List of museums in Cornwall

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The Royal Cornwall Museum The Royal Cornwall Museum, Truro - geograph.org.uk - 46507.jpg
The Royal Cornwall Museum

This list of museums in Cornwall , England, in the United Kingdom, contains museums which are defined for this context as institutions (including nonprofit organizations, government entities, and private businesses) that collect and care for objects of cultural, artistic, scientific, or historical interest and make their collections or related exhibits available for public viewing. Also included are non-profit art galleries and university art galleries. Museums that exist only in cyberspace (i.e. virtual museums) are not included.

Contents

Museums

To use the sortable table, click on the icons at the top of each column to sort that column in alphabetical order; click again for reverse alphabetical order.

NameImageTown/CityRegionTypeSummary
Antony House Antony House, Torpoint - geograph.org.uk - 413850.jpg Antony CornwallHistoric houseOperated by the National Trust, early 18th century estate with gardens, features fine collections of paintings, furniture and textiles
Barbara Hepworth Museum Hepworth workshop.jpg St Ives CornwallArtStudio and works by 20th-century sculptor Barbara Hepworth
Bodmin Jail Bodmin Gaol - geograph.org.uk - 43649.jpg Bodmin CornwallPrisonFormer jail and exhibits of local criminals
Bodmin Town Museum Bodmin town museum gallery.JPG Bodmin CornwallLocalhistory, culture, industry, natural history, transport
Callington Heritage Centre Callington CornwallLocalhistory, culture, mining, agriculture
Camborne School of Mines Museum Tremough CornwallMiningMining and geology
The Castle, Bude Bude CornwallMultiplehistory, culture, Bude Canal, maritime, railway, art exhibits; formerly the home of Victorian inventor Sir Goldsworthy Gurney. The Castle is accredited by Arts Council England. Free entry.
Charlestown Shipwreck & Heritage Centre Museum Docks, Charlestown - geograph.org.uk - 54985.jpg Charlestown CornwallMaritimehistory of diving, salvage and shipwrecks, also mining and minerals
Constantine Museum Constantine CornwallLocalhistory, culture, mining, agriculture
Cornish Mines and Engines Pool CornwallMiningCollection of engine houses, beam engines and an industrial heritage discovery centre
Cornwall's Regimental Museum Bodmin Military Museum 01.jpg Bodmin CornwallMilitary Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry regimental artifacts and history
Cotehele Cotehele, house from courtyard.jpg Calstock CornwallHistoric houseOperated by the National Trust, Tudor house featuring tapestries, textiles, arms and armour, pewter, brass and old oak furniture, gardens
Davidstow Airfield Cornwall at War Museum Davidstow CornwallMilitaryHistory of former WW II airfield, military life in region
Davidstow Moor RAF Memorial War Museum Davidstow CornwallMilitaryHoused in the former sergeants' shower block, pictorial history of the airfield's wartime years with local memorabilia
Elliott's Shop Saltash CornwallHistoryhistoric grocery store, operated by the Tamar Protection Society
The Exchange Penzance CornwallArtSatellite location of Newlyn Art Gallery, contemporary art
Falmouth Art Gallery Falmouth-Library-and-Art-Gallery.JPG Falmouth CornwallArtFeatures work by Old Masters, major Victorian artists, British Impressionists, maritime artists, children's book illustrators, automata, contemporary painters and printmakers
Flambards Experience Helston - Flambards WW2 Aircraft - geograph.org.uk - 1247146.jpg Helston CornwallMultipleAmusement park with museum exhibits of Victorian shops and homes, life in Britain during The Blitz, aviation and science
Fowey Museum Fowey Museum.jpg Fowey CornwallLocal information, history, culture, shipping
Geevor Tin Mine Geevor tin mine headframe.jpg Pendeen CornwallMiningFormer tin mine
Gerrans Parish Heritage Centre Gerrans CornwallLocalhistory, culture
