One of the best social history, photograph and costume collections in the South West, the Museum of Cornish Life in Helston is a treasure trove of memories and curiosities any day of the week.

Housed in the town’s historic Market Buildings, the Museum is spread over five display halls on three floors, with thousands of objects that will keep you fascinated, entertained, and coming back for more.

Special events

The Museum’s programme of special exhibitions and talks is well worth a look too and, hot-on-the-heels of their February Animation Festival, events are now coming thick and fast throughout the year.

From March 7 – April 26 there’ll be a Cornish Springtime Exhibition to welcome the warmer and wetter months. From April showers to Cornish flowers, visitors can explore the meaning of Spring.

As part of this exhibition two free talks have been arranged – one looking at Saving historic monuments in the Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty on Tuesday March 17 and another with writer, art historians nd broadcaster Michael Bir, who’ll be sharing the history the Floor Fields of West Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly on April 27th.

Then, during the month of May there’s a focus on mental health and well-being. The Museum will be exploring their collection through the lens of well-being with a particular focus on sleep during Mental Health Awareness week. There will also be a series of free workshops.

Full details of the latest events can be found on the Museum’s Facebook page: facebook.com/musecornishlife

Regular happenings

A great visit for families, the Museum staff and volunteers run regular events and host school visits. During school holidays, the popular children’s clubs include Krafty Kids and activities themed around the Museum’s collection.

There’s also a book club and a wide range of volunteer groups specialising in various heritage areas, including costumes and digitisation of historic photographs, as well as research groups helping to stage events.

Find out more about the museum at: museumofcornishlife.co.uk