Kresen Kernow - Off Site Volunteering

Kresen Kernow (‘Cornwall Centre’) is home to the world’s largest collection of documents, books, maps and photographs related to Cornwall’s history. Everyone is welcome to visit and explore these amazing collections.

Kresen Kernow is a state-of-the-art new archive centre built in the shell of the former Redruth Brewery. As well as 14 miles of shelving to store over 1.5 million of Cornwall’s treasured archives, the centre has exhibition spaces, learning rooms and a digitisation suite. Visitors can carry out research, pop in and browse, or take part in our varied activity programme featuring workshops, courses and fun family events.

Our off-site volunteers are currently involved in the Lanhydrock archive project.

The Lanhydrock archive project was started in 2013, in partnership with the National Trust, to sort and catalogue the archives of the various families who owned Lanhydrock House and its estate. For many years the archives were split between the our old Record Office in Truro and Lanhydrock House; the overall aim of the project is to fully catalogue and re-unite  the collection, so it will be accessible to all at Kresen Kernow. Most of the volunteers working on the Lanhydrock archives are based at Lanhydrock House near Bodmin.

To find out more about the project, or to get involved, contact our Volunteer Coordinator or email kresenkernow@cornwall.gov.uk.

Until recently Kresen Kernow also coordinated the Monument Watch volunteers. Monument Watch is a partnership with Cornwall Archaeological Society (CAS) and the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Historic Environment Record (HER). Volunteers visit scheduled ancient monuments,  listed structures and other historical sites to check their condition and report on any damage or risks to them. Volunteers are assigned to one or more parishes together with a CAS Area Rep, who is their contact point for any concerns about the structures or sites within their area.  Monument Watch volunteers have regular training sessions about researching, checking and risk assessing historical sites, and can get actively involved in site management and excavation alongside heritage professionals.  To find out more, or to get involved, see the CAS website.