Godolphin Estate Godolphin9.jpg Godolphin Cross CornwallHistoric houseOperated by the National Trust, Tudor/Stuart mansion, complete with early formal gardens
Grampound with Creed Heritage Centre Grampound CornwallLocalhistory
Hayle Heritage Centre Hayle CornwallLocaloperated by the Harvey’s Foundry Trust
Heartlands Pool CornwallFormer Tin Mine, Local, ArtRegeneration of former mining land. Features an interactive exhibition about Cornish mining heritage, a restored beam engine house, botanical gardens, artist studios, adventure playground and the Red River Cafe. Free entry
Helston Museum Helston CornwallLocalHistory, culture, art, archaeology, mining, fishing, farming, costumes
Isles of Scilly Museum Hugh Town, St Mary's CornwallLocalas of 2023 "Museum on the Move" as former building has been condemned; new Cultural Centre and Museum under development
Jamaica Inn Jamaica Inn2.jpg Bolventor CornwallMultipleFeatures a museum with exhibits on smuggling in the area and the inn's role, and author Daphne du Maurier [1]
John Betjeman Centre Wadebridge, The John Betjeman Centre - geograph.org.uk - 211000.jpg Wadebridge CornwallBiographicalworks and memorabilia of poet and author John Betjeman, located in the Wadebridge railway station
King Edward Mine Museum King Edward Mine - geograph.org.uk - 23327.jpg Camborne CornwallMiningFormer tin mine
Lanhydrock Lanhydrock 04.jpg Helston CornwallHistoric houseOperated by the National Trust, high Victorian style country estate with gardens
Launceston Steam Railway Launceston steam railway train 1.jpg Launceston CornwallRailwayHeritage railway with museum of vintage transport and machinery in station
Lawrence House Museum Launceston CornwallLocal1753 Georgian house with displays about local history
Leach Pottery St Ives CornwallArt20th century studio art pottery
Levant Mine and Beam Engine Levant-Mine-by-John-Gibson.jpg Trewellard CornwallMiningVisitor center for former copper and tin mine, working steam-powered beam engine
Liskeard and District Museum Museumsmall.jpg Liskeard CornwallLocallocal history, mining interpretation, tin toys, plastics and the environment
Lizard Lighthouse Heritage Centre Lizard Lighthouse view.jpg Lizard Point CornwallMaritimeHistory and role of the lighthouse
Looe Museum Looe CornwallLocal information, 15th-century guildhall and prison, exhibits on history, culture, fishing, mining
Lostwithiel Museum Lostwithiel CornwallLocal information, history, culture, mining
Luxulyan Museum and Heritage Centre Luxulyan CornwallLocal information, history, culture
Marazion Museum Marazion CornwallLocalhistory, culture, mining, agriculture
Mary Newman's Cottage Mary Newman's Cottage, Saltash - geograph.org.uk - 59315.jpg Saltash CornwallHistoric house17th century period Elizabethan cottage, reputedly the home of explorer Sir Francis Drake's first wife, operated by the Tamar Protection Society
Mevagissey Museum Mevagissey CornwallLocalhistory, culture, fishing, shipping, smuggling
Moseley Industrial Narorow Gauge Tramway and Toy Museum Tolgus Mount CornwallToy, Railroadopen by appointment, vintage toys, model trail layouts, railroad memorabilia, narrow gauge train rides
Mount Edgcumbe House Mount Edgcumbe.jpg Cremyll CornwallHistoric house16th century great house restored to 18th century period, with art, tapestries, porcelain, gardens,
Museum of Witchcraft Boscastle CornwallHistoryWitchcraft and Wiccan artifacts
National Maritime Museum Cornwall DSCN1436NMMCornwall.jpg Falmouth CornwallMaritimeHome of the National Small Boat Collection, exhibitions on Cornwall's maritime history, boat conservation and experimental boat building. Also houses the Bartlett Library of books and archives, particularly relating to Falmouth's maritime history.
Newlyn Art Gallery Newlyn CornwallArtContemporary art
Newquay Heritage Archive & Museum Trerice1.jpg Newquay CornwallLocaloperated by the Newquay Old Cornwall Society
North Cornwall Museum and Art Gallery Camelford CornwallMultipleLocal history, art, agriculture and household items, Cornish and Devonshire pottery, industrial and tradesmen's tools
