New Guidebook launched

Today sees the launch of a new guidebook to Penlee House Gallery - written by the members of the John Daniel Centre Art Group. The group, from the daycentre at Heamoor, have been regular visitors to the Gallery over the last two years, and have worked on many projects inspired by the paintings. This is their most ambitious project so far, and they hope it will inspire many similar groups to visit the Gallery and experience the wonderful paintings. Gallery Director Alison Bevan says, "We are absolutely delighted to have this superb Easy Read guide to Penlee house and are very grateful to all at the John Daniel Centre for their hard work in putting it together. We are committed to making the collections here accessible to as wide an audience as possible, and this guidebook is an important part of that process."

Several copies of the guidebook will be available from the reception desk and can be borrowed to take around the Gallery. Alternatively, you can download a copy here 

Long-lost treasure now on show

One of the most stunning Bronze Age items ever to be found in West Cornwall is now on show in Penlee House's archaeology gallery, where it will remain for the foreseeable future.  The Penwith Lunula is flat, crescent-shaped gold collar dating from the Early Bronze Age - possibly as far back as 2500 BC.  Most have been found in Ireland, but moderate numbers have also been found elsewhere in Europe: this example is one of four found in Cornwall and the only one to have been found in the Penwith area.

There is some mystery surrounding the find-spot of this particular lunula, which has been given as either Paul or Gwithian.  Its discovery was first recorded in 1783 by John Price, a Cornish antiquarian, who lived at Chywoone in Paul Parish.  In a letter to a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London he describes it being found: ‘in the hundred of Penwith, in this county, by a husbandman, in collecting manure nigh the remains of a circus which from description he apprehends to be composed of earth & not stone.’

It may be Price’s residence in Paul that led authorities to believe that it had been found in that parish.  A footnote in a now lost manuscript apparently claims that it was found in Gwithian.  This is supported by a much later account, written in 1860, which describes how it was found in Gwithian, taken to the author’s grandfather (an apothecary in Camborne) to be assayed, and was then sold to Mr Price.

On Price’s death in 1797, the lunula passed to his son.  By 1838, it was in the possession of Edward Trafford Leigh, a coin collector who was rector of Cheadle in Cheshire.  Leigh had bought it to prevent its export to America. He sold it to the British Museum for 25 guineas in 1838: it has remained there ever since.

After years of being accessible only to researchers in the British Museum, this beautiful, enigmatic object is back in the area it was originally found.  Thanks to the generosity of the British Museum Trustees, the long-term loan of this item to Penlee House has been agreed and a grant from Cornwall Council for additional security, together with the donation of a display case from the Treasures form the Earth project (funded by Renaissance and the Heritage Lottery Fund) have enabled us to put it on show.

PENLEE HOUSE ON A WINNING STREAK

'Treasures from the Earth' in running for Clore Award for Museum Learning

Penlee's project is on longlist of ten for £10,000 prize.

Last year, Penlee House Gallery and Museum's education team ran a series of archaeology workshops for children to coincide with the touring exhibition 'Treasures from the Earth.' Over 200 children took part in activities ranging from an archaeological 'dig', to Iron Age coin and pot making, storytelling and flintknapping. Two talks for adults also proved popular. Now the project could be in line for a major national award, as the longlist for the Clore Award for Museum Learning is announced.

The Award is administered by the Museum Prize Trust, created by the Art Fund, the Campaign for Museums, the Museums Association and National Heritage. It celebrates quality museum and gallery learning with chidren and young people and recognises achievements in learning programmes which develop the skills, knowledge, values and enjoyment of the participants.

Penlee is sharing the honours with nine other organisations nationwide, including the V & A, the Geffrye Museum, the Whitworth Art Gallery and the Yorkshire Museum.  The shortlist will be announced in May, with the £10,000 Award being made at a ceremony in London in June. Fingers crossed - and watch this space!

For more information on the Clore Award for Museum Learning, visit the Art Fund Prize website at www.artfundprize.org.uk

Penlee House named Best in the South West!

After Penlee House's 'hat trick' in the Cornwall Tourism Awards, being named as the top Small Visitor Attraction in the county for the third year running, we are delighted to announce that we have have now won GOLD in the South West Tourism Excellence Awards.  Penlee House won Silver in last year's Awards - the first time it had been shortlisted for the region - but to win Gold is a truly significant achievement in England's top region for tourism.  

The awards are based on a combination of information supplied by the venue and 'mystery shopper' feedback, as well as the judges' own research and knowledge.  Feedback on Penlee House was so good that the judges commented 'it is difficult to see how they could do what they do any better', describing it as 'an excellent small attraction'.

Director of Penlee House, Alison Bevan, said 'As well as being an accolade for our small team of staff and our many excellent volunteers, this award reflects the richness of the heritage on our doorstep.  Our collections and exhibitions showcase the fascinating history of the local area, largely as captured by the wealth of artistic talent West Cornwall has attracted over the years, and it is that which the public - and the judges - so enjoy seeing.'

Above is a photograph of Alison Bevan, Director, and Katie Herbert, Curatorial Officer, collecting the Gold award from Simon Calder and Teresa Driscoll (and sponsor Flagship Consulting) at the South West Tourism Excellence Awards at the Riviera International Conference Centre in Torquay on 6 February 2012. 

Click here for Western Morning News coverage of the Cornwall Tourism awards.