The Archives and Cornish Studies Service is to launch its new exhibition at the Cornish Studies Library on Saturday, March 4, as part of Redruth’s St Piran’s Day celebrations.

Dazzling Daffodils looks at the history of Cornwall’s daffodil industry, and features material from a range of Cornish archives including items never before seen on public display. Among a range of photos and fascinating documents from Cornwall Record Office, the Cornish Studies Library, Penlee House and Falmouth Spring Flower Show archive, are a range of treasures borrowed from the Lanarth archive. Lanarth in St Keverne was once home to PD Williams, Cornwall’s “Daffodil King” of the 1920s and 1930s.

Williams, a cousin of JC Williams of Caerhays, was famed for the daffodils he bred and his variations sold. and still sell, across the world. The archive contains evidence of the international fever for daffodils between the wars, with American invoices being paid in gold after the 1929 crash, and pictures and certificates showing PD’s success in Dutch flower shows.

Also on display will be spectacular watercolours of some of PD’s daffodils, painted by some of the best known botanical artists of the day. One painting even recently helped to solve a mystery of a curious daffodil variety…

Chloe Phillips, learning lead for the service, said: “We are delighted to be displaying such a seasonal exhibition this year and are particularly excited to show some of PD Williams’ amazing personal archive for the very first time. Research for the exhibition has also uncovered photos and treasures from our own collections so we really hope people embrace this celebration of a different type of Cornish gold.”

The exhibition runs at the Cornish Studies Library in Redruth from Saturday until April 15 and can be seen during library opening hours.