The Morrab Library

Kernow to the Crystal Palace: Mary Kelynack’s Extraordinary Journey - a talk from Pamela Vass.
2026-04-15 14:00 - 15:30 (Europe/London) | Morrab Library
In August 1851 a curiously dressed, elderly woman was seen trudging along Southampton High Street. Passers by couldn’t fail to notice her, she wore a huge beaver bonnet and carried a corracle-like basket on her back. She was a Cornish fisherwoman, she said, in her 84th year, and was walking to London from the Land’s End to see the Great Exhibition.

Mary Kelynack spent her entire life in the small community of Newlyn in the far west of Cornwall. Yet she became so inspired by the wonders of the Great Exhibition in the Crystal Palace that she resolved to go. Travelling by steamer, coach or train was beyond her means but there was one thing she could do – walk.

Before long she had become quite a celebrity – noticed at the Great Exhibition, taking tea with the Lord Mayor, interviewed by the Illustrated London News, modelled by a famous sculptor, having a song and a polka named after her… and even greeting the Queen.

This illustrated presentation reveals the truth behind the Cornish legend that is Mary Kelynack, covering her extraordinary journey, her adventures in London and her final, and previously unreported, adventure.
TICKETS

Tickets are allocated by a ballot system.

Please email enquiries@morrablibrary.org.uk or call 01736 364474 to be entered into the ballot for a ticket. The ballot closes on Monday 6th April.

Entry to this event is free but donations are welcomed to help support The Morrab Library (suggested £5).

Refreshments will be provided after the talk.

Copies of Pamela’s book will be sold at the talk.

Super 'Spring' Storytime with Jak Stringer
2026-04-16 10:30 - 12:30
The amazing true story of Mr Ellis and the boat he built in his Cornish back yard in 1906. He had never built a boat before, but from old planks, boxes and the help of the community, something incredible happened! This session includes super fun activities such as building boats, sailing them on water, painting our community, and weaving fishing nets.
Super Storytime is a journey for 4 to 8-year-olds but there will be refreshments for the grown-ups they bring along. Booking is essential so please let us know if you would like to join us so we can make sure we have enough cake!
Contact us at enquiries@morrablibrary.org.uk or telephone 01736 364474 to book a place. Entry to this event is free but donations are welcomed to help support The Morrab Library (suggested £5).

Free tour of The Morrab Library
2026-04-17 14:00 - 15:00, 2026-04-24 14:00 - 15:00, 2026-05-01 14:00 - 15:00, 2026-05-08 14:00 - 15:00, 2026-05-15 14:00 - 15:00, 2026-05-22 14:00 - 15:00, 2026-05-29 14:00 - 15:00, 2026-06-05 14:00 - 15:00 and 2 more dates
All are welcome to join a free guided tour of The Morrab Library every Friday at 2pm. This is an opportunity to learn more about our beautiful independent Library and the collections within.
The tour begins at 2pm, it is drop-in and there is no need to book. If you plan to bring a large group (6+ people) please email enquiries@morrablibrary.org.uk and we will do our best to accommodate you.
For accessibility information, please click here.
We also welcome visitors to the Library at any time during our opening hours (10am – 4pm, Tuesday to Saturday) when you are welcome to pick up a map of the Library at the front desk and explore the library.

A Cornish Geek l T Shirt painting workshop
2026-04-18 13:30 - 15:30
Join Emma, aka A Cornish Geek, for a family-friendly afternoon of creative wellbeing. Drop in from 1.30-3.30pm to paint a t-shirt (sizes 3-4 years up to adult XXL) and learn more about journaling for all ages. £5/person. T-shirts are an additional £4.
Find out more about Emma’s work here: https://acornishgeek.com/

Library closed for filming
2026-04-28 - 2026-05-01
The Library will be closed for a filming project.

Relaxed Book Group at The Morrab Library
2026-04-28 14:00 - 15:00, 2026-05-26 14:00 - 15:00
About the group:
A friendly group for anyone who loves books but doesn’t want the pressure of a traditional book club.
Rather than reading a specific book, we share what’s on our bookshelf or simply come for tea, biscuits and company in the beautiful book-filled atmosphere of The Morrab library.
No library membership is required and there’s no compulsory reading list.
Audiobook listeners are just as welcome as traditional readers.
We explore all types of books, swap books and share recommendations. Our discussions focus on what we’re looking for in a book and whether and when, we’ve found it.
When: The last Tuesday of the month, from 2pm-3pm. The first session will take place on Tuesday 25th March
Where: The Morrab Library, Morrab Gardens, Penzance, TR18 4DA
How to book: To join the group contact Jo Buckingham by email jo.buckingham.palace@gmail.com
Suggested donation £3.
About the group leader:
Joanna Buckingham started her first relaxed book group with friends in 2019 and got the idea of starting one at Morrab Library when working as a social prescriber as a way of creating supportive communities.
She loves the camaraderie and support of doing things in groups and the immersive experience of reading. She loves reading widely across many genres.
She’s organised group events and experiences in such diverse locations as tall ships and tin mines.
Joanna has set up and supported numerous groups whilst working in the museum and adventurous activity industry and as a social prescriber.
She is a level 3 trained counsellor and knows the importance of both being a good listener and having a good book to fall back on in times of need (Cold Comfort farm by Stella Gibbons always works for her)

