The Mapping Museum research project was created to look at the increase in the number of museums in the UK. As part of this project, Chris Easton and Linda Higgins were interviewed about the Perranzabuloe Museum.

Explore more about the Mapping Museum project here and read Easton and Higgins' interview below:

Interview summary

Name of person(s) being interviewed: Chris Easton and Linda Higgins

Location of interview: Perranzabuloe Museum, Perranporth

Date of Recording: 14 March 2019

Recording Length: 01:04:52

Name of interviewer: Dr Toby Butler and Jake Watts

Description: Perranzabuloe Museum is concerned with the history of the Parish of Perranzabuloe, one of the largest parishes in Cornwall.

Summary of main points in interview: Linda Higgins is chair and trustee of the museum Trust; Chris Easton is a founder member and trustee. The idea for a museum came from Betty Pitman, involved in the surf club and rugby club.

Easton grew up in the area and was concerned that Perranporth was viewed only as a holiday destination and that the history of the area was being ignored and was in danger of being lost. They also aimed to preserve the Oddfellows Hall, one of the oldest buildings in the town. Higgins had learned Cornish and had become a bard; she wanted to do something to contribute to the history and culture of the community.

She describes the Gorsedd and how it formed from Old Cornwall Societies: there are 42 throughout Cornwall and they collect records and memories. With the help of a grant from the district council and a local builder they converted the Oddfellows Hall, using the top floor for the museum and renting out the lower floor. They set up as charity early on and had 12 trustees, mostly people in their thirties and forties from a range of backgrounds. The collection developed from things shared by the Old Cornwall Society and personal collections.

They secured a Heritage Lottery grant to buy and extend the building and they became an accredited museum. They employ an archivist but otherwise the museum is staffed by volunteers. They discuss the audience profile and tourism, and support from other museums and partners. They enjoy the way the museum brings the community together at events and discovering new things about the local area. They also discuss the problems of keeping communities strong with increasing tourism and second home-owners who can’t commit time year round to supporting community groups.

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