The Cornwall Blog

Photo by John Hersey The start of March saw the newly renovated Cornwall Museum and Art Gallery open its doors. Located in the heart of Truro, Cornwall's oldest museum gallery has just undergone a £2.3 million refurbishment, adding a gallery with over 500 artworks. Founded in 1818 by the Royal Institution of Cornwall, the space exists to tell the many stories of our culture-rich county. Though it's not only Cornwall is on display, there are over a million artefacts from all over the world. The mineral exhibition has been a recent draw, but now The Nature Gallery too has had an update with interactive displays depicting landscapes and wildlife from all over Cornwall.  The new gallery will mean you will be able to see art in all kinds of styles, from German, Italian and Dutch renaissance to English landscapes and of course the famous Newlyn schools and the modernism that thrived in St Ives with it's world-famous light.  As well as the permeant collection there will be new ar...

It is hard to miss the history of Cornwall, from tall ships and smugglers to tin mines and satellites - its all here. Every little town it seems has a museum to boast, perfect for a rainy day or for the generally curious. In my home town of Lostwithiel we have history in spades. Our ruin of Restormel Castle, the Duchy Palace once home of the Black Prince and even our tranquil river, a very long time ago, was the scene of tall ships and bustling commerce making Lostwithiel an important place, in fact the capitol of Cornwall!  The two roomed museum in the heart of town does a wonderful job of exploring the many layers of this little town and it got me thinking about what might be the best museums in Cornwall to see.  Let's go big first, well put together and interactive, the National Maritime Museum in Falmouth has plenty to captivate and inform, a great place for all the ages. Currently focusing on a pirate theme, kids will love diving into the history of Cornwall's checkered...

I thought this was a brilliant idea when I saw it, worth sharing far and wide! One of Cornwall's fine museums, Wheal Martyn, are holding a ' Relaxed Session ' on January the 18th from 3.30 - 5pm. These relaxed sessions are a chance for adults or children with autism, anxiety or similar who might prefer the chance to enjoy the museum at a quieter pace. There will be ASD-friendly activities with plenty of objects to handle. Wheal Martyn is based at a real Victorian clay works and shares the stories of Cornwall's mining history. There's space to explore with nature trails, a discovery centre and you can see Cornwall's largest working waterwheel. Having grown up with a brother with autism I think it's great when attractions try and see things from the point of view of someone who might be overwhelmed by a normal museum experience. Find out more here .