Feock Parish Council

Possibly the first Feock regatta on the Roads was held on Tues 7th Sept in 1858. The Royal Cornwall Gazette reported that: “It had previously been held at Devoran but as the Hon Mrs Gilbert of Trelissick had kindly thrown open her grounds for the Exhibition of the Royal Horticultural Society it was decided by the committee to hold the regatta on the same day in connection with the fete. The horticultural society had for some time held its exhibitions in Truro and Falmouth, but for several years it had seemed to be wanting to some extent in attractiveness. They were popular with subscribers but the public generally did not appear to take much interest in them and attendances lessened year by year. The committee felt that the society which was the parent of all horticultural and cottage gardening societies in the county, should not fail. To the attractions of the show were added the excitement of the regatta which took place in sight of Trelissick lawn. Some thousands of people attended not only from Truro, Falmouth, Penzance, Camborne, Redruth and intermediate parishes but from distant parts of the county.”

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Horticultural societies were the epitome of the Victorian age, reflecting the twin strands of the betterment of society and the advancement of science and industry. They fitted with Victorian ideals on many levels. The moneyed classes vied with each other in showing off the fruits of their estates, they were a showcase for plant hunters in aspects of new science and discovery, and also catered for the philanthropic aim of bettering the working classes through improvements to cottage gardening.  The prizes for “cottagers” represented over one third of all classes and whilst overall winners from Feock and Kea Parishes were few in number, nevertheless, they swept the board for best honey on the comb: 1st Eleanor Scoble of Kea, 2nd Thomas Stephens of Feock and 3rd John Allen of Kea and also for the  best collection of apples; 1st S Burley of Feock, 2nd John Ford of Feock and 3rd E Scoble of Kea.

The stalwarts of the Cornwall society were the Rev Canon Phillpotts of Porthgwidden and Mr W M Tweedy of Truro, both prolific exhibitors, and supported by the local gentry including Sir Charles Lemon of Carclew, William Daubez of Killiow, James Vivian of Pencalenick, J S Enys of Enys, and J P Major of Penventon.  Canon Phillpotts and Mr Tweedy together with Mr Gilbert of Trelissick were also enthusiastic yachtsman and stalwarts of regattas in the river. 

The regatta was greatly anticipated as demonstrated by; “ the fact that on the morning not a single boat, and scarcely any mode of conveyance could be procured in the neighbourhood for love nor money, all having been engaged a fortnight previously. A barge for the accommodation of the committee was moored in Trelissick Creek commanding a good view of the course though frequent showers of misty rain at times entirely hid the competing boats from view.”

The venue allowed larger sailing yachts to compete without the dangers presented by narrow fairways and drying mud which bedevilled the upriver venues.  Rev Phillpotts himself came in second this year within the class for yachts exceeding 8 tons with his own yacht Ariel.