Pennwydh y'n eur na hag y'n eur ma

Penwith Then and Now

Penwith has inspired artists and photographers for many years. When looking at some of these older paintings and pictures of Penwith (dating from either the nineteenth or early twentieth century), we decided to see how the landscape had changed by recreating the same view using modern photography (camera and drone). In some ways not much has changed, which is common theme of this historic landscape - its unchanging nature, and the continuity of its heritage helping to preserve its unique past - but in other cases there has been intriguing change; showing that even Penwith is not immune to the passage of time. We hope you enjoy these comparisons - the modern images have mostly been captured by our volunteer Julian Perry to whom we offer our grateful thanks for his help. Underneath the images we have also credited the original artwork and artist, where known.

Above Sennen

Original image: 'Sennen Cove' postcard by J. Valentine and Son, from University of St Andrews Archives and Museums

 

Bosporthennis

Original artwork: 'Bosporthennis' by AL Collins. This recreation was taken by Richie from the PLP team, with one of our volunteers standing in as the figure!

 

Botallack Mines

Original artwork: 'Botallack Mine' by Richard Edmonds, from Royal Cornwall Museum

 

Cape Cornwall United Mines

Original artwork: 'St Just United and Cape Cornwall Mines' by Thomas Hart, from Penlee House Museum and Gallery

 

Chysauster

Original image: 'Chysauster' from a Ministry of Works postcard. Crown Copyright

 

First and Last House, Land's End

Original image: 'First and Last House, Land's End' woodcut (artist unknown) from Penlee House Museum and Gallery

 

Higher Tregeseal

Original artwork: 'Higher Tregeseal' by Kurt Jackson, from the Kurt Jackson foundation

 

The Keigwin Arms, Mousehole

Original artwork: 'The Keigwin Arms, Mousehole' by Stanhope Forbes

 

Kenidjack Valley

Original artwork: 'That Day' by Kurt Jackson, from the Kurt Jackson Foundation

 

Lamorna Mill

Original artwork: 'A Dream Princess' by Elizabeth Adela Forbes from Royal Cornwall Museum

 

Land's End

Original image: Photographers at Land's End taken by John Charles Burrow, from Kresen Kernow 

 

Logan Rock

Original image: 'The Logan Rock, Cornwall' print by John Skinner Prout

 

Market Jew Street

Original artwork: Print of Market Jew Street in Penzance, artist unknown, from Penlee House Museum and Gallery

 

Morrab Road, Penzance

Original image: colourised postcard of Morrab Road, Penzance from Argall's Series c. 1910

 

Mousehole

Original artwork: 'Mousehole near Newlyn' by Stanhope Forbes

 

Near Land's End

Original artwork: 'Golden Prospects, St Catherine's Well, Land's End, Cornwall' by John Brett from Nottingham City Museums and Galleries

 

Near Paul, Penzance

Original artwork: 'Going to School near Paul, Penzance' by Stanhope Forbes

 

Penberth

Original artwork: 'Penberth' by Harry Etchel Binns from Penlee House Museum and Gallery

 

Penolva

Original artwork: 'Penolva' by Stanhope Forbes from Penlee House Museum and Gallery

 

Quay Street, Penzance

Original artwork: 'Christmas Eve' by Stanhope Forbes, from Brighton Museum

 

St Ives

Original artwork: 'St Ives' by Gai Layor, from the Royal Institution of Cornwall

 

St Just - View 1

Original image: 'St Just in Penwith, view from the South' from the Frances Firth collection.

 

St Just - View 2

Original image: 'St Just in Penwith, Church and Market Place' from the Frances Firth collection

 

Treen Village

Original image: 'Treen Village, St Levan, Cornwall' postcard from O.F. Stengal and Co Ltd, London. 1908

 

Trengwainton

Original artwork: 'View from Madron Carn' by Richard Thomas Pentreath, from Penlee House Museum and Gallery.