John Harvey House
24 Foundry Square is one of the most iconic buildings in Hayle, instantly recognisable with its magnificent clock tower. Throughout its 230-year history it has witnessed immeasurable changes, both in Hayle and the wider world.
Transforming Hayle Heritage Centre for the Future
We are creating a new museum for the town of Hayle—one that honours its extraordinary heritage while building a vibrant, sustainable cultural focus for the town.
Unforeseen structural problems at John Harvey House, gradually reduced what we could offer our visitors. By 2020, most of the collection had to be moved into storage, with only a single exhibition space remaining open. It became clear that significant intervention was needed to safeguard the building and revitalise its role at the heart of the community.
In 2024, we secured over £600,000 of grant funding from Historic England, National Heritage Lottery Fund, and SPF Good Growth programme, to undertake the first phase of urgent capital works. This required us to close the building to the public so that essential structural repairs could begin.
This closure created an invaluable opportunity to step back and plan for the long-term future of the museum. With the support of specialist consultants, we:
- Consulted widely with residents, visitors, and community groups to understand local aspirations for a renewed museum. This included 6 high-quality events engaging over 200 people, a targeted volunteer programme exceeding expectations.
- Production of a audience development strategy to ensure our future service is welcoming, inclusive, and relevant.
- Explored new business models to secure long-term financial sustainability.
Phase 1 delivered major physical improvements to the site, including vital structural work and the installation of a new lift, making the museum fully accessible for the first time in its 242-year history.
