Midsummer Bonfire

Each year on the 23rd of June, a number of Old Cornwall Societies hold midsummer bonfire celebrations. Below are the details of events taking place this year and their venues. Others may be added nearer the date so please check back for details of an event near you. If you would like to purchase a booklet on the history and details of the celebration itself.

Click here to read an article from the Daily Telegraph on the Madron Old Cornwall Society 2008 fire

My thanks to Terry French of FTI Cornwall for sending a link to a film of the 2008 St Just and Pendeen OCS bonfire which was held at Chapel Carn Brea near Lands End, West Cornwall

This is a New Edition of a booklet first published in 1963. this edition has 13 pages and 5 photographs which include the front and back cover. Price £1 + P&P

Elsewhere price on request by e-mail to:- knight at wingfield5.fsnet.co.uk (replace at with @)

Redruth Bonfire

Redruth Old Cornwall Society

Midsummer’s Eve Bonfire Celebration 23^rd June 2009

The 2009 celebration will again be held at Pencoose Farm, Stithians, by kind permission of. Paul, Jean, Stephen & Lynne Gluyas who run the farm which has been in the family since the 1850’s, and dates from the 13^th century. Pencoose (Cornish – Pen cos) means “Head of the Wood”. In 1276 it was called Broncoys, in 1561 Burncoys and in 1884 Burncoose before taking its present name of Pencoose.

The ceremony will start at approximately 9.30 p.m. but most people start arriving at about 8 p.m. when there will be pasties & soft drinks etc. available. The chaplain will be Rev. Haley Moore; The Lady of the Flowers – Miss.Chloe Tangye-Powell; The Master of Ceremonies – Ron Opie; Lighter of the Fire – Mr. Stephen Gluyas and the translation into the Cornish Language will be by Mrs. Vanessa Moyle and Mrs. Pat Bawden.

Directions from Redruth: - Take the Falmouth road, driving through Lanner and just before Burncoose Nurseries turn right. Follow this road until you see on the right-hand side of the road – a sign pointing forwards to ‘Fourlanes’ and back to ‘Gwennap’; at this point turn left (S.P. Stithians) and continue on

going up a hill near the top of which you will come to a large field on the right (there will be an OCS sign post to indicate the field). If you should go past this field you will come to the farm (WF Gluyas & Son) where you will be directed back to the field but it will be difficult to miss the field in the first place. Sign posts directing you to the fire will be placed along the route.

Those coming from Truro & Falmouth etc. drive through Ponsanooth and carry on to Burncoose Nurseries and take the next turning left and follow the directions in the above paragraph. If you turn left at Pleyn Cross, in about 3/4 mile turn right (S.P. Pencoose), and the farm is the second one on the right (about half a mile), in this case drive through the farm to the road at the top and turn right until you come to the field but you would be better taking the former route.

Ron Opie, President O.C.S.

Callington	top of Kit Hill	23rd June 2009.	The fire will be lit at 10.00 p.m.	Map

Madron	Bulls Farm	23rd June	with music and dancing at 8.30pm	Map
Redruth	at Pencoose Farm, Stithians	23rd June	The ceremony will start at approximately 9.30 p.m. but most people start to arrive at about 8 p.m. when there will be pasties & soft drinks etc. available.	Directions
St Columb Major	at Castle an Dinas	23rd June	St Columb Bonfire will be lit at 10 pm at Castle an Dinas. I'm told it is being filmed for TV documentary this year.	Map
St Just in Penwith	At Carn Brea (West Penwith)	23rd June 2008.	Follow directions from Crows An Wra	Map
St Ives	At Carn Stabba	23rd June 2008.	The fire will be lit around 9.45pm. There is free parking at the Halestown Inn and follow people to the site.	Map