Bickford-Smith Scientific and Literary Institute Virtual Cache

William Bickford Smith 

The Institute in a Storm 

The clock tower at night 

Inside the Institute 

Commonly mistaken for a church, this building was dedicated as a Scientific and Technical institute to the people of Porthleven. The institutes doors were opened in 1884 as a gift to Porthleven from William Bickford Smith, owner of the Trevarno Estate and a former Member of Parliament for the Truro-Helston constituency. The building housed a reading room and library, gas reading lamps and a telegram service. In the early years of its life, the institute also hosted scientific lectures on subjects including agriculture and the principles of navigation at sea. At that time, the Institute cost £2000. It is probably the most photographed and videoed building in Porthleven, often featuring in news articles about storms - with waves sometimes reaching over the height of the clock tower.

The institute’s 70-foot-high clock tower is a prominent landmark in Porthleven, positioned at the harbour mouth. The building stands on the site of the former Fisherman’s Arms pub and the Long Room, a space which acted as a community hall for public and religious meetings and provided accommodation for shipwreck survivors.

The institute’s reading room was originally fitted with pitch pine dado and warmed by two stoves. The people of Porthleven could sit around large oak tables and look over the newspapers and magazines or use the books held in the lending and reference library. Membership of the institute cost residents two shillings per annum (five shillings for honorary members) and the reading room was open from 10am to 10pm every day except Sundays. A local headmaster was appointed as the librarian.

The Bickford Smith Institute is now owned by Porthleven Council and houses the snooker club. It has endured decades of assault by the high waves that break over its walls during storms and high tide. The council has recently announced an award from the Heritage Lottery Fund, matched by funding from Cornwall Council, to begin work to restore the building.

Please contact me via my Geocaching profile with the following information. You are free to log this hide prior to getting a response. However -  logs with no information supplied, or no photos are liable to be deleted.

Question 1:-

On the lightning conductor on the North side of the building about thigh high. What is the name of the Bristol company indicated on the small square plaque?

Question 2:- 
On the small gray slate Porthleven town trail sign, there is a time indicated on the Institute clock, what is the time (Mr wolf)?
 

Finally:- 

Take a photograph with of yourself, or your GPS, with the institute in the background and add it to your log. I will accept anything as long as the image is your own, and the entire of the clock tower is visable.

More information

You can continue to walk along the south west costal path in either direction to lengthen the visit to the village. There are also some wonderful caches locally - including many of my fathers, PR2105s' and many more around Loe pool and Loe Bar including Elfin Safetys'. There are also a more of my own around the entrance roads to the village. 

Please Park Responsibly in the Porthleven.

There are paid carparks near the supermarket and opposite the football ground. There are some small free national trust car parks on the outskirts of the village near the costal path as well as at Penrose.