Find out about: Helston Folk Museum

About Us

Helston Folk Museum

Housed in the former butter and meat markets, now also the Drill Hall, the museum was established in 1949. The collection is mainly Victorian and covers all aspects of life on the Lizard Peninsula. Additions in recent times include an Early Learning Area, art and costume galleries and a shop. New displays in 2009 included serpentine and wartime. The Loft Area includes a display about the famous local pugilist Bob Fitzsimmons. There is also a Mezzanine gallery used for art and craft exhibitions throughout the year

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Facilities

  • Toilets On-Site

    Toilets On-Site

  • Wheelchair access

    Wheelchair Access

  • Childrens activities

    Family friendly

  • Gift Shop

    Gift Shop

Disabled access via lift to first floor and mezzanine gallery.
Children's activities

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Our Collections

Handling Boxes
Victorian School Room
Butter and Egg Market
Costume Gallery
Local Personalities

 

Handling Boxes

The Museum hires handling boxes in a wide range of subjects for schools and groups. • World War One • World War Two • Holidays • Domestic Home Life • Toys • Archaeology • Materials • Cleaning Technology • Weighing and Measuring • Lighting • Fishing and Farming • Reminiscence

Victorian School Room

A product of partnership working between the Royal Cornwall Museum and Helston Folk Museum, this activity takes place in the reconstructed Victorian Schoolroom at Helston. Pupils take on the roles of pupils at a village school in 1891 and are given instruction by Mrs. Crawford.

Victorian School Room

Butter and Egg Market

The Butter and Egg Market, site of the original museum, provides a fascinating insight into Helston's civic and town history, from its origins right through to the 20th century, with topics including archaeology, geology, religion, civic, and Victorian domestic life.

Butter and Egg Market

The Costume Gallery

The Martin Matthews Costume Gallery was opened in July, 2002 There are early Victorian gentleman's smoking caps, leggings, and a prisoner of war shirt, as well as more conventional clothing. The Ladies Cabinet includes early footwear, capes and dresses from various periods.

Local Personalities

The museum has extensive information on various personalities of local interest. Bob Fitzsimmons 1863-1917 William Bickford 1774 – 1834 William Cookworthy 1705 – 1780 Guglielmo Marconi 1874 – 1937 Henry Trengrouse 1772 – 1854 William Penberthy Davies Gilbert, P.R.S., M.P. 1767-1840

Local Personalities
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Museum Videos

  • Bob Fitzsimmons historic 1909 fight against Bill Langs

Admission & Prices

Opening Hours
All Year
Mon-Sat 10.00am - 1.00pm

Plus extended opening hours
Mon, Tues, Thurs, and Fri
10.00am to 4.00pm and
Wed & Sat 10.00am to 1.00pm
only during the holidays specified.
Easter, Summer, Autumn half-term and the first three weeks in December.

The museum closes Christmas Eve and re-opens in the New Year on the 2nd Jan.