No Library tour this Friday
2026-05-01
There will be no Library tour on Friday as the Library is closed for a filming project.

The Morrab Library's AGM 2026
2026-05-11 10:30 - 12:00 | The Lugger Hotel, Marine Terrace, Penzance, TR18 4DL, United Kingdom
The Annual General Meeting of The Morrab Library will take place on Monday 11th May, 2026 at 11.00am at the Lugger Inn Hotel, Marine Terrace, Penzance TR18 4DL.
Refreshments will be served from 10.30am, when you will have the opportunity to meet and chat with the Trustees.
The business of the meeting will be to present the annual statement of accounts for The Morrab Library, to appoint the examining accountants and to elect new trustees (Find out more about our Trustees here: https://morrablibrary.org.uk/trustee/ ). You can view the Agenda here.
An extract from the accounts which will form the basis of the Honorary Treasurer’s presentation can be viewed here. You can access a full copy of the library accounts via the Charity Commission by clicking on this link.
A copy of the Draft Minutes of the Annual General Meeting of 2025, which require approval at this meeting, can be viewed by clicking on this link.
The window of opportunity to apply for a Proxy vote has now closed.
Please remember that you must be a current member to be able to vote, and it is only possible for one member to vote per subscription.
We look forward to welcoming you to the AGM this year.

Library Talks l Sea Marked: Throwing a line to a coastal past with Linda Cracknell
2026-05-13 14:00 - 15:00
Our next Library talk will be with Linda Cracknell entitled “Sea Marked: Throwing a Line to a Coastal Past“. This will take place in the Reading Room from 2pm to 3pm on Wednesday 13th May.
Linda Cracknell will tell the inside story of her most recent book ‘Sea Marked: Throwing a Line to a Coastal Past’.
It begins with her mother (Jenny Scanlan, a previous Honorary Librarian at Morrab Library) taking the helm of historic West Country coastal trading ship, Bessie Ellen, across Mount’s Bay. This prompts an adventure in search of their shared sea-ancestry in North Devon.
It takes a number of years, and includes travelling waters and shores between the islands of Orkney and Scilly as well as delving into archives and examining the emotional cargo, in particular for women, of ‘sea-determined lives’ through the generations.
‘A richly textured melding of memoir and social history’, Linda will illustrate the story told in the book with photographs.
Copies of Linda’s book are available for sale through our friends from Edge of the World afterwards too.
Please email enquiries@morrablibrary.org.uk or call 01736 364474 to be entered into the ballot for a ticket. The ballot closes on Monday 4th May.
Entry to this event is free but donations are welcomed to help support The Morrab Library (suggested £5).

Emma Farley Stationary Week workshops
2026-05-15 - 2026-05-16
Celebrate National Stationery Week with me!
Join me for two days of creative fun at The Morrab Library with hands-on workshops featuring journaling, lettering, and lots of epic freebies!
15 May – Adults Day (£8 per workshop)
10:00 Morning pages journaling with Studio Pens Ltd
11:05 Dip pen calligraphy with Manuscript Pen Company Ltd
12:10 Blended brush lettering with Pentel UK
13:40 Ikigai journaling with Under the Rowan Trees
14:45 Colourful journaling with STAEDTLER
Over £100 worth of stationery freebies!
Hot drinks provided (bring a packed lunch if staying all day)
16 May – Family Day (£5 per person)
Perfect for all ages (children must be accompanied):
10:30 Journaling workshop with STAEDTLER
11:30 T-shirt painting (2 sessions)
Over £50 worth of freebies!
Booking is essential – email e.farley27@gmail.com
Come and get creative, try something new, and celebrate the joy of stationery

