Liskeard Unlocked – Heritage Open Days

Why not try your hand at inventing a new machine out of Lego or Meccano? Make something astounding and you might have your invention displayed at the museum. Even better – you might win a prize!

Closing date is Wednesday 31st August. Full information and registration forms can be found on the Museum Website

Events and Walks
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Monday 5th – Saturday 17th September

Michael Loam & the Mine Engine an exhibition about the invention and development of the Man Engine as used in Cornish mines. There will also be a trail of inventions which we now take for granted in the House, an Art and Craft exhibition and rare photograph exhibition. Stuart House, Liskeard, open weekdays 9.30am-3.30pm, Saturdays 9.30am-12.30pm (closed Sundays)

Friday 9th September

Tour of the Old Brewery. Hear about the site’s rich history, including the rumours of a nunnery, stories of the old Venning’s Brewery and a display of photos from past uses of the site. Take a tour of the building and the art studios of DAK Art and Pot Stars Studio, members of The Cattle Market Makers Project. The Old Brewery, Pondbridge Hill, tours at 11am and 1pm. (The tours will also take place at 11 am and 1pm on Monday 12th September)

How Henry Rice, Coad and Sampson were Inspired by 19th Century Architectural Innovation. An illustrated talk hosted by Liskeard Old Cornwall Society on how innovations in architecture influenced architects in Liskeard.
Paul Holden, Chair of the Cornwall Buildings Group, is an authority on the life and works of architects Henry Rice, Richard Coad and John Sansom. These three designed many classic buildings in Liskeard, which still display the innovative features of their time. Liskeard Public Hall, 2.30pm (no need to book).

Friday 9th September to Sunday 11th

Open Studios and Cream Tea. There will be a range of beautiful arts and crafts created by Liskeard’s innovative Market Makers group in this historical farm yard setting with a free cream tea for all visitors.  One mile walk or five minutes drive from Liskeard Parade Homestead, 10am-5pm daily Liskeard, PL14 6RD Map ref: SX2397465387 (What3Words: ///hoped.starlight.nasal).

Saturday 10th September

Local Produce Market Liskeard Food Market has been supporting Liskeard Unlocked since 2020, bringing together food producers from the local area and offering a range of products including fresh locally grown fruit and vegetables, cakes and doughnuts, savoury pies, meat and cheeses, speciality goat products, plants, gin, jams, honey and chutneys. Come along and find out the history of some of the producers and their story.  9.30am – 12.30pm on The Parade

Liskerrett Centre – School’s Out. An exhibition of resources relating to the site’s previous history. Although a community centre for the last twenty years, the buildings were originally constructed as a School, the exhibition will recount the building’s history and users from 1881. 9.30am – 12.30pm

Print the Streets. Using Takuhon, a Japanese press free printmaking technique, the session will explore the town of Liskeard through environmental printing
Print The Streets is a walking printmaking workshop exploring the ironworks, inspection covers and paving of Liskeard. Takuhon is exciting low tech printmaking that can be used to print almost anything. Please bring a cushion to kneel on and be prepared for a bit of walking. Please note: in the event of bad weather the event will be cancelled. Pre-booking is essential – email Nicky Harwood at [email protected]
Booking opens: 23 August 9am Booking closes: 9 September 12 noon

As always a number of houses and buildings will be open:

The Pipewell This Well was once the principal water source for the town centre and is fed by four springs. The iron gates which are normally locked to protect the well (and the magic stone it contains) will be open so that visitors can see the full extent of the water source. 10am – 1pm

Public Hall, Mayor’s Parlour and Council Chamber. The Mayor and Deputy Mayor will be available to talk about their roles and show their regalia.  It will also be an opportunity for people to view the facilities available there.

Various exhibitions will also be set up in the building to show previously open properties (Greenbank House, Pendean, Trewithan, Tregantle). There will also be an Ironworks photo exhibition and aerial photographs comparing historic photos from 1930s to current ones of the town. Light refreshments will be available. Public Hall, West Street, 10am-1pm.

Freemasons Lodge – Lodge Number 510. This 2-storey stone Hall, with interlaced triangles above the door, has beautiful stonework to see inside and out. Designed by architect John Paul it has remarkable stained glass windows and is the meeting Temple of St Martin’s Freemasons in Liskeard. There will be an exhibition of Lodge history, beautiful stained glass and light refreshments. Stewards will be available to answer questions and give guidance. Masonic Hall, The Parade, 10am-3.30pm. The Masonic Hall is opposite the Post Office on The Parade, next to Lloyds Bank, above the Opticians.

