Kynsa ha Diwettha – Agan Tirwedh Bewa ha Gonis
First and Last – Our Living Working Landscape
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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

Historical Image of Sennen in Cornwall inset into corner of a modern image taken from above Sennen Village, Cornwall

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

 

Bosporthennis

Historic painting of Bosporthennis in Penwith side by side with modern photograph taken in same place

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

Historic painting of Botallack Mines, Cornwall, inset into bottom left corner of modern photograph of the mines.

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

 

Cape Cornwall United Mines

Historic artwork of Cape Cornwall and its mines inset into bottom left corner of modern photograph of the same location.

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

 

Chysauster

Historic photograph of Chysauster ancient settlement set into bottom left corner of a modern photograph taken from the same location.

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

 

First and Last House, Land's End

Historic woodcut of the First and Last House pub at Land's End, inset into bottom left corner of a modern photograph taken at the same spot.

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

 

Higher Tregeseal

Artwork 'Higher Tregeseal' by Kurt Jackson inset into bottom left corner of a modern photograph taken from the same location

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

 

The Keigwin Arms, Mousehole

Painting of the Keigwin Arms in Mousehole by Stanhope Forbes inset into bottom right corner of a modern photograph of the same location

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

 

Kenidjack Valley

Artwork 'That Day' by Kurt Jackson inset into bottom left corner of a modern photograph showing Kenidjack Valley from the same location

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

 

Lamorna Mill

Original artwork of Lamorna Mill inset into bottom left corner of a modern photograph taken from the same location.Original artwork: 'A Dream Princess' by Elizabeth Adela Forbes from Royal Cornwall Museum

 

Land's End

Historic of photographers at Land's End inset into bottom left of a modern photograph from the same location.Original image: Photographers at Land's End taken by John Charles Burrow, from Kresen Kernow 

 

Logan Rock

Historic print of the Logan Rock at Treen, Cornwall, inset into bottom left of a modern photograph taken from the same location

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

 

Market Jew Street

Historic print of Market Jew Street in Penzance inset into bottom left of a modern photograph taken from the same location.Original artwork: Print of Market Jew Street in Penzance, artist unknown, from Penlee House Museum and Gallery

 

Morrab Road, Penzance

Image from an early 20th century postcard of Morrab Road in Penzance inset into bottom left of a modern photograph from the same location

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

 

Mousehole

Artwork 'Mousehole near Newlyn' inset into bottom left corner of a modern photograph of Mousehole taken from the same location

Original artwork: 'Mousehole near Newlyn' by Stanhope Forbes

 

Near Land's End

Historic painting of coast near Land's End inset into bottom left corner of a modern photograph taken from the same location

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

 

Near Paul, Penzance

Artwork 'Going to School near Paul, Penzance' by Stanhope Forbes inset into modern photograph taken from same location

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

 

Penberth

Historic artwork of a cottage in Penberth, Cornwall inset into the bottom left hand corner of a modern photograph taken from the same location.

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

 

Penolva

Painting of Penolva by Stanhope Forbes inset into modern photograph taken from the same location

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

 

Quay Street, Penzance

Painting of Quay Street in Penzance by Stanhope Forbes inset into bottom left corner of a modern photograph of Quay Street taken from the same location

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

 

St Ives

Historic artwork of St Ives harbour inset into bottom left corner of a modern photograph taken from the same spot

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

 

St Just - View 1

Historic photo of St Just in Penwith inset into bottom left corner of modern photograph from the same location

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

 

St Just - View 2

Historic photo of St Just in Penwith inset into bottom left corner of modern photograph from the same location

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

 

Treen Village

Historic image of Treen Village inset into bottom left of a modern photograph taken from the same location.

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

 

Trengwainton

Historic artwork of Trengwainton Carn inset into bottom left of a modern photograph taken from the same location.

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