Growing Up in West Cornwall offers a wide range of newly-researched articles, covering the area west of the Hayle River, and periods ranging from the 17th to the 20th century.

It documents childhood memories, mostly from the early years of the 20th century, set in the context of institutions that structured the children’s lives – the village school and the workhouse. The book includes people on the threshold of adult life – starting work as an undertakers apprentice in a spooky situation, and a fisherboy preparing meals for the crew.

How many of us regret that we did not ask our grandparents more about their childhood? This book helps us understand how it felt to be a child in West Cornwall in the very different world of earlier centuries.