Archives and Cornish Studies Service

Archives and Cornish Studies Service Home to a million and a half original documents, books & photographs relating to Cornwall's history! Provider of activities & resources linked to these!

Connecting, collecting and inspiring people here and across the world with Cornwall's archive history. The Archives and Cornish Studies Service is based at Kresen Kernow, Cornwall's new archive centre, in Redruth. Home to 1.5 million documents covering 850 years of history, everyone is welcome to visit us and view our amazing collections.

Celebrate Speak Cornish Week at Kresen Kernow! Join us and the Speak Cornish team on Thursday 25 June, 2-3.30pm, for an ...
18/06/2026

Celebrate Speak Cornish Week at Kresen Kernow!

Join us and the Speak Cornish team on Thursday 25 June, 2-3.30pm, for an extra Kernewek session of game playing fun!

Suitable for any level of Cornish, even complete beginners. Free and drop-in, no need to book.

Splann!

Discover more events, resources and activities on the Speak Cornish website: https://www.speakcornish.com/

Join us on Saturday 20 June, during Pride Month, for a special author talk with Dr Paul Taylor McCartney, exploring his ...
18/06/2026

Join us on Saturday 20 June, during Pride Month, for a special author talk with Dr Paul Taylor McCartney, exploring his new book 'Cornwall Uncharted: Mapping Cornwall’s Q***r History of Concealment, Culture and Creativity' (The History Press).

In conversation with fellow author and researcher Peter McAllister, Paul will trace q***r lives across Cornwall’s towns, coves, chapels, studios and lanes, drawing on archives, literature and lived landscapes. From well known figures to quieter stories, the talk explores how place shaped what could be lived, hidden, recorded — or left unsaid.

Paul will also discuss the book’s maps, illustrations and visual language, showing how images can hold meaning when the archive falls silent, and how each chapter follows a different Cornish landscape and kind of story.

Part of our programme celebrating history, heritage and creative voices. Stay for refreshments, conversation, and the chance to purchase signed copies of Cornwall Uncharted, with special giveaways available.

🎟️ Free but ticketed — book via Ticket Tailor: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/author/2058415

Are you interested in finding out more about your family tree? 👩‍👧‍👦🌳Perhaps you are not sure where to start, or maybe y...
17/06/2026

Are you interested in finding out more about your family tree? 👩‍👧‍👦🌳

Perhaps you are not sure where to start, or maybe you've started but are not sure where to go next?

Join us on Saturday 27 June, 10am-2pm, when you'll be able to talk to members of Cornwall Family History Society about how to get started!

Plus, find out what to do if you can’t find your ancestors here in Cornwall or elsewhere in the UK.

Use their expertise and resources, alongside the sources available at Kresen Kernow.

Cornwall Family History Society

This striking poster celebrates the six Celtic nations—Scotland, Ireland, the Isle of Man, Wales, Cornwall and Brittany—...
16/06/2026

This striking poster celebrates the six Celtic nations—Scotland, Ireland, the Isle of Man, Wales, Cornwall and Brittany—each identified with their name and flag, framed by a vibrant Celtic-inspired border and an ornate compass rose.

Designed by A Macmillan, and written in Welsh, this poster is a beautiful example of how colour and design can express cultural identity, connecting landscapes, languages and heritage across the Celtic world.

🌍 The Cornish language, Kernewek, was recently granted Part III status under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages—the highest level of protection available. This places it on an equal footing with Welsh, Irish and Scottish Gaelic, recognising its importance and supporting its use in education, public life and culture.

Once considered dormant, Kernewek is now a living language again—its revival reflected not only in official recognition, but in everyday life across Cornwall.

✨ From colourful maps to cultural milestones, this poster is a reminder that language, identity and heritage remain deeply connected—and vibrantly alive.

Our Weekly Reads continue to highlight new publications and this week we are looking at ‘Wilkie Collins on Cornwall’.Bef...
15/06/2026

Our Weekly Reads continue to highlight new publications and this week we are looking at ‘Wilkie Collins on Cornwall’.

Before the railway came to Cornwall, novelist Wilkie Collins and his artist friend Henry Brandling, set out on foot from Plymouth to explore the then ‘rarely visited’ peninsula.

This account of their travels includes fascinating descriptions of legends and customs, pilchard fishing, ancient monuments, eccentric innkeepers and local cuisine, as well as an extraordinary tour down Botallack mine.

Originally published in 1850 as ‘Rambles beyond railways’, it paints a vivid picture of Cornwall as it was nearly 200 years ago, and this new edition from Bodleian Library Publishing makes it readily available again today.

It’s ! 🥳🗺️ If you were in Falmouth over the weekend, you may have spotted quite a few historic sailing boats, so we tho...
15/06/2026

It’s ! 🥳🗺️ If you were in Falmouth over the weekend, you may have spotted quite a few historic sailing boats, so we thought this was a great opportunity to highlight some of the wonderful boats we have found on our manorial maps so far. 🚢⚓

From large sailing ships to small fishing boats - we particularly like the image with someone walking the plank! Can you spot them?

Due to popular demand, we have extended our ‘Cornwall in Print’ exhibition for one more week! To read more about the rol...
13/06/2026

Due to popular demand, we have extended our ‘Cornwall in Print’ exhibition for one more week!

To read more about the role and life of Cornish printers and see examples of early Cornish printed works - like those of Oscar Blackford, the only printer in Cornwall to gain a royal warrant - pop down to see us during our usual opening hours. The exhibition closes at 4pm on Saturday 20 June.

Celebrate Speak Cornish Week at Kresen Kernow! Join us and the Speak Cornish team on Thursday 25 June, 2-3.30pm, for an ...
12/06/2026

Celebrate Speak Cornish Week at Kresen Kernow!

Join us and the Speak Cornish team on Thursday 25 June, 2-3.30pm, for an extra Kernewek session of game playing fun!

Suitable for any level of Cornish, even complete beginners. Free and drop-in, no need to book.
Splann!

Discover more events, resources and activities on the Speak Cornish website: https://www.speakcornish.com/

Join us for our next monthly Storytale Studio session on Saturday 27 June, 10am-12pm.These creative craft sessions are i...
11/06/2026

Join us for our next monthly Storytale Studio session on Saturday 27 June, 10am-12pm.

These creative craft sessions are inspired by the wonderful collections in our library and this month we’ll be exploring the fascinating stamps and markings hidden inside books, before designing and creating our own unique stamps.

Use your newly created stamps to print your own artwork to take home.

Perfect for children and grown-ups alike, this hands-on session celebrates stories, creativity, and the joy of making together.

Delivered in collaboration with artist Sophie Stanley Butcher from Pop Up Paint Pot, these sessions are free and there's no need to book — just drop in and get creative with us.

This project is a collaboration with Redruth Library and is funded by the South West Regional Library Services (SWRLS).
A relaxed, welcoming session for families and young creatives alike ✨

Discover Redruth

Address

Kresen Kernow, Little Vauxhall
Redruth
TR151AS

Opening Hours

Tuesday 9:30am - 4pm
Wednesday 9:30am - 4pm
Thursday 9:30am - 4pm
Saturday 9:30am - 4pm

Telephone

+441209614430

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Archives and Cornish Studies Service posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category