Many thanks to Richard Wakefield, Bude-Stratton and District OCS Vice Chairman, for this report:
Monday 30th March saw more than sixty members and guests attend Bude-Stratton & District Old Cornwall Society’s March Meeting. The audience were treated to an in-depth view of merchants who had traded in Bude from the end of the 18th century through to the early 20th century.
Carole Wakefield gave a well-researched talk about the key merchants who had traded goods brought in or sent out by sea and along the canal before embracing the arrival of the railway. Using sources such as newspaper reports, tithe maps and census information, she had pieced together the complex story of more than forty merchants who traded in Bude as it grew from a mere seaside hamlet to a fully-fledged town. She began in the late 1700s with John Bray, who started trading before the breakwater was built to make the harbour safer and ended with WW Petherick, whose large white warehouse on the Upper Wharf was a familiar sight in Bude until it was replaced by flats in the late 20th century. Many of the merchants were both ship owners and agents for wrecks – looking to benefit from all eventualities! The high-risk nature of this business saw many of them come and go very quickly, often through bankruptcy and shipwrecks.
Finally, a great-grandson of WW Petherick, Bill Whateley, who was attending the meeting, regaled the audience with some of his family’s history, thereby adding colour to the earlier talk. Michael Heard, the society’s President, gave the vote of thanks and Dennis Balsdon, helped by Alan McIntosh, drew the raffle.
Our next event will be on Monday 27 April 2026 at 7pm in the Parkhouse Centre when Mike Vanstone will be speaking about his experiences as Bude Harbourmaster.