THE beautiful Boconnoc Estate, owned by the Fortescue family, is to be the prestigious venue for the resurrection of the former rally at Merrymeet, organised by the Liskeard Steam and Vintage Club.
There has been a sigh of relief amongst enthusiasts that the town's great steam engine rally is to be revived on September 11 and 12 this year, and for years well beyond the Millennium. A hard working band of traditionalists have been meeting throughout the winter months since they were first approached by the Fortescues last autumn, and steady and constructive progress has been made ever since.
The event is to be situated in the rolling park land which lends itself ideally to the delights of a steam engine rally, and moreover, opens up a host of new potentials to extend the perimeters of the show.
The 22 miles of private roads within the estate will be gainfully employed to provide day long, free steam engine trailer rides. The carefully planned routes will take visitors through shady woodlands, then parallel with the river Lerryn, and on into some lesser well known parts of the grounds. The final leg of the breathtaking ride will pass the 123ft high obelisk, built in 1771. The September date means the autumnal colours will be at their best and the weather comparatively settled.
Another ambitious plan is to dredge an overgrown lake that hasn't been cleared for almost 70 years. A pair of large, winding steam engines, jointly owed by the Daniel brothers will undertake the skilful engineering task of restoring the lake to an open area again. As the task progresses it is hoped an island in the centre of the lake, which allegedly contains a weeping beech tree, will be revealed.
The organisers promise all the usual attractions plus a host of new adventurous ideas. A free bus will leave Liskeard and Lostwithiel town centres at regular intervals to transport visitors to one of the most delightful settings in South East Cornwall.