Tuesday, January 2, 1923

Those living at Madron Workhouse enjoyed their traditional New Year treat, each sitting down to a plate loaded with a sausage roll, bread and butter, cake, splits, a mince pie and a fancy cake.

For those who liked a drink, there was plenty of tea. As an additional treat the women were given yet more tea and sugar, the men tobacco, pipes and snuff, and the children sweets and oranges.

After this ‘cakey tea’ had been polished off, a Trelawney Tours bus arrived with the Penzance Players and a group of musicians on board, all ready to provide an entertainment.

At the end of the afternoon, all joined in singing ‘God Save the King’ and expressed their gratitude to the late Sir William Matthews, whose charity bequest had funded the event.

Matthews – son of the 19th century Penzance Borough Surveyor John Matthews – had died a year previously after a highly successful career during which he had built and improved harbours all around the world, including Singapore docks and the Grand Harbour of Valetta.

Not quite ‘Christmas Day in the workhouse’… but no doubt very welcome all the same

Thursday, January 4, 1923

West Penwith District Council heard that the river at St Erth was backing up into the well, and contaminating the drinking water.

But that was nothing compared to Relubbus, where ducks were said to be making their way through people’s homes – paddling in through the back door, and out through the front. Councillors decided to visit, and see this phenomenon for themselves.

There had been a complaint from Lelant about poultry and a donkey-house causing a nuisance, but councillors heard that the donkey had already been found a new home. “I would rather have a decent donkey for a neighbour,” commented one councillor, “than lots of people.”

Tuesday, January 9, 1923

Work began on the new St Just reservoir at Carn Bosavern.

Despite weather described as ‘wild’ –which, given St Just standards, must have been notable – a number of residents joined the official party making the first ceremonial cut. The engineer, who came from an old St Just family, had not expected to be making a speech.

He decided to dispense with detail about the scheme and said only that, by midsummer, he hoped that the spot where he stood would be ten foot deep in water – part of a reservoir holding a million gallons, pumped up from Praze Lode, and ready and waiting to gravitate down to the homes and businesses of the town.

Soon, there would also be a sewage scheme – and the total cost of both enterprises would be £13,500.