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Visit Penlee House & Museum

Penlee House is a Gallery, Museum, Cafe and Shop. Situated within Penlee Park, a space to reflect and great for family visits.

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A space for exhibitions & events

Alongside our Exhibition programme we run a variety of community events and workshops. The Newlyn School and Social history galleries change often. Find out what’s on.

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A space to learn

Penlee House is committed to lifelong learning. We run workshops for all age groups and offer a school workshop programme.

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A space for all

Built in 1865, as the home of the Branwell family. Penlee House is home to many paintings by members of the Newlyn School. It is also home to the Penzance Natural History and Antiquarian Society collection.

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You can search and browse our collections online. We also have a section dedicated to the Newlyn School.

Bruford, Marjorie

Marjorie Frances Bruford, known as ‘Midge’, was a school friend of Lamorna Birch’s daughter, Mornie. She came to Cornwall to attend the Forbes’ School of Painting and went on to study under Harold Harvey and Ernest Procter.

Biography

Marjorie Bruford – 1902 – 1958

Midge Bruford was born in Eastbourne, but was educated at Badminton House girls’ school in Bristol where she became friendly with Mornie Birch, daughter of the artist S.J.’Lamorna’ Birch. It was probably this friendship which first brought her to Cornwall.

She started her artistic training at Stanhope and Elizabeth Forbes’ School of Painting, supplemented by informal tuition from Birch. She later studied at Harold Harvey and Ernest Procter’s painting school, and exhibited alongside Harvey on several occasions.

Apart from a period of study in Paris, Midge Bruford remained in west Cornwall, finally settling in Paul village, not far from Newlyn. She exhibited at the Royal Academy thirty-two times between 1924 and 1955, and also showed work at the Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool; New English Art Club, and Goupil Gallery, London, as well as at Newlyn Art Gallery.

As well as being an artist, she also modelled for other painters, including Dod Procter who painted her several times.

Portfolio

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Visit Us

Penlee House is a beautiful art gallery and museum, set within sub-tropical gardens, with a great café.

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Exhibitions

Our vibrant exhibition programme celebrates the nationally important art and history of West Cornwall.

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Learning

From school visits to family activities, talks and walks, there are plenty of learning opportunities at Penlee House.

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Our Café

Enjoy a delicious lunch or coffee at the Orangery Café, with its sunny terrace overlooking the park.

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