Built in 1865 as a gracious Victorian home, Penlee House has been converted to create a first class gallery and museum set within an attractive park. It specialises in showing the area's unique, rich cultural heritage incorporating the historic collections of Penzance Town Council, Penwith District Council (now incorporated into Cornwall Council) and Newlyn Art Gallery. 

 

A programme of changing exhibitions celebrates the skill and craftsmanship of painting in west Cornwall in the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries, usually including the world famous Newlyn School and Lamorna Group artists, such as Stanhope and Elizabeth Forbes, Walter Langley, Harold Harvey, Lamorna Birch and Laura Knight.  

 

Penlee House has a permanent collection of paintings which is actively being developed. Some of the best known works include The Rain it Raineth Every Day by Norman Garstin, School is Out by Elizabeth Forbes, Among the Missing by Walter Langley and On Paul Hill by Stanhope Forbes. Please note that although each exhibition includes selected works from our collection, there is no permanent display and the galleries are often closed between exhibitions: please check the What's On - Exhibitions section to find out what is on show before making a special journey.

 

Founded in 1839, the museum collections cover 6000 years of history in west Cornwall, from Penwith's awe-inspiring archaeological sites to the area's more recent social history.  The recently refurbished social history gallery houses a wealth of artefacts covering the area's fascinating and often quirky heritage.

 

Our delightful licensed café, with its sun-bathed terrace overlooking the park, offers a range of coffees, afternoon tea with home baked cakes and freshly prepared light lunches, using the best of local produce. 

 

Our well-stocked shop offers a wide range of prints, books, gifts and souvenirs. A mail-order service is available - click here to go to the Shop page to view our current mail order catalogue.

 

The Friends, a registered charity, provide voluntary help in the Gallery and raise funds to support our work. Benefits include free admission, shop discount, invitations to previews and a winter lecture programme: please visit the Friends page for further details.