Tenby Museum and Art Gallery

Tenby Museum and Art Gallery stands in Tenby, a small coastal town in Pembrokeshire, South West Wales. It occupies a Grade II listed building that once served as a National school on Castle Hill. The museum opened in 1878 after a group of local trustees secured the former school for one shilling per year. Their aim was to house a collection of local geology, biology, archaeology and maritime artefacts. The building required repairs costing £44 12s 11d, carried out by local builder Lewis John. Early supporters included Edward Laws, who organised fundraising and wrote to prominent figures like E. J. Reed for donations. The museum is worth visiting for its long history and community roots. It began with the geological collection of the Reverend Gilbert N. Smith, purchased for £100. Among its founders were Charles Allen, Edward Laws and Dr Frederick Dyser, who contributed books and expertise. The museum later gained recognition through awards such as the Prince of Wales Award in 1993 and the Shoestring Award in 1996. In 2003, Prince Charles attended its 125th anniversary celebrations. Its art collection features works by Augustus and Gwen John, Kyffin Williams and John Piper. Visitors find rooms filled with local history, geology and maritime exhibits. The New Art Gallery, opened in 1995, displays changing contemporary art and crafts. The permanent collection includes paintings by Welsh artists alongside archaeological finds. The museum’s library holds scientific books donated by Dr Frederick Dyser. Displays cover Tenby’s maritime past and its role in regional history. The building itself, with its repaired roof and staircases, reflects the care of early trustees.