The Federation of Old Cornwall Societies is delighted to share the news that we have been awarded a Blue Sparks grant from the Plymouth Sound National Marine Park to deliver an ambitious new project throughout 2026: Tales of the Tides: Voices of the Sea.
This year‑long initiative will be delivered in partnership with Callington, Saltash, and Torpoint Old Cornwall Societies, celebrating the deep and enduring relationship between communities and the waters of the Tamar estuary. The project will explore our maritime heritage through memory, creativity, language, and connection to place — ensuring that the stories of Cornwall’s side of the Sound are recorded, shared, and celebrated.
Running from March to December 2026, the programme will offer a rich blend of activities designed to bring people together and strengthen community pride. Highlights include:
- Oral History Training for volunteers, enabling our societies to record and preserve memories of life on and by the water.
- Four Maritime Memory Days in Calstock, Saltash, Torpoint, and Cawsand/Kingsand, inviting the public to share stories, photographs, and artefacts for a new digital archive.
- Guided Riverside Walks and Talks exploring coastal archaeology, place‑names, and folklore, including a bilingual walk during Speak Cornish Week.
- Creative Workshops ranging from beachcombing art and maritime poetry to storytelling, shanty writing, and pottery archaeology.
- A New Mummers Play, inspired by the old belief that the Devil will not cross into Cornwall, to be performed as a lively flash‑mob at public gatherings.
- A Final Touring Exhibition showcasing recordings, artworks, and community contributions in both Cornish and Plymouth libraries.
Tales of the Tides represents a significant step forward in celebrating and safeguarding our living maritime heritage. It will create new opportunities for learning, participation, and cross‑border collaboration — and leave a lasting legacy through its digital archive and travelling exhibition.
We look forward to sharing more details as the programme develops and hope many of you will join us on this exciting journey through the stories, landscapes, and traditions of the Tamar.