On Saturday March 7 the Cornish Studies Library will be opening a photographic exhibition, art installation and launching a trail as part of Redruth’s St Piran’s Day celebrations.

The exhibition and installation are both the result of the ‘Brewing Up the Past’ project which has been running in Redruth, led by Cascade Theatre Company. The project was designed to capture memories and stories of the former Redruth Brewery site which will be the home of Kresen Kernow, Cornwall’s new archive centre. Workshops and other events and activities took place in schools, community centres and even the street as part of the project.

The exhibition will feature atmospheric photographs of the site and the project taken by members of Camborne and Redruth Camera Club. The installation has been inspired by the history of the area and the brewery, as well as the memories of participants shared in a number of reminiscence sessions.

Iain Rowe, Kresen Kernow participation officer, says: “One aim of Brewing up the Past was to help raise awareness of and enthusiasm for Kresen Kernow, Cornwall’s new archive centre. Another was to collect memories, stories and visual media in order to put on a permanent display about the history of the area in the new centre. We’re not just interested in the industry but the people who worked, visited, lived – and still live – there. We’re thrilled to be able to share the results of the project on March 7.”

Cornwall Council cabinet member for Economy and Culture Julian German said: “It is great to see how the local community has got on board to support the development of Kresen Kernow which will be a fantastic asset for the area and for Cornwall as a whole”. 

Staff will be on hand to provide updates on the archive centre project.  The project team would also be delighted if people coming to the event brought along memories, photographs or memorabilia from the Brewery, knitwear factory, fuse manufactory or mills formerly on the site.

The exhibition will run a the Cornish Studies Library until March 14.