A celebration that takes its name from a prominent St Ives citizen of the 18th century returns on Saturday (25th July), with dancing, music, and a procession in — hopefully — summer sun.
The ceremony at Knill’s Steeple in 1951. Photo courtesy St Ives Archive
The ceremony commemorates the wishes of John Knill, a former customs officer and mayor, who, in his will of 1797, required that a series of activities were followed every five years.
It was first staged in 1801, overseen by Knill himself. He was slightly eccentric and built his own memorial, a 15-metre granite obelisk known as Knill’s Steeple, on the summit of Worvas Hill. It was intended to be his mausoleum, but he died in London.
He appointed three trustees (the customs officer, vicar, and mayor) to ensure that the memorial ceremony be carried out. The will calls for a fiddler to lead 10 dancing maids, accompanied by two widows of fishermen, seamen, or tinners, from the town to the monument. The party were then to process around the Knill Steeple, before singing the 100th psalm.
The trustees fulfilled their duty by ensuring that the ceremony, organised on their behalf by St Ives Town Council, took place in accordance with his wishes. He required that the fiddler, girls, and the widows be rewarded with a token payment and lunch, and that the participants were to wear white knot ribbons.
This year, the call went out for participants — the young girls and the widows. The trustees then decided who will be taking part on 25th July.
The programme for the day
- 10.30am Assemble at the War Memorial Gardens, St Ives
- 10.40am The Mayor will introduce the John Knill ceremonies
- 11am: The official party will proceed to The Malakoff, via High Street, Tregenna Hill, and Fernlea Terrace
- 11.15am: The official party will board coaches, pausing for a rest stop before heading to Steeple Woods
- 12.30pm: The Master of Ceremonies will open the ceremony, with an introduction and an explanation of the occasion. The fidder will play and the dance, according to Knill’s wishes, will commence. The whole party will then sing the Old Hundredth Psalm.
- 1.30pm: The official party will return to The Malakoff and proceed to the Memorial Gardens via Skidden Hill and St Andrew’s Street.
- 2pm: The parade will finish at the Memorial Gardens where the Mayor will thank those who support St Ives’ local traditions.
