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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Cornwall => Topic started by: allystree on Wednesday 04 March 15 12:51 GMT (UK)
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Can anyone identify this building which is in the background of an unidentified portrait? I think there is one similar near the South West Coast path perhaps between Fowey and Polperro? I am sure I saw it in the background of a TV program Walking Through History, which I saw recently here in Australia. I think the sitter of the portrait is a relative who had close connections to Cornwall, who wrote a book or two about Cornish mining c1848 [/img]
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Just guessing really but the signal arm looks moveable. Was it for signalling to passing ships?
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looks like a tower crane ???
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Yes the arm does look movable and it appears in the portrait the sea is just behind the building. The building I saw on the TV program was right on the coast with the sea behind it. I have recorded the TV program so I will watch it again and take a photo of the building I saw I think. The information noted on the National Trust site about the portrait says the building is a church but I can't see that. I have been in contact with the NT about some unidentified portraits which are held at Cragside and I have noticed that some of the portraits have little clues in the background which are relevant to the sitters. I have been looking at pictures of old Cornish Mines for a few months trying to identify the building and then I saw it on TV last week! Here is the portrait
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It doesn't look familiar as being where you thought it might be.
This is a link to the leaflet about the programme that I think you are referring to.
http://www.channel4.com/microsites/W/Walking-Through-History/Walking-Through-History2-Cornwall.pdf
I haven't found any particular mention of something like this.
There is the Bass Point Signal Station but that is down on the Lizard. This is a picture of it as it is now:
http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/31480
and
http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2096482
It is within NT land.
Nell
Edited to add another link for a better photo.
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Can I see the feint outline of a wheel on that building?
My first impression was something related to mining (especially as you said he wrote books on the subject) as logically it would make sense to include an image related to his expertise. Maybe a windmill type of contraption or a pump.
I can't see anything online which fits but this is maybe a little similar:
http://www.dreamstime.com/stock-images-mining-headframe-image3987284
It appears to be called a 'mining headframe'.
I imagine there would have been thousands of them and some may remain in Cornwall as I believe they have preserved a lot of their mining heritage.
(the painting may also not be an accurate representation as the artist may have painted this from description of how it looked rather than having seen it himself)
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Interesting thought re the mine - it looks like Geevor in the picture you provided the link for, but I don't see it really. That particular head shaft was sunk in the early 20th century, and I think that painting might be older than that. :-\ Older mines were stone-built towers with less metal.
Nell
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Yes, it doesn't quite fit any images I can find though the base looks very solid, hence me wondering if a little artistic licence was taken. (the image was just an example of the kind of thing it may be). There does look to be some kind of signal or pulley arrangement on top, but I don't have a clue about this kind of thing so it's just a guess. :)
I would image there is little chance of it still surviving anyway or of being able to identify it's exact location.
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I think it's a semaphore tower - and probably built as one of the Royal Navy Semaphore Line?
See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semaphore_line
Where there is a nice picture!
Or, for a better picture:
http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1955831
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I did wonder about that. A permanent line of semaphore stations was built between London & Portsmouth. In which case, the building can't be in Cornwall. :-\
Nell
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There was also a line between Liverpool and Holyhead!
Could the portrait be of Rear-Admiral Sir Home Riggs Popham?
There's a younger man in the portrait here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_Riggs_Popham
But I think I can see similarilies?!
The building in the picture sure looks to have 2 semaphore arms?
In any case, the system was only in use between 1820 and 1847.
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Thank you all for your input. I am sure I saw the building in the background of the Tv program standing quite alone near the cliff edge. Turns out I did not record the program but while watching it I did write down the part of the walk where the structure was- on the South West Coast path between Fowey and Polperro. The link Little Nell provided is the program I saw, about Cornish Smugglers. Tony Robinson paused while on the path to tell a little story and then as he walked on the structure was in the background looking very similar to that in the portrait. I don't think the portrait is of Popham. This Watson family were cousins of Sir William Henry Watson who was brotherinlaw of Lord Armstrong of Cragside. Watson family portraits belonging to this branch, and previously in the possession of Joseph Yelloly Watson (1817-1888) are now at Cragside.
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Is it St Catherine's Castle http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Catherine%27s_Castle
Add
http://www.fowey.co.uk/activities-and-attractions/st-catherines-castle-p129943
http://www.cornwall-calling.co.uk/castles/st-catherines-castle.htm
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Nice thought but I don't think so. St Catherine's is on the Fowey side of the estuary opposite Polruan and is actually set quite far down the cliff like a typical Henry VIII castle. Here are a couple of views of it - one from down on the water and then from Polruan.
http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4012093
and
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/st-catherines-castle/history-and-research/
I remember watching the programme, but I have to admit nothing springs to mind. I've tried looking at the coastal path map and Google Earth but not spotted anything yet. :(
Nell