Museum news

As #MuseumWeek 2015 draws to a close, we take a look back at how St Agnes Museum’s Leatherback Turtle interpreted each hashtag on Twitter.

Monday: #secretsMW

5m jawbones of fin whale buried in manure 2010 in secret #stagnes location to clean for display #museumweek #secrets pic.twitter.com/1ElDd2bwNz

— Leatherback Turtle (@stagnesturtle) March 23, 2015

Tuesday: #souvenirsMW

VAD nurse Ada Garland's WW1 plate – one of many #stagnes war-time souvenirs on display here #SouvenirsMW #MuseumWeek pic.twitter.com/1BhxmgqMXe

— Leatherback Turtle (@stagnesturtle) March 24, 2015

Wednesday: #architectureMW

#stagnesmuseum once a chapel of rest. 2 main doors separated #CofE & #Methodist funerals #MuseumWeek #ArchitectureMW pic.twitter.com/rEUmUmrHbz

— Leatherback Turtle (@stagnesturtle) March 25, 2015

Thursday: #inspirationMW

Then and now iconic Wheal Coates beloved of artists and painters. Its story told at #stagnesmuseum #inspirationMW pic.twitter.com/jo6cDtM9rP

— Leatherback Turtle (@stagnesturtle) March 26, 2015

Friday: #familyMW

Whole family will love railway display at #stagnesmuseum – model donated by maker Mike Hockley #FamilyMW #MuseumWeek pic.twitter.com/a5K64DjVD7

— Leatherback Turtle (@stagnesturtle) March 27, 2015

Saturday: #favMW

I'm children's #favMW – adults too! Even have my own recorded story: Sam and the Leatherback Turtle! #MuseumWeek pic.twitter.com/mELi8zeVLt

— Leatherback Turtle (@stagnesturtle) March 28, 2015

Sunday: #poseMW

They knew how to strike a #poseMW in those days! Outside #ChapelPorthCafe without the hedgehogs! #MuseumWeek pic.twitter.com/jCAj4fy4K7

— Leatherback Turtle (@stagnesturtle) March 29, 2015

Follow @stagnesturtle on Twitter

Find out more on the #MuseumWeek website

Despite the wind and gales, many Members made their way to the Museum on Saturday 28 March for our annual Members’ Preview to enjoy delicious nibbles and a variety of drinks generously provided by Mandy Kimmins and Printout Printing Services and served with a smile by Mandy, Jain, Ellie and Gracie. It was lovely to see so many people.

It was the first chance for Members to see the changes made at the Museum over the winter, in particular three very different paintings, old Churchtown by Gwen Clay, which was one of her favourite paintings, St Agnes Church by Tony Giles, and a maritime painting of the Trevellas by Peter Davies, and in pride of place, a stunningly detailed model of St Agnes Station by Mike Hockley of Falmouth, the centerpiece of our new railway display.

The display is on the first floor in the only cabinet large enough to accommodate it. Alongside the model is the recently purchased sign from the signalbox and the two train staffs. There is also a 20-minute film of the railway journey from Chacewater to Newquay. Everyone agreed that our Curator, Clare Murton, and her helpers had excelled themselves again.

Chairman, Roger Radcliffe, thanked Mandy and her helpers for a lovely morning and presented them with tokens of our appreciation.

Warm sunshine tempted our supporters to come to the Spring Coffee Morning in St Agnes Church Hall on Saturday 21 March when a fantastic £466 was raised from a variety of stalls, including a Museum Shop stall showcasing some of the items which will be on sale when the Museum is open. In addition, our Membership Secretary took £160 in subscriptions.

Cakes and bushy tomato plants proved popular and everyone enjoyed a good cup of coffee and a chat. Warmest thanks to all who supported it.

Our 31st Annual General Meeting of the St Agnes Museum Trust was held at the Methodist Church, British Road, St Agnes, on Wednesday 11 February – read about the AGM here.

An emergency lighting system has just been installed at the Museum, thanks to a Community Chest grant from Cornwall Council. We would like to thank our Councillor, Pete Mitchell, for arranging this.

St Agnes Museum Trust held its AGM on 11 February when Chairman, Roger Radcliffe, welcomed some 50 Members to the Methodist Church Hall. A very successful year was reported, with Treasurer, Sue Amor, reporting an annual balance of £602, and a rise in both donations and subscriptions of 25%. The Museum shop continues to thrive, with some items now available online. Clare Murton, the Honorary Curator, reported 9500 items now stored on the Museum’s database, along with 12000 photos.

Among the many wonderful, recent donations were two paintings – one of St Agnes Church by Tony Giles, and another of the 3-masted schooner Trevellas, built at Trevaunance Cove in 1876 by M T Hitchens.

Warmest thanks to all the volunteers were expressed by Roger Radcliffe who described them as an “outstanding team”.

Dr Christopher Whitworth then led the audience on an Armchair Underwater Safari, showing superb photos from his dives around Bawden Rocks. He illustrated a huge variety of colourful creatures from sea anemones to starfish, and jellyfish to wrasse, with their rare ability to change sex. It was an entertaining end to the evening.

Now the Museum is looking forward to opening on Good Friday 3 April when the main new exhibit will be a railway exhibition featuring both recent purchases and a scale model of St Agnes Station which will only just fit in the cabinet. We look forward to welcoming visitors old and new!