/orientation boards along with smaller signs showing QR codes at key points around the village where more historical information can be obtained using a smart phone.
It is hoped that the new trails will be a very accessable way for everyone to get more information about Charlestown’s fascinating history.
In November, close to the birthday of Charles Rashleigh, we joined forces with our friends at St Austell Old Cornwall Society to erect a new plaque on the wall of High Cross cemetery in St Austell . Now positioned close to his actual burial spot it is in addition to his original tomb top stone which is now faded and stands a good distance away.
After a short ceremony, the over 40 people who attended, included Charles’s great granddaughter and great nephew, retired for refreshements at the White Hotel, Rashleigh’s original residence before he built Duporth House.
The Group has also been busy, in partnership, with the Parish Council on a new self-guided history trail around the harbour. New map boards and a QR code system will soon be going up to guide visitors around the village and allow anyone to find out more about Charlestown’s fascinating history.
Our final act for the 2023 Rashleigh bicentennial celebrations is the inclusion of Charles Rashleigh’s life story within the trail so that his legacy will be permanently available for all to see when visiting the village he created.
17th November. Charles Rashleigh’s Birthday. Flag flying today, and all this weekend at the Gun Battery to celebrate the 276th Birthday of Charlestown’s Founder.
In time for St Piran’s Day and to launch a year of events to celebrate the bicentennial of Charles Rashleigh’s death, a St Piran’s flag was hoisted up the new flagpole high above Charlestown at a special and historic ceremony on Saturday 4th March 2023.
The flag raising marked the end of a two year project by the Charlestown History Group to put a flagpole back at Charlestown’s Gun Battery on the the western cliffs overlooking the village. The flagpole replaces the one originally installed in the mid 1790s when Crinnis Cliff Artillery Volunteers were formed and which has been lost for over 100 years.
As well as a new flagpole, the Charlestown History Group has undertaken extensive improvement works on the Battery site, clearing invasive vegetation, habitat improvment and protecting the historic structures for the future.
The Gun Battery along with the port of Charlestown itself was built with the vision and fortitude of Charles Rashleigh. 2023 marks 200 years since his death and the flag raising lauches a year of events to commerate Charlestown’s founder.
The work at the Battery has been a true community project and it is hoped it will be the catalyst for further improvements to the site so that more people can know of its history and it can be protected for the future.
If you’d like to join us and help in this and the other work of the Charlestown History Group, you can do so by visting our get involved page.
A flag will fly from the flagpole on a few special occasions a year and members of the public will also be able to request, in return for a donation towards history group’s funds, a flag to be flown to mark their pecial occasion. Perhaps to celebrate a birthday or in memory of a loved one. More information of flag raising for your occasion can be found on our flag page.
The earliest known image of Charlestown from circa 1800 showing a flag flying from the Gun Battery. The Charlestown History Group is very proud to announce that our project to put back a flagpole at this location is nearing completion. Invitations to the first flag raising ceremony have gone out this weekend to all those who have been involved. Our sincere thanks to you all and we look forward to sharing with you what will surely be an historic milestone in Charlestown’s history. (Credits & Thanks: #Charlestown History Group. CHG/SM1146/P1874). @charlestownhistory #charlestownhistorygroup
It has been a busy start to the year for the Charlestown History Group. Of particular note is the approval of our planning application for improvements at the Gun Battery. In 2021 the CHG started clearing the vegetation on the site so that further damage to the historic structures could be minimised.
We are now progressing on the next phase to improve access, public amenity and historical interpretation and to reinstate a flagpole and replica cannon at this important historical asset.
It is hoped that in 2023, the new flagpole will form part of planned events to mark the bicentennial of the death of Charles Rashleigh. Rashleigh died in March 1823 under the cloud of his business affairs and had a minimal funeral. It is the belief of the CHG that this 200 year anniversary offers us an opportunity to pay our respects and give thanks to Charlestown’s founder. With this in mind, we are working on a programme of events to mark the occasion and will release more information about them, including how you can get involved, later this year.
In early March the group held it’s first “proper” event since the lifting of Covid restrictions with a St Piran’s Pasty Supper. Over 60 people attended and all thoroughly enjoyed a full evening of videos, talks and Cornishness all topped up with a Trelawny shout.
Our events are crucial in helping us raise funds for our work and do please look to get involved and support us where you can. More information can be found on our website.
