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ARCHIVE HISTORY
What is a reading room and how did it get its name? In days of old many people could not read or write and those who could, in many cases were not able to afford to buy papers or books. So, places where men met to chat and discuss events of the day, bought daily papers for the use of the members and that is how Sticker Reading Room originated.
Earliest records of the first room in the village go back to 1885 and there was a membership of 50. This room was in a private house in the village known as "Granny Tacks" and in 1887 the committee had plans and specifications drawn up for building a new room and tenders sought. The building was to be completed by the 7th August 1887.
Several tenders were received with prices for the stone work varying from £24.10.0 to £44.9.0 and carpentry from £19.10.0 to £39.1.0. It was decided that the tender from Thomas Barbery of Sticker for the mason work of £24.10.0 and John Coad of Sticker for the carpentry of £23.0.0 be accepted. Notice was given to Mr. Willis the current landlord to vacate on the 29th September. It was decided that the new room be opened on the 6th of October. It would be built on a plot of land held on life lease from Mr. T.H. Hawken of Trewithen at a rent of 1/- per year.
At a meeting on September the 13th it was decided to invite Squire Tremayne of Heligan to open the new room followed by a luncheon in the Wesleyan Sunday School at a cost of 1/6d per head. A meeting on Sept 19th decided that Ambrose Blight get 50 bills and 100 luncheon tickets, that W. Vivian get one leg of mutton and a piece of beef to roast. That there be 8lbs of cake, 6 loaves of bread, ¼ lb. of mustard, 2ozs pepper, vinegar and J. Coad, W. Johns and D. Jenkin to get same. W. Vivian was to get someone to heat the water, Z. Hall and R. Moses to sell tickets, J. Smith to collect same, that J. Coad, J.Collins, W.Vivian and Ambrose Blight superintend the day. Junior members would be charged half price. Mr. Hindes to have a free ticket.
On opening day Mr. Tremayne was met at the entrance to the village by the village brass band and escorted to the building. Rev. Crisp said prayers, Mr. Tremayne gave a speech and Mr. T. Stocker proposed a vote of thanks to Mr. Tremayne. A collection was taken at the door and the band then escorted the company of around 80 persons to the Wesleyan Schoolroom for an excellent lunch – taken in two sittings because of the small size of the room. The band played during lunch.
The new reading room carried a selection of reading material which varied over the years – influenced by available funds, but included The Western Daily Mercury, Western Morning News, Daily Mail, St. Austell Star, West Briton, British Weekly, Shurey’s Illustrated, Tit-Bits, Fowles, Poultry World, Mining Journal, London Magazine, Everybody’s Weekly and All Sports. At the end of each month the papers were sold for 2d a dozen.
The first caretaker to be appointed was Mrs. Harris at a salary of 4/3d a month.
The following years saw mixed fortunes for the reading room and a few extracts are outlined below.
May 1893 In view of the financial position the cleaner be asked to continue her services for 6d a week for the coming 16 weeks.
Sep 1893 The cleaner be expected to wash out and clean the rooms once a month.
Feb 1894 Two spittoons were installed for 2/8d and an application from St. Mark’s school to use the room was granted.
Sep 1894 Ladies be accepted as members on payment of 6d for the first month and 4d monthly thereafter. Payment in advance and hours restricted to between 8am and 4pm.
Jan 1895 Following a disagreement about duties the caretaker resigned, a new one was appointed with the duties specified.
April 1895 Mr. Hingston was asked to bring 2 loads of Mundic sand and 2 loads of beach sand for the front of the rooms.
Oct 1896 A member offered to purchase Tit-Bits at the rate of 3 for a penny to send to his sick son in Truro Infirmary. It was decided to present these free of charge.
A few of the bills from this period are interesting.
Sweeping chimney 6d, 1cwt coal 1/-, drawing pins 6d, ink 6d, oil and blacklead 11 ½ d. On the 10th anniversary of opening – 32 lbs. of cake 13/4d, bread buns 3/-, tea and sugar 3/4d, butter and milk 5/5d, candles 2d.
Although ladies had been granted membership of the reading room there is little record of them using the "privilege".
Games were also played on the premises and included bagatelle, dominoes, draughts, halma, table skittles, table tennis, darts and card games. In 1934 a small billiard table was installed. Following a proposal that a full size billiard table be purchased, in 1936 it was decided to examine the possibility of extending the room.
A building committee was formed with Mr. E. Blight as secretary; an appeal fund started which quickly raised £60. Mr T. Shear persuaded some of his colleagues to help with the new building and Mr Frank Blight donated the necessary land. During the winter months, whist, beetle drives and concerts were staged to raise funds ready for the building work to start in April 1937. Mr. Bill Williams of Sticker supervised the building work with voluntary labour coming from as far afield as Probus and St. Austell. An overdraft was arranged with Midland Bank to allow payment for materials and extended credit facilities with ECC, Cornish Mines Supplies and John Williams & Co. Also Graham Couch & Co prepared the deeds and carried out all the legal work free of charge. A grant of £100 was obtained from the National Council of Social Services
Dec 1937 Mr. Maurice Petherick – the local MP performed the opening ceremony, presided over by Dr. Stewart of Grampound. The ladies committee provided high tea at 1/6d and ordinary tea at 9d. A variety concert followed and this was followed by a dance until midnight. Proceeds for the day - £42. Several members loaned £5 each to help purchase the billiard table and they were repaid from its income. Central heating was installed and membership rapidly increased to over 70. In 1939 the war started and many members joined the armed forces and the home guard used the rooms. Members provided gifts and were active in organising events for the Welcome Home Fund.
For several years after the war the Reading room was used extensively with the billiard and darts teams competing in the local leagues. Money raising events were well supported. Then followed a period of depression with many members moving away to live and work. Another major impact was the advent of television, which altered the pattern of village life with people preferring to stay at home. For several years the rooms remained dormant but when the novelty of TV began to pale and people started to make their own entertainment again, the faithful few who had kept the hall ticking arranged for it to be cleaned and redecorated. A stage and lighting was purchased and assembled, curtains were fitted allowing plays and other entertainment to be staged. Whist drives, flower shows, a summer fete and a grant of £83 from the Carnegie Trust helped pay for these improvements. The lack of interest in the billiard table led to it being sold as the space it occupied could be better used.
Some years earlier in 1917, whilst a auction was being conducted in the Hewas Inn for the sale by Trewithen Estate of properties in Sticker, Mr. A.J. Blight asked the auctioneer and the vendors whether they would consider giving the original plot of land to the village. This they agreed to do, with St. Mewan Parish Council being vested as custodian trustees.
The above information has been extracted from a report given by Mr. E. Blight in 1967 on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the inauguration of Sticker Reading Room.