Our Lady and St Neot Catholic Church. The Church will be open for all to visit, to view this historic building with its connections with Cornish mining heritage, the site of Martin’s Court miners cottages and the ancient pilgrimage site of Our Lady of Liskeard.

The Church is in regular use for worship by parishioners, on this day, it will be open for all to visit, to view this historic building with its connections with Cornish mining heritage and the ancient pilgrimage site of Our Lady of Liskeard.

The Church will be open for all as a place of quiet, peacefulness in the busy town for visitors to reflect and pray. The heritage of this building goes back to 1843, when part of the building (now used as the St Neot Room) was built as one of the first Catholic Churches in Cornwall, following the Act of Emancipation of 1829.

The present Church, adjoining the original, was built in 1863 in response to the arrival of families fleeing the potato famine in Ireland and finding employment in the copper mines on Caradon Hill. This had put pressure on the original small building and the larger Church was built to the design of Joseph Hansom, of Hansom cab fame. Hansom was responsible for many important buildings, including Birmingham Town Hall, Cathedrals at Plymouth, Arundel and Portsmouth, together with a number of other Catholic Churches. His only other Church in Cornwall, aside from Liskeard was at Falmouth.

In the garden of the priest’s house can be seen the site of miners’ cottages, known as Martin’s Court. These primitive residences were finally demolished in the 1960s.

A display of the history of the Church will be available for visitors, together with information on Our Lady of Liskeard, who features on the town’s mural in Pig Meadow Lane and was revered for hundreds of years at a shrine in Lower Road in Liskeard. 2 West Street, 10.30am-1pm.

St Martin’s Church and Tower. See the history behind the building and how it has been a place of Christian worship for over 800 years. We encourage people to take some time in the building to see parts they might not have seen before and to discover how St Martin’s has changed over time.  There will also be children’s activities that will help them explore the building.  Our bell ringing team will be demonstrating their art during the day and there will be opportunity for the public to have a go on some training bells!  10am – 4pm

Westbourne House A rare chance to view the progress of creating high-tec offices while preserving architectural features in a Georgian building.
This fine 1816 built property has been neglected for many years when used as offices by Cornwall Council. Wildanet Ltd, a high speed broadband supplier, has taken a lease on the building and is gradually creating a modern work space for its employees, whilst preserving some original features such as fireplaces, stained glass windows and an impressive staircase. This is an opportunity to see how they are progressing. 2pm – 5pm.

Sunday 11th September

Walk Around Historic Residences West of Liskeard, 2pm. This event is now FULLY BOOKED Meet Homestead, Liskeard, PL14 6RD Map ref: SX2397465387 (What3Words: ///hoped.starlight.nasal)
A chance to combine a three-mile countryside ramble and hear short stories of six fine residences along the route. This three-mile ramble is along a bridleway, quiet lanes and a disused mineral railway. One short section is up a moderate incline. Each house has its own individual history which will be relayed by Brian Oldham, President of Liskeard Old Cornwall Society. Access to the grounds of an old grain mill has been arranged. Back at the medieval setting of Looedown Farm, we will have a chance to view a Craft Exhibition and enjoy a free cream tea provided by the owners.

Pre-booking is essential – email Liskeard Tourist Information Centre at [email protected], call 01579 349148. Booking opens: 23 August 9am Booking closes: 8 September 12 noon

Scything in the Park with Making Space for Nature, 10.30am-4pm. Join the making space for nature team and professional scythe user Kevin Austin at Castle Park for a day of nature themed activities and the opportunity to learn about this quintessential tool of the British countryside.

The making space for nature team will be hosting a day of activities in Castle Park including a range of craft activities for children and informative displays about the park and works carried out to improve it. We will be joined by Kevin Austin, a professional scythe user and trainer, who will be hosting a scything workshop and demonstrations and will be available in the afternoon to talk about the scythe, its history and future.

Sunday 18th September

Liskeard’s Little Known Innovators Stroll, 2pm. Meet at the Fountain monument on The Parade, Liskeard, PL14 6AH

A short stroll around Liskeard town centre stopping outside the premises of some innovators that many people may not be aware of. This stroll is just 1.5 miles long, but it could take about two hours as there are nine innovators to hear about along the way. Some of their innovations were successful, some not very, and some were too quirky to even get off the ground. Brian Oldham, President of Liskeard Old Cornwall Society, will be giving the details. There are opportunities to reduce the length of the stroll at various points.

Pre-booking is essential – email Liskeard Tourist Information Centre at [email protected], call 01579 349148. Booking opens: 23 August 9am Booking closes: 16 September 12 noon