Library Talks I A History of the Penzance Moyles in 25 Objects with Vyvyen Brendon
2026-05-23 10:30 - 11:30
Our next Library talk will be with Vyvyen Brendon entitled “A History of the Penzance Moyles in 25 Objects”. This will take place in the Reading Room from 10:30am to 11:30am on Saturday 23rd May.
This talk focuses on the large Penzance family of Vyvyen’s great-great-grandfather, John Grenfell Moyle.
Following the example of Neil MacGregor’s radio series ‘A History of the World in 100 Objects’, she will tell the story of her forebears through 25 artefacts presented on Powerpoint.
Some are family mementoes which she has now returned to their places of origin, to be housed in the Morrab Library, Penlee House or the Isles of Scilly Museum. Others are treasure trove which she has retrieved by various means.
These ‘signals from the past’ cast light on the people who used them and on the world in which they lived. They may puzzle, surprise, delight or even shock us.
Please email enquiries@morrablibrary.org.uk or call 01736 364474 to be entered into the ballot for a ticket. The ballot closes on Thursday 14th May.
Copies of Vyvyen’s book will be available for purchase after the talk.
Entry to this event is free but donations are welcomed to help support The Morrab Library (suggested £5).

The Biscuit Tin of Memories - writing workshop with Carolyn Savidge
2026-05-27 10:00 - 15:00 | Morrab Library
UPDATE: The afternoon session is now sold out – tickets are still available for the morning.
Join artist Carolyn Savidge as we delve into her Biscuit Tin of Memories, using objects to evoke emotions and senses from memories. This workshop is about expressing in words the things that are left unsaid, and using these collective fragments of text to create a paper quilt, which will be displayed in the library.
Our memories make us who we are. Often, little is required to summon them, a familiar sound, a smell. And sometimes we seek to keep them safer, setting aside mementos, fragments, tokens of our passage. The clues to what defines us are placed gently, perhaps, inside an old biscuit tin.
Carolyn investigates the connection between our memories and who we are now. What fragments of the past do we preserve? The hope, though this workshop, is that you will delve into your own Biscuit Tin of Memories and to consider how the past has shaped your own narrative.
Your words will be shared in a work where Carolyn will create a paper quilt, stitching together these fragments to form a collective tapestry of ideas and emotions.
Based in Newlyn, Carolyn is an artist, filmmaker, choreographer, writer, performer, and former lecturer and teacher, and has recently become a member of the Newlyn Society of Artists. Find out more about Carolyn through her website: www.Carolynsavidgeartist.co.uk or you can follow her on Instagram: @carolynsavidge.
Donations to the library are welcome on the day.
BOOKING: Please contact Carolyn directly at: carolynsavidge@aol.com or telephone 07980 540973 to reserve a space.

CANCELLED EVENT - Super Storytime with Jan Pearson
2026-05-28 10:30 - 12:00 | Morrab Library
CANCELLED EVENT – Join Jan and Lisa at The Morrab Library to hear the story of the rebellious teddy bear, Ruby, written by Maggie Glen. This will take place in the Reading Room on Thursday 28th May from 10.30am – 12pm. The story will be followed by lots of activities inspired by the book.
Super Storytime is a journey for 4 to 8-year-olds but there will be refreshments for the grown-ups they bring along! Booking is essential so please let us know if you would like to join us so we can make sure we have enough cake!
Contact us at enquiries@morrablibrary.org.uk or telephone 01736 364474 to book a place. Entry to this event is free but donations are welcomed to help support The Morrab Library (suggested £5).

Medieval Identities: Exploring seal matrices workshop with Laura Miucci
2026-06-06 10:30 - 12:30
Have you ever wondered about peoples’ relationships with identity in Medieval Cornwall?
How could they prove a letter came from them?
Or that a shipment of their produce arrived?
With seals of course!
Join Laura as we explore Medieval society – through their seal matrices! We will begin with a short talk exploring some of the real-life examples of seals: all found in Cornwall!
From the merchant class copper-alloy trading seals, to personalised silver seals with intricate designs. This holistic talk-workshop will explore how people interacted with identity, and in turn, how we see ourselves today.
fter the talk, we will have a go at designing our own individual seal matrix. And of course, they can be taken home as a keepsake.
Laura is a qualified archaeologist and the former Finds Liaison Officer for Cornwall & Isles of Scilly, so please feel free to bring along any seal matrices you may have at home for identification.
Tickets are £12 (plus booking fee)
Book your space via the link here: www.tickettailor.com/events/lorepiece/2174966

