Museum of Cornish Life

The Museum of Cornish Life stands in Helston, a former market town in Cornwall. It occupies a former Market House built in 1837, with later additions including a meat market and a drill hall used by the 4th Battalion during the First World War. A cannon from the wreck of HMS Anson, lost off Loe Bar in 1807, stands in front of the building. The museum was founded in the market hall in 1949 and expanded in the 1980s and 1990s. Its collection covers the social and industrial history of The Lizard Peninsula, from mining and farming to home life between the 18th and 20th centuries. Since 2013, the South Kerrier Heritage Trust, a local charity, has managed the museum with the help of volunteers. Visitors find displays on Cornish life, including farming tools, fishing gear and household items from past centuries. The building itself reflects Helston’s history, with its original market hall, meat market and drill hall. The cannon outside adds a maritime touch to the setting.