Penrith and Eden Museum has an acquisition policy which aims to collect, preserve and display material reflecting the history and culture of Penrith and Eden. Its range is broad including, for example, a fossil dinosaur footprint from the sandstone of the Eden Valley, objects from the Stone Age and the Roman period, the medieval seal of Penrith and the old market toll measures.
Counting individual items in group deposits the Museum's collection comprises around ten thousand accessions relating to the archaeology, natural, social and cultural history of the area. The fine art collection encompasses a fine group of Dutch and Flemish landscape and genre paintings, local topographical views and contemporary works by Eden artists Phil Morsman, Alan Stones, Lorna Graves, David Boyd and William S. Cowper. The 19th century Penrith and Eden artists Jacob Thompson, Thomas Bland and Edward Hobley are well represented and important works by the former have recently been acquired with grants from the Art Fund and the V&A/MLA Purchase Grant Scheme.
Continental paintings owned by Penrith and Eden Museum can be viewed on the VADS webpage Penrith Museum.
There also mementoes of personalities such as Trooper William Pearson, wrestler William Jameson and Percy Toplis the so-called 'Monocled Mutineer'
Museum Curators
Penrith Museum curators are available to answer questions on current and future exhibitions as well as any other questions concerning the museum:
- Contact: Dr Sydney T Chapman or Mrs Judith Clarke, MA AMA, Joint Curators,
- Address: Penrith Museum, Robinson School, Penrith CA11 7PT
- Telephone: 01768 865105
- Email: museum@eden.gov.uk
