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Hall for Cornwall | Theatre & Arts in Cornwall
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This is a photograph of afternoon tea being held in the Mayors parlour at Hall for Cornwall during the 2007 productions of the Witches of Eastwick. The Boscawen Street side of City Hall not only houses the Mayors parlour but is also home to Truro City Council and Cornwall’s Coroners Court.
As a registered charity since 1969, the TAODS rely on fundraising to finance the society and the events and performances they produce. One such fundraising inititative was the holding of summer fairs at City Hall which included raffles, tombolas and fair ground style games.
This Mayoral hat is an example of an earlier tricorne design. Stamped on the inside of the hat with the latin phrase ‘Floreat Industria’ (he prospers who labours), it is sparsely decorated with black braid on its exterior. This style of hat would have been worn by the current mayor when carrying out ceremonial or official duties.
The design of the tricorne mayoral hat dates back to the 17th century and was originally designed as a protective style of headgear. The mayoral hats are made by just a few hat and/or robe makers in the United Kingdom. Materials used include calico, velvet, braid and layers of wool.
Truro celebrated a century of city status in 1977. The commemorative cover would have been sent by members of the public in the form of a letter. The cover includes an illustration of the Cornish Coat of Arms alongside a rubber stamp mark commemorating the occassion.The anniversary coincidentally took place during the Queen Elizabeth II’s Silver Jubilee in 1977.
This menu card is an example of an elaborate design used for formal ocassions in the last nineteenth century. On the front of the nenu is an image of Truro’s City Hall. Inside the menu is a list of foods that were served at the banquet hosted by Mr Arthur Laverton, mayor between 1889-1891. Some items have survived the test of time. Some haven’t! Cornwall Gazette states ‘The halls and vestibules were garnished with all kinds of plants and art drapery, while the supper-room was fitted up in a most elaborate as a drawing-room, handsome artistic furniture being used for accommodations of the visitors; and the walls were lined with large mirrors festooned with handsome draperies in art colours’.
A ruff is just one part of a mayor’s ceremonial clothing. It will be worn when performing civic duties within the town and will likely be accompanied by other items of ceremonial dress including a hat, robe, gloves and chain. Ruffs were a common dress items during the 17th and 18th centuries and were worn as an item of clothing separate from a shirt. This allowed for easier cleaning of the ruff alone rather than the entire shirt.
A decorative hat worn by Truro City Mayor Isaac Roskelley Esq between 1913 and 1914 during the early 20thCentury. The hat is narrow and semi-circular in shape with peaked corners. It is decorative, with black fabric and ribbon wrappings. The centrepiece of the hat is a strip of golden brocade embroidered with beads and a large button. The hat is accompanied by its hat box which is inscribed with its wearer’s name and role. Mayors act as ceremonial leaders having been elected by local residents. Their role is one of a public figurehead, communicator and influencer with regards to local politics and civic development. Manufactured by Christy’s of London.
A decorative hat worn by Truro City Mayor during the early 20thCentury. The hat is narrow and semi-circular in shape with peaked corners. The hat is decorative, with black fabric and ribbon wrappings. The centrepiece of the hat is a strip of golden brocade embroidered with beads and a large button. Mayors act as ceremonial leaders having been elected by local residents. Their role is one of a public figurehead, communicator and influencer with regards to local politics and civic development. On 11th May 2020, Bert Biscoe was sworn in as Truro’s new mayor. He was sworn in virtually. Bert becomes the first mayor to be sworn in as Truro Mayor due to the Coronavirus pandemic).
Ceremonial plates are frequently produced on the occasion of royal weddings. These offer members of the public to collect an item of memorabilia which they can refer back to in years to come. This particular plate was produced in a limited run of 5,000 of which this plate is no. 001. The plate shows a central photo of the royal couple. The decorative borders includes a monogram for each of the royals, as well as two Coats of Arms belonging to the Duke of Cornwall. On the lower left is the Duch of Cornwall arms and on the lower right are the arms of the Spencer family. The inner decorative border depicts dolphins, anchors and escallops, symbolising his Lordship of the Isles, naval connections and the escallops from her family arms respectively.