Truro Carnival Week

From the collection of

The Box
Established in 1992, the South West Film & Television Archive collection spans from 1893 to the present day containing more than 250,000 items. Formed from a variety of depositors, including broadcast news and programmes material from the Westward and TSW archive. In 2018 the archive collection transferred to The Box in Plymouth.

Truro Carnival Week


Trurorians enjoy street carnival celebrations

Truro Carnival Week would have traditionally been a fair for trading goods and a celebration would follow. Fairs were originally granted by Royal Charter and Cornwall is one of two royal duchies, the other being Lancaster. Truro holds its traditional fair at harvest time. From the late nineteenth century to this time before the Second World War carnivals are big affairs with many travelling circus acts and freak shows adding to the entertainment.

Bedheugh Benytha Kernewek or Remain forever Cornish writes Major Arthur W Gill of Truro, amateur film maker and local draper taking up the Cornish Revivalist's banner. This film is part of the Royal Cornwall Museum collection. Major Gill gave amateur film shows and talks and accompanied his films with records played out from a gramophone. Major Gill's old records dating from this time are also stored at the museum.


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