There are 2 people you will always meet when you book to visit Meadow Barns, plus the 3rd and 4th will often be available – founder members of our Local History Research and Rescue team (LHRR). We also belong to Luxulyan Valley Partnership and Friends of Luxulyan Valley.
- Caroline Stephenson
is the owner/director. She is a very vibrant lady, fizzing with enthusiasm and plans to help the planet in these challenging times of climate change.
from Music Teacher to Eco Nutcase, quite a journey!
A teacher by profession, Caroline is also highly creative, writing songs and stories mostly with younger ages in mind. In 1999 she published a very popular illustrated children’s guide to the eclipse, lots of STEM through a story called Moon’s Special Day. This was her first writing success, combining fact with imaginary characters. Since then her stories always have that same sense of focus on real people and real lives, expanded in a style that is imaginative, lively and fun. But with mining and quarrying involved, sometimes there are darker and more spiritual undertones too.
New Focus
From 2017 Caroline’s life changed completely. She retired from teaching, put on the wellies and began work on her Green Build. Since then she has been determined to share her knowledge and keep adding to it, through research and writing. She is available for workshops and talks, and last year was delighted to be engaged by her ‘alma mater’ university, Cambridge, to visit and deliver Early Years workshops for their Climate Zero conference – read about this and more projects of 2022 in the Green Fridays blog.
- Joseph Thomas Austen Treffry (JT)
As you might guess from his picture, the 2nd person you meet is no longer with us. He would have been in his 40th year, in 1822 and was the Poldark of his time, in mid-Cornwall mining. If you liked that TV series you may enjoy his stories too, but be aware (as you see) he was not handsome, no Romeo, not married even. And for sure you would never see him bare-chested! No, he was the DYSON of his day and that is what makes him so fascinating. His field was mine and quarry engineering and surprisingly his biggest innovations were in green technology (STEM of waterwheels and hydro systems). This knowledge not only makes for fascinating life stories, but is also invaluable to us today, for planning our own sustainable energy.
There is a little more background about Treffry here https://themeadowbarns.co.uk/green-hero/
- David Skelhorn
Often with us in a voluntary capacity (thank you!) this gentleman is a historian, devoted to deep research. A member of the Luxulyan Valley Partnership Heritage group, his most recent work has been to update their database of 76 heritage items, found in the mining and quarry areas around Meadow Barns.
David’s career was working in the china clay and related industries, both in Cornwall and – for many years – in the USA. He shares with Mr. Treffry the skills and ingenuity to enable construction of working machines and models, which are a very absorbing and instructive aspect of the learning and consultancy we are able to deliver at the centre.
- Bob Hatton
Owner of a heritage asset of his own, the historic water-mill at Bridges, PL30 5EN, Bob is a member of Luxulyan Parish Council and is helping to develop the recently established LEGGS (Luxulyan Environment Green Glebe Space).
He is a Mechanical Engineer and has been working with water flows throughout his career, from the mid 1970s to today. His achievements include designing Turbo and Nitrous Oxide Injection systems, which makes him a particularly valued adviser on future hydro possibilities.