In a landmark moment for the project, The Gardeners' House Penzance has appointed local heritage building contractor Jewell Construction Limited to undertake their major restoration project at their site in Morrab Gardens – and work began on site in early February.
Celebrating the natural environment - as well as keeping a record of the horticulture and botany of West Cornwall stretching back for many years - the project will see the refurbishment of the dilapidated former gardeners’ house in the heart of Morrab Gardens at the centre of Penzance.
Connecting people, planet and place, The Gardeners’ House Penzance will become an important centre for the community, helping to improve mental and physical wellbeing. The renovated building will become a home to wellbeing workshops, green community projects and a sensory garden.
Members of The Gardeners’ House Penzance team meet with Martin Jewell of Jewell Construction Limited, Cllr Louis Gardner, portfolio holder for the economy at Cornwall Council, Cllr Stephen Reynolds of Penzance Town Council and current Penzance mayor and Guy Pace, community link offer at Cornwall Council
The team plans to create a welcoming and calm space to support the local community, especially those from disadvantaged situations - using the heritage of Cornwall’s natural environment past and present, to inspire people and support their wellbeing.
Miki Ashton, Project Coordinator for The Gardeners’ House said: ““We are thrilled to announce that Jewell has joined our team at the Gardeners’ House. Their expertise and sensitivity in heritage restoration were precisely what we sought during the contracting process. This project is a difficult one, with limited access and existing structures to consider, requiring both care and attention. Jewell’s willingness and previous experience in engaging with local communities and residents in the area where they work were key factors in our decision to bring them on board. We are excited to have them on our team.”
Members of The Gardeners’ House Penzance team (with supporters from Morrab Library and Morrab Gardens) meet with Martin Jewell of Jewell Construction Limited, Cllr Louis Gardner, portfolio holder for the economy at Cornwall Council and Cllr Stephen Reynolds of Penzance Town Council and current Penzance mayor
Martin Tucker, Chairman of the Penzance Town Deal Board, said: “This is a key milestone for the project and the overall Town Deal programme in Penzance. With work starting on the Gardener’s House, we are starting to see the concrete benefits of the Town Deal investment in the town.
He added: “This funding is supporting local companies, bringing new life to dilapidated community assets, and helping local organisations grow and flourish. The board is excited to see the vision for the building come to life and is looking forward to seeing the creation of a unique resource centre for Penzance and Cornwall.”
Steve Jewell, co-owner of Jewell Construction Limited, added: “We are delighted to have won the contract to work on the restoration of The Gardeners’ House project. This is a building rich with history and we’re keen to bring our expertise to the table in bringing old buildings back to life. We’ve worked on heritage projects across Cornwall and we’re looking forward to working with The Gardeners’ House team to help realise their vision.”
Cllr Jim McKenna, from Penzance Town Council, said: "This is great news about the Gardeners' House beginning on site and to see Melissa Hardie's legacy live on. Well done to all involved."
Jewell Construction Limited is a family-owned Cornish business with several high-profile restoration and building projects to their name – including Redruth Buttermarket, Krowji and The Alverton Hotel in Truro.
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 their vision.
In addition, the project will also create a home for a unique archive of documents, books and illustrations. The ‘living archive’ collection will be made accessible to the public for the first time and highlight the history of Cornwall's natural heritage.
Donated by the Hypatia Trust, the ‘living archive’ showcases the achievements and stories from the last 200 years of the men and women connected to West Cornwall’s natural heritage. Its new home will mean that the important collection is safeguarded and preserved in Penzance so that the community, researchers and visitors can learn and be inspired by it.
The Gardeners’ House renovation will also include a community art project led by artists Jane Darke and Andrew Tebbs, working with the community to create designs inspired by illustrations and objects from the archive. Local craftspeople will then be commissioned to recreate these designs in stone, metal and wood that will feature in the Sensory Garden.
The Sensory Garden, made possible by generous funding from the Tanner Phoenix Trust, will be created between the Gardeners’ House and Pengarth Day Centre. It will give a tranquil safe space where people can reconnect with nature and hopes to enhance the lives of older people, particularly those living with dementia.
The project will work in partnership with local community groups and organisations, including Sustainable Penzance, Earth’s Green Guardians, Hypatia Trust and Pengarth Day Centre.
