Hayle Herstory; untold women’s stories at the heart of a Cornish Town.
Thanks to a grant from AIM’s (The Association of Independent Museums) ‘New Stories, New Audiences’ grant scheme, we are running a project that will research and explore untold stories of historical Hayle women in science, art, culture, business, and war work.
These stories will form the basis of a new exhibition that will run at the Heritage Centre from the 9th of April through to the end of August. The exhibition will display a range of objects, both from our own collection and on loan (from collections nation-wide), many of which have never been on public display before.
In addition to new children’s trails and activities, we have created a dedicated Under 5s learning space, encouraging creativity and play to explore some of the topics covered in the exhibition.
The women featured in our exhibition include:
- The Harvey Women – Jane Trevithick and Grace Tonkin
- The women workforce at Hayle’s National Explosives Works
- The women workforce of J & F Pool, wartime munitions factory
- Kitty Lee Jenner – writer, poet, and Cornish activist
- Kathleen Edginton – White Hart Hotel Proprietor c. 1920-1970
- Jessie Power – swimmer and fashion designer
- Tilly Mitchell – champion swimmer
- Margaret Mellis – Constructivist Artist
- The women of the Cryséde Silk Works
- Elizabeth Carne – Geologist, Conchologist, Philanthropist and Banker
- Gladys Ellis – Red Cross Nurse
- Women of the Cornish mining industry
As part of the launch on the 9th and 10th April, we have free drop-in art activities for families (suitable for all ages), making paper dolls using images from our archive with artist Fran Rowse of Cornish Maids.
As well as work with local primary schools, we will be holding two, free drop-in sessions with Book Artist and Authorial Illustrator Vicki Aimers in May and June – one at Hayle Recreation Ground and another in the Heritage Centre – called ‘Kids Rock! Exploring Art and Geology’, in which children and families can make their own fantasy materials using air dried clay, inspired by the work of Geologist Elizabeth Carne (b. 1817 in Phillack, Hayle).
We have also created an exciting programme of talks and events. See our Events Calendar for more information.
