Images Dated 2019 October

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

T.F.G. Dexter at St Pirans Oratory, Perranzabuloe, Cornwall. 13th September 1920

Thomas Francis George Dexter (c. 1860-1933), the Antiquarian, standing by the entrance at the Oratory. St Piran's Oratory survives as an early Christian chapel with all four walls standing. It represents the supposed site where St Piran, an Irish saint came ashore and established a Christian centre of worship in the sixth or seventh centuries AD. The site has a documented entry in the Domesday book. There is a small nave, chancel and stone bench around much of the interior plus a cemetery. Situated on Penhale Sands, east of Perranporth, the Oratory has been subject to blown sands over the years. Excavations were carried out in 1835 and 1843 and then railings were erected around the site in the 1890s. In 1910 it was re-excavated and a concrete preserving structure constructed over it. A large number of burials were uncovered during the works. The concrete shell was largely demolished in 1980 and the chapel reburied. The site was re-excavated in 2014-2015. Dexter wrote, amongst other works, St Piran. A Study in Celtic Hagiology and in Cornish Church History (Thesis, University of St Andrews, 1922); A Cornish Legend: The Three Churches Of Perranzabuloe (1923); and The Lost Church (1930s). Photographer: Unknown

© From the collection of the RIC

Group at the excavation site of the Iron Age cemetery at Harlyn Bay, St Merryn, Cornwall. 1900

A view of the Reverend W. Iago (centre) and others at the excavation in 1900. 2000 tons of blown sand was excavated to a depth of 20 feet and carted away. The Iron Age cemetery in Harlyn Bay was excavated between 1900 and 1906. When digging foundations for a new house to be built, Mr Reddie Mallett made an important archaeological discovery by finding a cist (stone lined grave) containing human remains. Excavations over the next 6 years found Harlyn Bay to be the largest Iron Age burial site in Cornwall. Bronze Age barrows had been discovered in 1864, on the west side of the bay, near the cliff edge, by a labourer digging a pond on land owned by Mr Hellyar. Photographer: W. Rochard

© From the collection of the RIC