Library Talks l The Tudor Court and Its World: The Paintings, Drawings and Miniatures of Holbein and Hilliard with Mark Cottle
2026-06-10 14:00 - 15:00
Our next Library talk will be with Mark Cottle entitled “The Tudor Court and Its World: The Paintings, Drawings and Miniatures of Holbein and Hilliard.“. This will take place in the Reading Room from 2pm to 3pm on Wednesday 10th June.
The Tudor court and its world are captured unforgettably by Hans Holbein under Henry VIII, and Nicholas Hilliard under Elizabeth I.
Between them, these two artists transformed English art. Holbein set radically new standards in portraiture in his hauntingly evocative drawings and his exquisite miniatures. Hilliard, in turn, effectively established the miniature – “England’s greatest contribution to the art of the Renaissance” (Sir Roy Strong), – as the art form, personal and public, which would last unchallenged until the arrival of photography in the 1840’s. Without these two artists, English art as a whole could be immeasurably the poorer.
Mark Cottle is a freelance lecturer with many years’ experience in lecturing at home and abroad. He lives in Devon and is a frequent visitor to Penzance – giving illustrated talks at The Morrab Library and institutions around the world.
Please email enquiries@morrablibrary.org.uk or call 01736 364474 to be entered into the ballot for a ticket. The ballot closes on Monday 1st June.
Entry to this event is free but donations are welcomed to help support The Morrab Library (suggested £5).

No tour of The Morrab Library
2026-06-19 14:00 - 15:00
There is no free tour of the Library today as we prepare for our Summer Fair. We hope to see you there!

The Morrab Library Summer Fair 2026
2026-06-20 10:00 - 14:00 | Morrab Library
We hope you can join us for the Morrab Library Summer Fair, taking place on Saturday 20th June from 10am until 2pm.
You’ll be able to explore stalls inside and out, featuring local makers showcasing their art and crafts, and there’ll be plants, second-hand books and historic photos for sale. And don’t forget our brilliant raffle and our much-loved refreshments room, tempting you with delicious homemade cakes.
Some of the stalls will be cash only, so please bring some change along with you to help support your library.
Members and non-members alike are all welcome, so please bring friends and family along too.
We hope to see you there!

Library Talks l Cornwall Uncharted with Dr Paul Taylor-McCartney l Wednesday 24th June
2026-06-24 13:30 - 15:00
Our next Library talk will be with Dr Paul Taylor-McCartney entitled “Cornwall Uncharted“. This will take place in the Reading Room from 1:30pm-3pm on Wednesday 24th June.
In this Library talk, Paul will discuss his new book, ‘Cornwall Uncharted: Mapping Cornwall’s Queer History of Concealment, Culture and Creativity‘ and the research journey behind it. In conversation with Gareth D. L. Rees, Paul will explore how Cornwall’s towns, coves, chapels, studios and lanes shaped the ways queer lives could be lived, hidden and expressed across four centuries.
Paul will draw on archives, literature and lived landscapes to show Cornwall not simply as a backdrop, but as an active part of these histories: a place that offered cover, community, creative space and, at times, constraint. The talk will move between well-known figures and quieter stories, tracing how reputation, discretion and local networks influenced what could be said, what could be recorded, and what was left unsaid. He will also talk through the book’s map, illustrations and visual language, showing how images can hold meaning when the archive falls silent. He will also outline the structure of the book and the key sections that shape the journey across Cornwall, explaining how each chapter follows a different landscape and a different kind of story.
Alongside the themes of concealment, culture and creativity, Paul will also reflect on the pleasures of place-based reading: how to notice thresholds, routes and rooms, and how landscapes can carry histories that formal records only hint at.
Copies of Paul’s book will be available for sale after the talk.
Please email enquiries@morrablibrary.org.uk or call 01736 364474 to be entered into the ballot for a ticket. The ballot closes on Monday 15th June.
Entry to this event is free but donations are welcomed to help support The Morrab Library (suggested £5).

Visit our Rare Books Open Day - Thursday 25th June, 10.00-3.00pm.
2026-06-25 10:00 - 15:00 | Morrab Library
Join us to enjoy a glimpse of just a few of the Morrab Library’s vast array of rare, historic and important books in its collections. These special volumes are usually locked away, available to view by appointment, but rarely seen.
On Thursday 25th June, the library will host an Open Day, where some of the finest examples of published works from our collections will be on display. Included will be titles by William Borlase, Daniel Defoe, Aristotle, Cervantes, and Shakespeare, as well as a facsimile of the Cornish section of the Domesday Book, and important and rare Cornish volumes.
These collections have been donated and acquired over the last 200 years and this is an opportunity to get to know about some of the important and special items we care for. Don’t forget that as members, you are welcome to make an appointment to come and view any of the titles we hold.
A number of our volumes are in need of conservation, so if you are inspired to make a donation towards the care of these incredible collections, we would be very grateful.

Library Closed for Mazey Day
2026-06-27
The library will be closed today for Mazey Day, we will be open again on Tuesday 30th June.
