Camborne Recreation Ground

Opened midsummer's day, 1898

125 years of community space

Tucked away at the west side of town, visitors who wander along Camborne high street may not easily find the beautiful Camborne Recreation Ground. Its original name – Basset Recreation Ground – reflects the gift of the land here from the last occupant of their ancestral seat at Tehidy (see my blog here), Arthur Francis Basset (1873 – 1950). At that time, the settlement of Crane was entirely separated from Camborne town centre by fields, whereas today, after successive (and ongoing) housing developments, the recreation ground is a patch of greenery amidst tarmac roads. Tree-lined avenues offer welcome shade in the summer and shelter from the rain all year round! 

News clippings from the late 19th century indicate that the wish for a recreation ground in the Camborne area- to benefit the health of the large mining community - had been identified a decade or more earlier (1), and Gustavus Basset, Arthur’s father, had made an offer of land adjacent to the town.  This offer had not been taken up by the town council, for reasons lost to the vagaries of time, but presumably a change of officers led to discussions

for the project being well advanced by the middle of 1897 (2).  Donations for the works came from many individuals and some of the town’s major employers; Holmans, for example, donated £30, equivalent to £3300 today (3).  Groundworks on the site commenced in earnest just after Christmas 1897, and good weather meant that work proceeded quickly. A decision was made to open the Ground on midsummer’s day 1898, as a way to commemorate the 60th year of Queen Victoria’s reign (2). 

The evening of 23rd June 1898 was marked by showers, but the 24th dawned dry, and continued so for the eagerly anticipated opening of the Basset Recreation Ground.  Businesses in Camborne observed a half-day holiday, to allow their staff to attend the opening, and take part or observe the sports races that would comprise part of the celebrations (1).  After a ceremonial opening of the new park gates (since removed) by Mr Arthur Basset, an address was given by Joseph Vivian – Chair of the Town Council - prior to the start of the sports races, for which prizes valued at over £90 (almost £1000 equivalent today (3)) had been donated by local businesses.

Today, the rugby club area is separated from the remainder of the park by gates, but at this time the whole area was conjoined, and around the edge of the rugby pitch there was a cycle-racing track, deemed to be the best in Cornwall (4). This was the setting for the most hotly-contested of the races.  The prizes drew competitors in from as far away as Plymouth, and the performances of those taking part were described in detail in the Cornish Post and Mining News(1) .  To give a flavour of the event, I have reproduced here the many competitions that took place, and the names of those who were victorious – winning prizes as diverse as a ‘cricket bag’, a silver matchbox, marble clock, a silver watch and a biscuit barrel!

Sports events at the opening of the Basset Recreation Ground - 24th June 1898

One mile bicycle race - won by W Q Pearce, Camborne

100 yards flat race – won by Hedley Harvey from Truro

Throwing cricket ball – won by H J Hollow from Tuckingmill

Two mile bicycle race (handicap) - won by W Q Pearce

Hurdle Race- won by Hedley Harvey from Truro

Boys cycle race – won by Eiger J Rowe

One mile flat race – won by Brown

Three mile bicycle race- won by H E Bramble

One mile walking race – won by Geo Clift

100 yards slow bicycle rave- A J Kevern

Putting the Weight – won by W Burt

Quarter mile flat race- won by Hedley Harvey

Tug of war – Holman’s team beat the Dolcoath Surface team

High Jump – winner: C Reid, jumping 4 foot 7 inches

Five-mile bicycle race – W Q Pearce

The evening of the Recreation Ground opening was marked by a carnival, commencing at 8.30 pm.  Wheeled vehicles – many cyclists, flat lorries, donkey-drawn traps among them – each decorated by a business from the town, processed through a crowded main street, through Tuckingmill to Pool, then back.  Bicycles, petroleum lamps, biscuits, candles, rock-drilling and – presumably carefully attached! – a display of ‘glass, china and earthenware’ from a shop owned by a Mr Walmsley. (1).    Contemporary reports indicate that parade vehicles went their separate ways around 10pm, and amusement in the streets of Camborne continued as "merrymakers patronised the roundabouts and pelted each other with confetti until past ‘the witching hour'". (5)

Swings were added to the Recreation Ground soon after it opened, and a grandstand at the edge of the cycle track was drawing spectators to watch those practising on the track in mid-1899. (6); alterations and improvements to the grandstand have been carried out on several occasions since, including in 1943 (7).   Gates were added around 30 years ago to separate the rugby pitch from the remainder of the recreation ground. 

Another notable addition was the setting of the Camborne Cross in the park in 1935.  Originally located (unsurprisingly) at the end of Cross Street in Camborne, it had been removed to Trevu House (on Trevu Road) at some time in the late 19th century, to make way for development (9). The cross was identified by the then-occupant, Mr William Douglas

Tyack, as of potential civic interest, and he offered to cover the cost of the cross’ removal from Trevu and its emplacement in the park (10). A contemporary newspaper article suggests that William Tyack resisted the suggestion to enclose the cross by railings, insisting that the monument was ‘in itself very durable’ (10). 

A wise decision: in its current position, the Cross is clearly visible across much of the recreation ground, and lends an interesting focal point in the landscaping of the area. 

A quick interrogation of the newspaper archives reveals how frequently and how enthusiastically Camborne Recreation Ground has been used for community events over the last 125 years; the Camborne Show, initiated by the Holman family in 1941, was held here for many years – it has since relocated to just outside of Camborne and continues to thrive: details of the next event in July can be found here. 

Other events continue to draw crowds at intervals throughout the year, but perhaps its most significant contribution is that it always remains open and accessible for those who pass by and want to find respite from the busy-ness of roads and cars. The same ‘privilege and a right ’ to spend time in this space, referred to John Vivian in his address at the opening of the Recreation Ground (1), still endures today. 

References

1             Cornish Post and Mining News – 30th June 1898

2             West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser– 13th May 1897

3             https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/monetary-policy/inflation/inflation-calculator

4             Cornubian and Redruth Times – 24th June 1898

5             Cornishman – 30th June 1898

6             Cornishman – 15th June 1899

7             Cornish Post and Mining News – 30th October, 1943

8             West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser. 14th June, 1979

9             https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1003049

10           Cornish Post and Mining News. 2nd November, 1935