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ST AGNES MINERS & MECHANICS INSTITUTE was founded in 1841, it was an educational ie; Literary Institute to educate the miners and working classes, during this later half of the ninetenth century.During the 19th Century 300,000 miners and their families emigrated from here across the world, wherever you find a "Hole in the ground you will find a Cornish miner", as the saying goes.
In 1893 a building was donated to the village by John Passmore Edwards, who was born in the parish at Blackwater. He educated himself and went to Manchester to become a journalist, eventually he owned his own publishing business, and during his lifetime he donated 64 buildings to communities across Southern England. He was one of the great Victorian benefactors.
Today the building still stands and used by the citizens of our small community, of 5000 inhabitants on the North Coast of Cornwall, which is known as the Heritage Coast, a beautiful area with beautiful beaches, cliffs, with legends and history in every valley and road.Today it is a mecca for tourists, and surfers.
During the War this building was used as a classroom for evacuees from London, some are still family friends, and visit the village regulularly, other evacuees came and settled here.
During the war there were Airfields at Perranporth to the East, and Nancecuke to the West, encampments of Americans waited here for D Day, based at St Agnes Head.
American planes swept overhead from Nancekuke, Spitfires flew from Perranporth.
I have been chairmen of this organisation for many years, this project is being developed across the community with many local organisations.
Keith Atkinson