Penlee House Gallery & Museum

Penlee House Gallery & Museum is the only Cornish venue specialising in the Newlyn School and early St Ives artists (c.1880 - 1940). All exhibitions include west Cornwall's important and unique historic art, incorporating paintings from both public and private collections.

About Penlee House 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 cultural heritage incorporating the historic collections of Penzance Town Council, Cornwall Council and Newlyn Art Gallery.

The Galleries A programme of changing exhibitions celebrates the skill and craftsmanship of painting in west Cornwall in the late ninetheenth and early twentieth centuries.

The Art Collection Penlee House has a permanent collection of paintings which is actively being developed. Some of the best known works from the renowned Newlyn School includeThe 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 check the What's On - Exhibitions section to find out what is on show before making a special journey.

The Museum 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. 

The Orangery Café Our licensed café, with its 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.

Families and children There is a varied programme of free, drop-in 'make and take' workshops on Saturdays from 2.30pm to 3.30pm as well as bookable or drop-in activities during the school holidays. We also have quizzes and a range of' help-yourself' colouring activities to keep the little ones occupied.Visit the events page for more information about our family programme.

Mail Order and Online Shop Our well-stocked shop offers a wide range of prints, books, gifts and souvenirs. A mail order service is available and an online selection is also available through the Cornwall Shop of Treasures.

Location: Penzance, UK