The Gardeners’ House in Penzance, located within Morrab Gardens, is the latest heritage project to benefit from the support of the Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF).
Recently reopened after a nine-year restoration, the former outbuilding has been transformed into a community space offering wellbeing workshops, green initiatives, and a sensory garden designed for visitors of all abilities.
Matthew Mckeague, CEO of the AHF, said: “We know that communities benefit enormously from improved public realms and access to green spaces, especially in deprived areas, and this is exactly why the Architectural Heritage Fund is delighted to have supported Morrab Gardens.
“The opening of the project also provides an excellent example of how our early stage support and funding provides the foundations to allow successful projects to grow.”
The AHF helped launch the project with £30,000 of early-stage funding in 2018.
This support unlocked further investment, including a £2.2 million grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and £896,000 from the Penzance Town Deal Fund.
Miki Ashton, director of The Gardeners’ House, said: “It’s been quite a journey for us, so we are incredibly excited to be able to finally open our doors, and we are deeply grateful for all the support and enthusiasm we have received from our community.
“Since opening our doors, it’s been a joy for our team to see the people of Penzance and beyond visiting us to discover The Gardeners’ House and what we’re about.
“We have strived to create an open and welcoming space for all, where everyone can truly feel part of this new adventure.
“We invite you to come and enjoy our beautifully restored heritage building and our thoughtfully designed, accessible, new sensory garden space.”
The sensory garden connects the main building, a garden workshop, and Morrab Gardens.
It includes four accessible zones and is designed to be therapeutic, particularly for those living with dementia.
The Gardeners’ House also now hosts a living archive focused on 200 years of West Cornwall’s natural heritage.
This collection, donated by the Hypatia Trust, is being made publicly accessible for the first time and is intended to become a ‘living archive’ that continues to grow with community stories.
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