Cornwall's Lost Gardens of Heligan turns purple for 2021 Census campaign
The attraction is hoping the upcoming release of the 1921 Census will help piece together more of its post-war history
One of Cornwall's popular tourist attractions has turned purple to celebrate the Census.
The Lost Gardens of Heligan's lit up its Melon Yard to mark the 2021 campaign.
Bosses are hoping the upcoming release of the 1921 Census will help piece together the final parts of its post-war history.
A previous one revealed the names of thirteen gardeners who left for the Great War, including nine who never returned.
What is the history of Heligan?
When the gardens were restored in the early 1990s, the then available census of 1891 was a key document in being able to research the gardeners and estate workers present during the estate's zenith.
Just 23 years later, the outbreak of WW1 broke this idyll and heralded the turning point in Heligan's history, beginning the gardens' slow decline into lostness.
In 2001, the publication of the 1901 census enabled Heligan archivists and researchers to identify the names, occupations and birthplaces of Heligan's 13 strong gardening team who left for the Great War, tragically 9 of which were never to return.
The census records made it possible for Heligan to honour its past, to remember the local community and the contribution they made.
Heligan has now itself been recognised and registered as a 'Living Memorial to the Gardeners of Heligan House' by the Imperial War Museum.
The upcoming release of the 1921 census is already creating anticipation as Heligan hopes to piece together the final pieces of its post-war history.
"We are really keen to know who and how many continued working outdoors here after the war was over… names, dates and places of birth, occupations and other family member records, which might, still, just, lead to more personal anecdote.
"We cannot wait for the publication of the 1921 Census, recorded a century ago.
"How much was Squire Tremayne prepared to invest in his inheritance, when he had already lost his heart to Italy, after saying that 'he could no longer live with the ghosts of the past'?"
Heligan Archivist, Candy Smit
The UK census not only helps piece together the past but is a valuable tool in assisting the government in budgeting provision for the future provision of services.
"During the Centenary of World War 1, Heligan worked in partnership with the British Legion to campaign successfully for the identification of War Veterans for the first time in the upcoming 2021 survey.
"This will lead to the provision of improved support for those who have served in more recent conflicts.
"Organisations such as local authorities and charities use this picture to plan and fund the services we all need, including transport, education and healthcare. Without the census, it would be much more difficult to do this.
"Taking part in the census is your chance to help make sure you and your community get the services you need for the next 10 years and beyond".
Lost Gardens of Heligan