Callington Heritage Centre
Callington Museum and Heritage Centre is situated in the former chapel building on Liskeard Road, Callington. It opened on 2nd June 1994 and since then has attracted over 7,000 visitors.
Its exhibits span all aspects of the social and economic history of Callington and its surrounding parishes. As well as being a place of interest to visit, the Museum aims to provide a resource for those interested in our local history, whether professional or enthusiast.
The Museum has a permanent display of prehistory, mining and models of Callington town centre circa 1840, and Callington Railway Station. There is also a changing display of artefacts and documents. Three exhibitions are staged from April to October each year.
About Callington Heritage Centre
Opening times: Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and on the first Saturday of the month from 10 a.m to 1 p.m
Contact: 01579 389506 or email callingtonheritagecentre@gmail.com
Where to find us:
Latest News:
May News:
So a new season is upon us and once again it is all change. We are working very hard to make our presentations relevant and interesting to a broad spectrum of people. Easier said than done when the volunteer base you are trying to work with is ever shrinking, I know we are not alone in this. So if you are reading this in a quiet moment perhaps just pause and reflect on the possibility of volunteering doing something different from the usual routine. A chance to meet new people and find out more about the rich history of the town you live in and the district surrounding it.
It doesn’t matter if you are a newcomer, many who have helped in the past have been just that. As for commitment, it really is up to you and you will always be working with someone else who will give whatever support is necessary. You really can pick your own hours.
We open every Friday from the 10th April through to October from 10am to 4pm and similarly on the first Saturday of the month. A chance to engage with our visitors from home and abroad. So why not give it a try contact us on callingtonheritagecentre@gmail.com or ring me Chris Cansfield on 01752-851403 / 07518-830485 you will be made most welcome.
One thing that you learn from experience and Callington has seen plenty of this in it’s time is the adage “if you dont use it you will lose it”. So how much do we really value our services and facilities? Fortunately, there are still just enough people out there who actually care and are prepared to do something about it, make yourself one of those.
Interesting recent visitors – Mrs Vulliamy (apologies for rubbish spelling) who endowed us with two big boxes of photographic plates, all taken by the same individual and recovered from a house clearance, of scenes around Callington from 30-40 years ago. All we need now is a projector to view them!! Anyway should be very interesting!
Also visited by the “Haye” family who have roots in Callington (Haye Road, Haye Farm) going back 200 years with links to the Horndons. They have apparently some oils on canvas which they have pledged to
the HC, they live up in Wiltshire, so we shall see.
I am attaching a photograph taken in the 50’s of a Punch and Judy show in the Men’s Institute Kelly Bray principally because it shows standing in the background Michael Pearce (recently deceased). He was our bread delivery man for years (Pearces Bakery) and very fit (Cornish Wrestler). He used to jump over our garden gates on the way in (cant remember if it was with his basket or not)! Sad loss. We are situated in the old Chapel at the entrance to the Cemetery in Liskeard road look for our Sail Flag.
December News:
As you all are probably aware we are closed now until Easter. Everyone says it “I don’t know where the time goes” me included! So I will take this opportunity of thanking all our volunteers for their dedication over the past year. Likewise to those Callingtonians who have made the long trek out Liskeard Road to get to us. I trust you found the exercise worthwhile and we managed to answer the various queries you brought with you, at the same time as giving you a warm welcome.
We have been fortunate to receive many donations both monetary and in kind, and I must thank Adrian James for his work on the “Minutes” of the Kelly Bray Men’s Institute dating back to the 1930’s these volumes will take their place beside those of the WI Kelly Bray (which we already hold) very fitting as their buildings sat beside each other for decades.
My other favourite item donated by Mr Lawrence was a long photo of the staff and pupils of the Grammar School (we have many others) but not one bearing this date, dated May 1939, we all know what happened shortly after that and it begs the question “I wonder how many of the older pupils standing there survived that awful event”.
These items are priceless and we are proud to be their custodians. I suppose our most unusual bequest was the water pump (Brandon or Brendons of Callington) and granite trough courtesy of the estate of Daphne Pearce, this item as I write this piece has yet to find a home, but thanks to the Town Council, we think we may now have decided on a suitable site. Watch this space if you know where it is.
One other item I’ll mention is the leather bound half book dating from the mid 19thC written in long hand in ink itemising and dating every piece of work / repair made to carriage wheels and spokes by the owner and his respective charges. As we had a wheelwright in Callington behind the “The Coachmakers” we felt that this married up quite well and we like to think it was his!
As we have said many times before, although closed we are still able to be contacted, if you have any item or family history query let us know and we can arrange a visit or call at the Centre itself. Our e-mail is callingtonheritagecentre@gmail.com If you wish to ring better call me on 01752 851403 or messages might not get through. “Merry Christmas to one and all
August news
We have the privilege of meeting and answering questions and queries from both Callington based enquirers and from those farther afield, that’s why the task of stewarding at the Heritage Centre is so rewarding.
As ever, we would welcome anyone from the town or surrounding area to come and volunteer, you do not necessarily have to have “the knowledge” as that can mostly be looked up. Our stewards do whatever hours suit them within our current opening regime and are always accompanied, so if you have a natural curiosity why not get in touch or better still pop out and see us at the old Chapel at the entrance to the Cemetery you will be made very welcome.
