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:
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 12 noon 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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