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 of exceptional quality from 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, rich cultural heritage incorporating the historic collections of Penzance Town Council, Penwith District Council (now incorporated into 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 19th and early 20th 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.

The Art Collection

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.

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 Cafe

Our delightful licensed cafe, 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.

The Shop

Our well-stocked shop offers a wide range of prints, books, gifts and souvenirs. A mail-order service is available.

The Friends of Penlee House

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.