Our Story so far
In the heart of Morrab Gardens, next to the Morrab Library, there was a building which is in a poor state of repair. When Morrab House was a private residence, this building would have been a hub of activity, containing the stables, fodder store and coach-house that were an important part of a nineteenth-century gentleman’s residence.
Since Penzance Corporation purchased Morrab House in 1889, the building suffered mixed fortunes. At times, it provided living accommodation for the Head Gardener and his family, at other times it was stabling for the donkey that pulled the garden’s lawnmower. In recent years. it had been used as a kitchen and mess room for the gardeners and volunteers.
We undertook an ambitious project to bring a near-derelict building back to life and to create a space which celebrated the landscape of West Cornwall, as well as its stories. Our work creates community projects inspired by those stories and the landscape.
A nine-year journey
The renovation project was the brainchid of Dr Melissa Hardie-Budden, the founder of the Hypatia Trust in Penzance.
Melissa’s vision was not only about transforming a dilapidated stable block, but also creating a vibrant centre for discovery and learning, a place to be cherished by the whole community.
Her work, which focused on community voices, nature, history, and the stories in our landscape, continues to inspire us and celebrates the things she loved about West Cornwall.
Her initial idea took us on a nine-year journey – securing funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Penzance Town Deal to make this dream a reality.
With support from Cornwall Council and Penzance Council too – and many others along the way – we embarked on a project to bring this building back to life.
Why did we decide to do this?
We want to support our community to grow by cultivating a relationship with the natural environment. Our work celebrates the rich heritage and natural tapestry of the land around West Cornwall – past, present and future – and brings it into our community projects.
Penzance needs spaces which can support environmental and community action. We provide this – whilst ensuring that our heritage is preserved and our community have access to opportunities to support their mental and physical wellbeing,
Social Deprivation
Underused Green Heritage
Struggling Sustainability
Despite the stunning natural beauty and thriving culture of Cornwall, there exists a different reality for many of its inhabitants. A significant portion of the population live on the cusp of poverty, ill-health, and isolation.
That’s why The Gardeners’ House intends to serve as a community outreach centre, providing a welcoming space for vulnerable individuals and engaging them in various activities.
The Gardeners’ House has been gifted a treasure trove of Cornish natural history by The Hypatia Trust. However, the collection is currently stored in an unsuitable space, putting it at risk of damage and making it inaccessible to the public.
Our goal is to create a permanent home and share it with the community where it can grow, be added to and evolve into a living community archive – allowing the unveiling of the past, recording the present and the future, to gain a deeper understanding of the world we live in and the roles we play.
Cornwall has long been used as a test-bed for great ideas. Pilot projects and grass-roots enthusiasm need to come together to address the climate crisis.
Our key delivery partner, Sustainable Penzance, has developed to do just that. We’ll offer a workspace that will provide a base for sustainable entrepreneurship and action, and income from hiring out the space will support our charity’s own resilience and financial sustainability.
Discover what’s on offer at the Gardeners’ House
Take a look around the Gardeners’ House, explore what’s on offer and discover the different ways you can get involved.
Our Funders
The Gardeners’ House, a charity based in Penzance, received £2.2 million from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, as well as a grant of £896,000 from the Penzance Town Deal fund to help realise our vision.