Recently we have had a lady looking up any information on her house or block of houses, not always an easy one. The houses in question are those in Church St on the LHS on the way down and just past Trewartha G & D car park entrance and are fronted by cobbles-apart from finding a photo of the roofs we really could not find much, so anyone out there who might know more please get in touch.
It was also interesting to receive a gentleman, the Secretary I believe of the Men’s Institute Kelly Bray. Now I have to confess I have known the building all my life but certainly was not aware that it was still alive and well he has taken on the job of transcribing the minutes of their historic meetings. There are many tales I could tell from the times when we children aged about 8-12 used to bunk in and get a free game of billiards, yes, more often played than snooker in those days whilst we should not have done it, we did look after the place.
It was also used along with the WI building next door for staging events as it actually had a “stage”. I have a treasured photo of myself and all my friends laughing our socks off at a “Punch & Judy” show with parents sitting behind. I reckon it dates from the early 50s and includes Fernley Rundle, Jennie Pearce, Pauline, Valerie May, Leslie Burleigh and Janice, Robert Bryant, Peter Bryant and Jane, Margaret Mewton, Michael Pearce, that is just a few I can remember. When it was built I am not sure but we have wedding photos of the “Stallard” family (donated by Terry Davy) whose wedding had just taken place at the Methodist Chapel across the road, this photo was taken outside I think around 1937. My understanding was it was built for the use of the community but particularly the Railway workers.
Well that is it for the time being, just a reminder we are open every Friday from 10am – 4pm and the first Saturday of the month in the mornings only..Contact 01579-389506 / 01752-851403 or e-mail callingtonheritagecentre@gmail.com
July 2025
Well, here we are already into June. We have taken delivery of the last of the display boards, which replaced the heavier and less mobile variety. In the foyer, we now have our reconfigured VE Day board, which we will keep up for a little while longer. This is coupled with a feature on schoolchildren evacuees who were billeted in Callington. Rounding it all off are the profiles of Dr. Trowbridge and Isaac Foot the latter will indeed take up much more space.
Rather coincidentally, John V called in to see us, bearing gifts consisting of photos, personal letters, and tracts from the Foot family, collected over the years by his mother (a family friend). We were delighted to receive these, as they will further enhance our collection relating to this extraordinary local family.
Did you know that Callington in the 18th century was probably one of the most “tolled” towns? No, nothing to do with bells but rather the practice of charging vehicles (horses, carts, and anything else that moved) a fare to pass along certain stretches of road. These toll points were located at strategic spots on every entrance and exit to the town and raised considerable sums of money. This revenue, by all accounts, was used for the betterment of the existing rough and ready tracks, which in those days passed as roads.
This subject came up when some visitors asked about the locations of these toll points particularly the building used by toll keepers at the bottom of Saltash Road, where it meets Fore Street today. We were able to refer to our earliest town map from 1763, which apparently showed premises on either side of the road.
Thanks also to Sheila T., who gifted us a copy of her History of the PrimRaf, which picks up where Humphrey Buckingham had left off and brings it up to date thus completing the set. Also of interest was a black-and-white photo from 1949 showing children at the Primary School Christmas Party. Some are immediately recognisable, others less so but what a gem! If you think you might be in it, come out and pay us a visit!
We’re still open Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the first Saturday of the month from 10 a.m to 1 p.m. Any messages can be left on 01579-389506 or emailed to callingtonheritagecentre@gmail.com
June 2025
Well I think it can be safely said that VE Day celebrations went well and the UK as a while
once again put on a spectacular commemoration and more than rose to the occasion. Locally we did our bit and can thank all the various organisations in the town for their enthusiastic participations. At the Museum, we shall in view of certain groups soon to visit, be keeping our displays in place, as ever such displays take time and effort to create.
We shall be welcoming a WI Group and once again welcoming a delegation from Callington Primary who are reprising their visit of last year we all had great fun then and I seem to recall commenting afterwards “what a well informed little group they were and a pleasure to deal with” Thanks to the Town Council we have tided the foyer and removed all the redundant display boards, however that said we are now a little short of display surface as the replacement boards do not offer up the same “square footage” but it is nice not blunting your fingers on trying to insert drawing pins etc into an unforgiving surface!
However, it is all slowly coming together as we refresh the cabinets with new material filing away Gorsedh displays. On our theme of distinguished Callingtonians none could be more so than Isaac Foot and his family, resident at Pencrebar for decades. Solicitor, Preacher, Politician and bibliofile there is enough material to keep us going for some time!
I know it is a while now but I’m pretty sure I have not mentioned the passing of our dear friend Daphne Pearce. Daphne spent her whole life in Callington and there was not much she didn’t know about the town, a valuable font of knowledge and bizarre donations (the Edwardian ladies swimming costume) came from her! As with all these sad occasion, there was a lighter side and an opportunity to meet with members of her family, look through photo albums and become reacquainted with old school friends, we will miss her. The season is under way now, we have not moved and remain in the Chapel building at the entrance to the Cemetery on Liskeard Road, look out for our flag!
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Callington Town Trails Paperback – 1 Jan. 1988
FRIDGE MAGNET – Callington PL17 – UK Postcode
Retro Vintage 70s 80s Style Callington, United Kingdom T-Shirt
Callington Cornwall UK Fridge Magnet Bottle Opener
