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THIS OBJECT IS PART OF THE PROJECT 'A HISTORY OF CORNWALL IN 100 OBJECTS'.

WHEAL MARTYN. This cornet comes from Bugle Silver Band and was made by Boosey and Hawkes. The band was founded in 1848 and the cornet was bought in 1969. Silver bands differ from brass bands in that their instruments are silver plated rather than lacquered. This gives them a slightly brighter sound.

Music is a feature of Cornish life and culture, particularly in the industrial heartlands of the China Clay and Mining areas. Bands became popular in the 19th century with St Dennis Band being founded in 1838. Wheal Martyn has a good collection of band material. Oral history records show that band rehearsals took place in unusual places like Len Lean's railway carriage home at Greensplat. This was a noisy place on band practice nights, but Len's mother didn't mind.

Photo: Bernie Pettersen