| Admin History | Cornwall Archeological Society was originally established in 1935 as West Cornwall Field Club by Lieutenant Colonel Frederick Christian Hirst (1874-1938) and a group of likeminded volunteers interested in studying West Cornwall's archaeology. These founder members included Major William and Mrs Constance Lloyd, Florence Patchett, Sybil Worthington, James Joseph Judge and Dorothy Dudley. In the postwar years its membership grew steadily to over 50 active members who were able to afford the time to undetake excavations and field surveys, not only in the eastern part of Penwith but increasingly further across Cornwall. Between 1953 and 1961 the Club produced numerous publications including 6 field guides and took part in over 40 excavations.
An initiative to expand the Club came from a group of Committee members who felt the title of the 'West Cornwall Field Club' no longer reflected the scope and ambition of the organisation. In 1961, after a unanimous vote by both committee and members, the Club changed its name to 'Cornwall Archeological Society'. Before there was a chance to introduce the Society formally at a public meeting in 1962, membership had grown again almost tripling in the space of year. The first president of the Society was C. A. Ralegh Radford an English archaeologist and historian who specialised in the Dark Ages.
Today, in partnership with Cornwall Council's Historic Environment Service (HES), the Society continues to provide practical experience at excavation sites for its members, with conferences held each year in Truro and Liskeard. The Society also produces regular newsletters which give a diary of events, reports on activities, and opinions and letters from members. An annual peer reviewed journal is also published entitled 'Cornish Archaeology'. This publication began in 1962 with the aim to be a voice for the Society - inclusive from the outset by encouraging and supporting contributions from all its members. Annual General Meetings are held each year in March/April, at which point General Committee members are appointed with General Committee Meetings held four times a year. Project committees are also occasionally set up to oversee specific significant assignments. Each historical hundred of Cornwall has an Area Representative who reports at twice-yearly meetings on endangered species and local finds.
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