Padstow Museum Padstow CornwallLocalhistory, culture, maritime
Pencarrow Pencarrow.jpg Bodmin CornwallHistoric house18th-century mansion and gardens
Pendennis Castle Pendennis Castle keep.jpg Falmouth CornwallMilitaryFortress built by Henry VIII, displays through WW II
Penlee House Penlee House 2.jpg Penzance CornwallArtPaintings by members of the Newlyn School
Penryn Museum Penryn CornwallLocal information, history, culture
Perranzabuloe Museum Perranporth CornwallLocalhistory, culture, mining, fishing, farming
PK Porthcurno, Museum of Global Communications Porthcurno CornwallTechnology
Poldark Mine Poldark.JPG Wendron CornwallMiningFormer tin mine
Polperro Heritage Museum of Smuggling and Fishing Polperro CornwallMaritime
Port Eliot Porteliot.jpg St Germans CornwallHistoric houseCountry mansion estate, gardens, museum of folklore
Porthcurno Telegraph Museum Porthcurno CornwallTechnologyHistory of telegraph cables
Prideaux Place Padstow Prideaux Place 01.jpg Padstow CornwallHistoric houseCountry mansion with royal and family portraits, fine furniture, the Prideaux Porcelain Collection, gardens
Redruth Old Cornwall Society Museum Redruth CornwallLocal information, history, culture, mining, household items
Royal Cornwall Museum The Royal Cornwall Museum, Truro - geograph.org.uk - 46507.jpg Truro CornwallMultipleArt, archaeology, local history, natural history, geology, decorative arts, coins, Egyptian and world culture artifacts
Saltash Museum Saltash Museum & Local History Centre - geograph.org.uk - 59306.jpg Saltash CornwallLocaloperated by Saltash Heritage, local history, culture, records, photographic and document archive, archeology unit
Shire Horse Farm and Carriage Museum Redruth CornwallTransportationworking horse farm and collection of horse-drawn carriages
St Agnes Museum St Agnes CornwallLocalhistory, culture, mining, minerals, maritime
St Hilary Heritage Centre St Hilary CornwallLocalLocated in the parish church,
St Ives Museum St Ives CornwallLocal information, history, culture, mining, fishing, agriculture
St Michael's Mount St Michael's Mount CornwallHistoric houseOperated by the National Trust, tours of the island castle
Stuart House Liskeard CornwallLocallate medieval town house, exhibits about the English Civil War
Tate St Ives Tate St. Ives.jpg St Ives CornwallArtWork by modern British artists, including work of the St Ives School
Tintagel Old Post Office Tintagel post office.JPG Tintagel CornwallPhilatelicOperated by the National Trust, 19th century period post office in a 14th-century yeoman's farmhouse
Tolgus Tin Mill Tolgus Mount CornwallMiningworking tin mill, also hosts the Redruth Old Cornwall Society Town Museum
Trerice Trerice1.jpg Newquay CornwallHistoric houseOperated by the National Trust, Elizabethan manor house, orchard, lawn mower collection
Valhalla Museum Tresco CornwallMaritimeOutdoor exhibits including figureheads, name-boards and other decorative carvings from the days of sail [2]
Wayside Folk Museum Zennor CornwallLocalLocal history and culture
Wheal Martyn China Clay Country Park Wheal Martyn China Clay Museum - geograph.org.uk - 6098.jpg Treverbyn CornwallIndustry china clay mining industry, local clay communities and the modern china clay industry

Defunct museums

The former British Cycling Museum at Camelford Station CamelfordStationMastersHouseCornwall.jpg
The former British Cycling Museum at Camelford Station

See also

References

  1. "Smugglers' Museum" . Retrieved 14 April 2010.
  2. Taylor, James The Maritime Trust silver jubilee, 1969-1994. Maritime Trust
  3. Barnes, John Barnes Museum of Cinematography: catalogue of the collection. Saint Ives: Barnes Museum of Cinematography, 1967- (planned in 6 parts but only two published; John Barnes, b. 1920, was the author of many works on cinematography)
  4. Barnes, John The Barnes Collection: archives of the Barnes Museum of Cinematography. (printed for private circulation)
  5. Closed until further notice (05 Jan 2010) [ permanent dead link ]

Further reading