Penrith Museum is located at the heart of the bustling market town of Penrith. The Museum is housed in Robinson's School, an Elizabethan building dating from 1670 and used as a school until the early 1970s. It was originally a charity school for poor girls and was converted by Eden District Council in 1990 into an attractive local history museum and Tourist Information Centre. Plans to move the museum to Rheged were turned down by the Council in 2006.
Inside you can explore the history, geology and archaeology of Penrith and the Eden Valley. Exhibits include pottery from the Roman fort near Plumpton and prehistoric 'cup and ring' stones from Little Meg Stone Circle. There is also gallery space which provides a year-round programme of exhibitions of both historical and contemporary arts interest.
Penrith - A Historical Record in Photographs
The Museum has published a fully illustrated book "Penrith - A Historical Record in Photographs" about the history of Penrith and the surrounding district which is available from the Tourist Information Centre, price £15.00 plus p&p. To order please complete an Order Form (PDF: 20Kb / 1 page)
Living Among the Monuments
Penrith Museum is coordinating a major new project supported by a grant from the Local Heritage Initiative (Heritage Lottery Fund). 'Living Among the Monuments' explores the amazing Neolithic and Bronze Age stone circles and henges of the Vale of Eden through a programme of guided walks, public talks and archaeological fieldwork. A free colour brochure with more information about the project is available from the museum.
The 'Stones, Circles, Landscape and Art' exhibition was part of the project and featured interpretative displays of Neolithic and Bronze Age artefacts alongside contemporary artworks, supported by the Arts Councils "Grants for the Arts" programme.
Current Exhibition
Penrith and Eden Museum are currently exhibiting 'A Celebratory 125th Anniversary Display'.
One of the core functions of the Museum is education. Free handling sessions offer an opportunity to discover objects normally kept in the storerooms, making the collections more accessible for all. Building on the museum visit, schools and other groups can then book outreach workshops with one of our creative team. Find more educational resource material by looking at Education and Lifelong Learning. To learn more about the area in the Second World War see 'The Home Front in Penrith and Eden'.
Expert advice is available without charge
The Museum curators are pleased to supply additional information about the collections and to offer advice on the history of Penrith and the Vale of Eden. If have a historical item of interest that you would like to identify, or perhaps donate, please arrange to visit us on (01768) 865105, or by email at museum@eden.gov.uk.
Opening times
Open all year
Monday to Saturday 10am - 5pm.
Sunday, April to October, 1pm - 4.45pm.
Admission is free
Robinson's School, Middlegate, Penrith, Cumbria, CA11 7PT
