Embedded at the centre of the transformed Cornwall Museum and Art Gallery, the Heart of Cornwall Gallery explores the region’s identity in bold and powerful new ways. 

In this ‘castle keep’ of Cornish culture and history, we tell interweaving stories of the region through archaeological finds, iconic artefacts, beautiful decorative art, precious photographs, and insightful films.  

Ahead of our reopening in March 2025, the museum team have curated our treasures afresh. Many objects that people know and love take pride of place, as well as some rarely seen artefacts from our stores and items borrowed from individuals and partner museums.

Artistic Director, Bryony Robins, shared this insight into the new-look gallery. 

“In the Heart of Cornwall Gallery, we explore how the Cornish identity manifests itself through the arts, sciences, and industry, as well as less tangible facets of ‘Cornishness’ like the region’s rich storytelling traditions, profound relationship with the landscape, and rebellious spirit. 

“We uncover why, over centuries, visitors have found a deep connection with a place where the land meets the sea. Members of the Cornish diaspora all over the world still identify strongly with the homeland and culture of their ancestors. In this gallery we show why Cornwall exerts such a pull on the heartstrings.” 

We talked to Collections and Engagement Manager, Jeni Woolcock, to find out more. 

What kind of stories are told within Heart of Cornwall Gallery, and why?  

“I’m really excited by the thematic approach in the gallery. The seven interweaving strands explored in the space are Cornish Passion and Identity, Migration and Mobility, Rebellion, Gold, Tales and Place, Wildlife, and finally Rock, Metal & Clay. 

This approach has allowed us to look afresh at enduring themes across expanses of time. In this way objects which feel more distant or obscure will be reframed, reminding us of their relevance and helping everyone to connect to the past.”

Can you give us an example?   

“One of the themes we look at is Cornish folklore and myth, and how these originally oral traditions connected peoples and places.  

For example, ancient people built stone circles in Cornwall to help make sense of their world, but the origins of these landmarks have fallen from common memory. With those histories lost, our ancestors in turn made up stories to make sense of their surroundings – like giants building stone monuments, or people being turned to stone for example.  

Nowadays we use science to help us understand our world, and yet folklore and myth still speak to us on a fundamentally human level. Cornwall remains a place that people associate with spirituality and the unknown, therefore Tales & Place is one of the themes we look at in the Heart of Cornwall Gallery.” 

What do you think people will find most surprising or unexpected?  

“There are some unusual objects which we’ve wanted to get out of our stores for a while, including documents which have most likely never been on display before. There’s a 300-year-old recipe for a beauty wash that used snails, and a piece of folk art made from a horse vertebra!

But I think the most surprises will be in the case that tells us how we know what we know. For example, several years ago we x-rayed the mummified ibis held in our collection and the results revealed some interesting details. The smallest things can tell us so much.” 

Which objects are you most excited about displaying again? 

“I’m excited to display the objects relating to rebellion. It’s a really important story which forms a key aspect of Cornish history. I’m looking forward to bringing objects related to this theme together on a permanent basis.” 

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