Penlee House

Penlee House is an art and history museum housed in a Victorian building from 1865 in Penzance. It holds extensive collections covering West Cornwall's artistic heritage and local history across many centuries.

The collection started in 1839 within a private residence and opened to the public as a museum in 1949. The building and its contents now document West Cornwall's evolution through centuries of art and material culture.

The museum displays paintings by artists of the Newlyn School who worked in the region between 1880 and 1940, capturing local landscapes and daily life. These works reflect how the artistic community engaged with Cornwall's coastal environment and communities.

The building has an Orangery Café with a terrace overlooking the adjacent park where visitors can get refreshments. The rooms are clearly laid out, making it easy to navigate through the collections and spend a relaxing visit.

The museum preserves objects spanning 6000 years of local history, including archaeological finds, mining artifacts, and fishing heritage. It also holds personal memorabilia from Humphry Davy, a local scientist born in Penzance who made important contributions to chemistry.

Location: Penzance

Inception: 1839

Official opening: 1949

Address: Morrab Road, Penzance, Cornwall, TR18 4HE

Website: https://penleehouse.org.uk

GPS coordinates: 50.11639,-5.54111

Latest update: December 12, 2025 09:00