With over 1 million objects in the care of the museum, some wait a while for their moment in the spotlight. However, this month it’s the turn of one of our hurling balls, which has been shortlisted for the Cornwall Heritage Awards Object of the Year. 2026.

The awards celebrate the 80+ heritage sites which champion Cornwall’s unique history and culture. The Object of the Year is a highly coveted prize which is decided by public vote; four objects have been shortlisted and votes can be cast here. Voting closes on 20 April.

The theme of this year’s entries was community. The museum team choose to enter a silver-plated hurling ball to represent the unique spirit of Cornwall and how this manifests through public gatherings, celebrations and sport.

Hurling is a sport thought to have originated in Cornwall, and which has now all but died out. It’s a mix of rugby and football, played with a small silver-plated ball and plenty of energy, teamwork, and physicality. Traditionally, games were played on Saints’ Days or feasting celebrations, and the balls were inscribed with the names of the winners.

Hurling balls have wooden cores, over which an outer shell of sterling silver is hammered into two hemispheres held together by a band of silver.

This ball from 1856 weighs 3lbs 6oz and was won by Oliver Hocken of Truro aged 26 in a match played to celebrate the end of the Crimean War.

Jeni Woolcock, Collections Manager, said:

This ball is a link across centuries, commemorating peace after conflict, when communities came together in celebration. Holding it, you can almost hear the cheer of a festive day, and the spirit of endurance, courage, and camaraderie that defines Cornwall. It’s a reminder that hard times pass, that joy survives, and that our Cornish traditions are alive, precious, and worth protecting.