Hidden Cornwall

Explore fascinating stories from Cornwall.

Radio Cornwall,133 episodes

Episodes

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Extracting Lithium from water deep underground
The BBC's Jane Douglas has been finding out more.
08 Apr 2025,3 mins
The Whitsand Bay cave known as 'Sharrow Grot'
It's sometimes called ‘Lugger’s Cave’ after the man who made it. Photo: Elizabeth Dale
08 Apr 2025,3 mins
The Barripper artist inspired by his unusual homes
His work has been hidden for 34 years. Photo: Cornwall Museum and Art Gallery,
08 Apr 2025,3 mins
The peculiar object that looks like a stone
You might be surprised to find out what this object really is.
03 Apr 2025,7 mins
The Cornish who ended up in the Caribbean
History usually looks at the USA, Australia, and South Africa. Photo: Edward Sault.
18 Mar 2025,5 mins
The 1812 Talland Church vicar scandal
Talland is a parish between Looe and Polperro. Photo credit: Elizabeth Dale.
14 Mar 2025,7 mins
Torpoint man was first to describe Down syndrome
It was the Cornish physician John Langdon Down, who characterized the condition.
05 Mar 2025,4 mins
How much do you know about Loe Pool and Loe Bar?
One is a freshwater lake and the other a shingle bank. Photo credit: Elizabeth Dale
26 Feb 2025,5 mins
200 years since Cornish miners headed to Mexico
The High Sheriff of Cornwall Sam Galsworthy has been in Mexico for the celebrations.
25 Feb 2025,6 mins
The St Ewe connection to a well known soap
Pears soap is still on sale thanks to a Cornish man. Photo credit: Bernie Pettersen
20 Feb 2025,4 mins
Afterlife of the man who built Pentillie Castle
Pentillie Castle sits on the bank of the River Tamar. Photo credit: Elizabeth Dale.
4 mins
Why a new road in Helston caused a riot
People were unhappy during the summer of 1845.
05 Feb 2025,2 mins
How did a colourful bird land in a Helston museum?
The story behind the exhibit at the Museum of Cornish Life.
22 Jan 2025,5 mins
Celebrating the Cornish Pioneers
Many people born in Cornwall went on to do great things. Photo credit: James Kitto.
17 Jan 2025,7 mins
The lost footage of the Falmouth Oyster fishermen
The footage ended up in the hands of a local filmmaker. Photo credit: Paul Mulraney
13 Jan 2025,4 mins
The musical sisters who rowed the Carrick Roads
The legacy of the Radford sisters is in the archive at Kresen Kernow.
07 Jan 2025,5 mins
The Falmouth tomb built for a packet ship captain
Thomas Arundel Lewis commandeered The HMS Crane in the 1840s.
26 Nov 2024,2 mins
Why is a helicopter in a garden on the Lizard?
The decommissioned Royal Navy Lynx helicopter has landed at its new home.
22 Nov 2024,3 mins
The 5000 year old monument on Bodmin Moor
The monument is known as King Arthur’s Hall. Photo: Cornwall Archaeological Unit
13 Nov 2024,7 mins
Recording archaeological objects found locally
The Portable Antiquities Scheme records items such as pottery, glass, coins and stone.
24 Oct 2024,5 mins
Cot Valley and 'dinosaur egg beach' near St Just
The boulders on the beach have led to the nickname. Photo credit: Elizabeth Dale.
17 Oct 2024,8 mins
The 'Saint' actor who swapped studios for St Ives
The late actor Ivor Dean starred in many television shows. Photo credit: Jennifer Dean
11 Oct 2024,5 mins
The St Keverne alligator who was a film star
After appearing in films the reptile moved to the Cornish village. Photo: Mirrorpix
30 Sep 2024,4 mins
Golant recording studios which has hosted Oasis
The Sawmills studio near Fowey has played host to dozens of well known bands.
27 Sep 2024,3 mins
Exploring the sea diaries of a Cornish mariner
The diaries were the inspiration for an art exhibition at the Royal Cornwall Museum.
25 Sep 2024,5 mins
The mystery artefact found on the Isles of Scilly
Tiny depiction of a woman’s face, the size of a penny piece, has caused great excitement.
24 Sep 2024,3 mins
Meet the characters at the Altarnun bus diner
Christine Butler visits Sheila Tequila who makes food on a big red Double Decker bus.
18 Sep 2024,2 mins
The four Cornish fishermen and the Spanish Armada
The Falmouth fisherman came face to face with the Spanish Armada. Credit: Elizabeth Dale
5 mins
The Cornish miners who left to work in Mexico
Mexico wasn't a safe place to travel to. Photo credit: James Kitto
16 Sep 2024,2 mins
The murder that shook the hamlet of Poundstock
The murder took place in St Winwaloe’s church in 1357. Photo credit: Elizabeth Dale
10 Sep 2024,5 mins