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The 'Riots Group Committee', Newquay, Cornwall. 1897

A photograph of the 'Riot Committee' set up to object to the building of the Headland Hotel on the site known as Fistral Meadow, taken around the time of the riots on 31st August 1897. The proposed site of the hotel had previously been used as land on which farmers grazed livestock and local fishermen dried their nets. The proposals of architect, Silvanus Trevail, threatened to ruin their livelihoods. When building work commenced, outraged farmers and fishermen rushed to the site, where they tore down the wooden works office and valuable tools and planks of wood were hurled off the cliff onto the beach. Photographer: Unknown.

© From the collection of the RIC

RNLI lifeboat Arab I at the quay, Padstow, Cornwall. 1883-1900

The lifeboat Arab I under sail off the quay at Padstow with the railway yards in the background. The lifeboat has a full compliment of women and children passengers with a good sized crowd of onlookers on the quay. It is noticeable that the crew of the Lifeboat are wearing cork life jackets, however, the passengers are not. RNLI Arab I (34 foot x 8 foot) was a gift from Mr R.A.B. Preston who had been saved from his yacht Arab. She was wrecked on 11th April 1900, without any loss of crew, while assisting the Lowestoft trawler Peace and Plenty. The steam lifeboat, James Stevens No 4, was also lost on the same night, together with eight members of her crew. Three crew members of the Peace and Plenty also lost their lives. Photographer: Unknown.

© From the collection of the RIC

Richard Arthur (Dicky Nine Lives), Redruth. Before 1893

A studio portrait photograph of Richard Arthur as an older man, seated, with a bushy beard and unkempt hair. Richard Arthur was better known as 'Dicky Nine Lives', after falling down the inside of Pednandrea mine stack and surviving. He died in Penzance in June 1893, at the age of around 70. A report from Redruth in the Royal Cornwall Gazette on Thursday 15th June 1893 states: 'News has reached here from Penzance of the death of the well known character, Richard Arthur, generally known as "Dickey Nine Lives" by reason of numerous hairbreadth escapes, chief among which was a fall down the inside of Pednandrea stack. This wonderful man was well known to almost every person within a radius of 15 miles, and his marvellous exploits have formed the topic of many a Cornish yarn. With no settled residence or means of sustenance, he managed to exist with the occasional comfort of a "bit of bacca." When sometime ago it was rumoured that Dickey had suddenly inherited a large fortune, he was immediately addressed as Mr. Arthur, and for some reason consented to have his "picture taken" by a local photographer. This photo when exhibited caused considerable amusement, Dickey being taken in his usual attire. The fortune eventually turned out to be a hoax. It would hardly be possible to find in Cornwall a person whose life has to abounded in comical incidents, and a sharp literary aspirant would win immediate popularity by publishing a life of Dickey Nine Lives. Photographer: James Chenhalls.

© From the collection of the RIC