Penlee Gallery & Museum

Most of the local museums specialise in one subject, an exception to this is Penlee Gallery & Museum which covers pre history and the evolution of social life and culture in Cornwall.

The museum also possesses an art collection, focusing on the Newlyn School which includes famous artists such as Stanhope Forbes.

Located in Penlee Park off Morrab Road, a short walk from the town centre of Penzance, refer to map for directions.

Prehistory

Penwith has an extremely rich prehistory past.The exhibits from this era are substantially represented at Penlee Museum. The collection includes fine examples of flint arrow heads and bronze axes, a selection of which are shown below.

Image reproduced by kind permission of Penlee House Gallery and Museum.

Social Life and Culture

The displays of Penlee Museum cover subject matter particularly relevant to Penwith’s social history, including mining and fishing.

Image reproduced by kind permission of Penlee House Gallery and Museum.

Art Exhibits

Penlee Gallery is best known for its comprehensive and growing collection of  Newlyn School artwork. It contains works from such notables as Walter Langley, Stanhope Forbes and Norman Garstin, to name a few.

All images are protected by copyright and may not be reproduced in any form without express permission from Penlee Gallery. Due to limitations of digital photography the actual paintings will always be superior in quality to the images shown here.

Other art forms are also displayed in the gallery and museum. There is a collection of local ceramics, plus a first-rate display of Newlyn Copperware.

Photographic Collection

Penlee has an extensive photographic archive. The subjects covered are wide ranging, providing a complete social history of the area.

Exhibitions

Penlee Gallery has a dynamic and comprehensive exhibition schedule. Penlee calls on its large stock of stored works to rotate displays in conjunction with external loans. To see what is currently on, Tel 01736 363625 or check their website www.penleehouse.org.uk .

Image reproduced by kind permission of
Penlee House Gallery and Museum.

Shop

Available at the shop are a large range of prints, postcards and books relating to the subjects covered by the exhibitions and displays at Penlee.

Café

A café, the Orangery provides coffees, teas, cakes, sandwiches and light meals, during the museum's opening hours.

Penlee Gallery & Museum has wheel chair access.