St Agnes Museum

An award-winning volunteer-run museum comprising artefacts and curios relating to the Parish of St Agnes, a beautiful coastal area with a rich history of tin and copper mining as well as fishing, although today its main trade is tourism. A visit to the museum will enhance your understanding of this special history and can be complemented with one of many walks taking in the historic mine engine house remains or lunch in one of the many restaurants, cafes or pubs.

The Museum was established in 1984 and moved to its current location in the old Chapel of Rest in 1990.

Opie Art Collection

John Opie R.A. was born in St Agnes Parish. This paint box was presented to him in 1806, the year before his death. It is possible that it was given to him as an official recognition of his acceptance by the Royal Academy as Professor of Painting.
Archaeology

Learn more about the ancient history of our Parish; the well at Chapel Porth, the mysterious Bolster Bank. Quern stones and items related to Medieval mining are also on display and we have a collection of stone tools on loan from the Royal Cornwall Museum.
Natural History

We have a beautiful hand made and realistic Natural History display created by a local artist showing many native species ranging from adders to jackdaws - including a bone from a whale washed ashore in St. Agnes - and causing quite a stink - during the Second World War.
Mining

Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape is a UNESCO World Heritage Site(http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1215) . St. Agnes Museum represents the mining heritage of the Parish and the World Heritage Status of the area. The parish has a rich mining history and the museum not only preserves mining artefacts and records, but actively promotes the preservation of local mining buildings.
Maritime

Today St. Agnes coastline is most well known for its attraction as a holiday resort but in centuries past the harbour at Trevaunance had an entirely different role as a port for the shipping in and out of important resources, principally between St. Agnes and Wales or Ireland.

Admission & prices

Free Admission

Disabled Access

Open daily from 10.30am - 5.00pm

From April 1st to the end of October

Visits outside of these times by private arrangement.

Find us

From the A30 take the B3277 toward St Agnes. After you pass the village welcome sign, the Museum is on the left, opposite Penwinnick Parc, a few yards before the mini roundabout.

There is no dedicated parking at the museum; parking is in the village car park on Trelawny Road, just 5 minutes walk away.

You can travel by bus. From Truro take the 85 (First), 583 (Western Greyhound) or 403 (Summercourt).

Museum news

View all news articles

Covid 19 precautions

St Agnes Museum remains Closed due to Covid-19......

Read article
Signal Box Sign Comes Home

Recently St Agnes Museum Trust were successful in bidding in a nerve wracking auction for the 72" long cast iron sign that used to be on the side of the old signal box at St Agnes Railway station......

Read article

Information

* Wheelchair Access to Ground Floor only.
* Virtual access to upper floor displays.
* There is a large car park in the village centre, next to the library, which uses an Honesty Box scheme.
* The museum is one of 10 Local Information Points

Museum arranged on two floors with virtual access by computer to the upper floor collection for those unable to use stairs. Large Print guide available.

Friendly volunteer staff with a wealth of local knowledge.

Children's Activities free of charge including a treasure hunt type activity with a small prize, a "brass" rubbing and an audio story about a leatherback turtle.

Small shop selling local interest books, children's books, small toys and mementos. We source most of our stock locally and this includes several attractive items made of local tin. An ideal place to pop in and find something special from St. Agnes for both holiday-makers and locals alike.

A small St. Agnes Parish family History/Genealogy research section.

Group visits welcome at any time. For a guided visit please make an appointment.

Education Outreach materials available (Primary Schools only). Main topics are Mining and World War II; other subjects could be covered by arrangement.

Penwinnick Road
St Agnes
TR5 0PA

T: 01872 552301
E: info@stagnesmuseum.org.uk