Rather interesting Helston facts
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Did you know that the Goonhilly complex near Helston was the site of the first parabolic satellite antenna on earth? That disc, installed in 1962 and dubbed Arthur, was built to monitor Telstar. It is now a Grade II listed structure. Arthur handled the first ever TV broadcast made via satellite. At one time the station was the largest of its kind on the planet with more than 60 such dishes.
Did you know that the first China Clay deposits found in Britain were discovered in 1746 at Tregonning Hill near Helston? Local wholesale pharmacist, William Cookworthy, noticed that miners were using clay to repair furnaces; he had read a book by a Jesuit missionary about porcelain making in China; and the year before had been visited by clay exporters from Virginia hoping to work with him. He experimented with ‘moorstone’ until he had a formula suitable to porcelain manufacture, and in 1768 was granted a patent for it.
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Famous Helston people:
Bob Fitzsimmons
Sidney Godolphin
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