Black and white

Acc.no: PEZPH : 2016.50.349

Identification

Item: Praa Sands, Cornwall.

Description: A view of Praa Sands with a scattering of blocks on the beach. The Royal Cornwall Gazette of 22 June 1899 describes a visit to Praa Sands by members of The British Women's Temperance Association. One of the curiosities they saw on the beach was a series of identical cement blocks in the shape of barrels. Apparently, they had been there for many years apart from some that had been taken and used to make garden walls locally (Cornishman 21 December 1933). The mystery of how they got there goes back to 1871 when the Austrian barque, "Grissi", with its cargo of cement in barrels was wrecked on the beach (Cornishman 9 October 1884 provides a summary and the Cornish Telegraph of 8 March 1871, a fuller account of the rescue and wreck). The sea water had hardened the cement and the wooden barrels either rotted away or were prised off for recycling. This photograph probably dates from the 1880s - 1890s.

Condition: Good

Description

Material: Photographic paper

Production

Method: Printed

Category: Photography

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