Feast Day St Ives...

Spring has arrived, summer too; it must have, on February 8^th we celebrate St Ives Feast and the ‘hurling of the silver ball’. Every year I feel Feast Day means winter is over...

It’s also a ‘day off’ for the town and local schools (try to stop us Nicky Morgan!), and a chance to join in some very old and established traditions. Feast Day actually remembers the anniversary of the consecration of the Parish Church of St Ia in 1434 and includes said Hurling of the Silver Ball, one of Cornwall's oldest customs dating back at least a thousand years. No one quite knows why, but it involves the Mayor standing on the wall of St Ia Church, facing out-to-sea, and at 10.30am chucking a tennis-sized ball made of apple wood coated in silver leaf into the crowd of mostly young people (traditionally the 'countrymen' and 'townsmen' of the parishes) who have usually organised themselves into teams on Lambeth Walk beach. Whoever returns the ball to the Mayor on the steps of St Ives Guildhall on the stroke of midday receives a silver coin. 

A friend of my sons caught it a couple of years ago, and as the tide was in, decided to swim towards Hayle with it in his pocket. Sadly, he only got round the head of the West Pier because of the high swell and as he came out of the water outside the Hub, was ‘overpowered’ by the gang from Ayr, so went for a drink instead. You get the idea ….

There’s also a blessing of the Venton Ia Well on Porthmeor, originally the main and only fresh water supply for Downalong, and a wonderful Mayor’s lunch in the Guildhall (yes, pasties).

I love the whole day, right through to the Feast rugby match between St Ives RFC and Cornwall Clubs, which the Mayor will kick-off (last year her shoe flew off as well, and she was ‘assisted’ from the field in one stiletto, but that may have been the sherry).

If you have the time, it will have to be next year now, and have an early Spring break in mind, why not come and stay at The Sail Lofts to coincide with St Ives Feast Day itself … just so you can plan, it’s always on the first Monday after February 3^rd. Takes a moment, doesn’t it …

To book a luxury apartment in Cornwall for the festivities call the friendly Sail Lofts team on 01736 799175.

Peter x