Mineral Museums of Europe by U. Burchard, R. Bode

Low visitor numbers and a challenging funding climate mean that the operation of the museum needs a new approach. This period of time will be used to reboot the public programme, modernize how the museum is run and allow for critical roof repairs. “On the 12th January 2020 the Royal Cornwall Museum will be partially closed to general visitors for eight months. The RIC and the Museum are under enormous financial pressure and a statement was issued in December announcing a partial closure of the Museum. Sadly, circumstances are very different today. I look back with fond memories to the days when the late Roger Penhallurick and latterly Sara Chambers were curators, both of whom had a tremendous affinity with and knowledge of the mineral collection. The fine display of minerals in the Rashleigh Gallery (note the recently installed LED lighting). Barstow (Starkey, 2010) and a major article on the Herodsfoot Mine (Starkey, 2012). Other projects have included a biography of the famous mineral dealer Richard W.

Most recently I spent two days photographing specimens from the Rashleigh Collection as part of the research for a book Minerals of the English Midlands which features images of 14 specimens from the collection (Starkey, 2018). I have visited the Museum on many occasions over the past fifty odd years both as a member of the public, and as a researcher working on the collection behind the scenes. It was named the Rashleigh Gallery in honour of Philip Rashleigh, a large part of whose collection is currently on display. Bob Symes, Curator of Minerals at the Natural History Museum, London (RUSSELL, A. The mineral gallery was reorganised, and the display arranged by Sir Arthur Russell in 1951, and later refurbished in 1992 and reopened in 1993 by Dr. The granite facade of the Royal Cornwall Museum. The present museum building was opened in 1919 and was later extended into the Baptist chapel next door in 1990 at which time it was re-named the Royal Cornwall Museum (Penhallurick, 1997). It has been responsible for a museum in Truro almost since its inception.

The Royal Institution of Cornwall was founded in 1818 as a Literary and Philosophical Society, and gained Royal patronage in 1821.

It is perhaps the finest regional mineral collection in the British Isles and includes the world famous Philip Rashleigh collection (Rashleigh, 1797, 1802), which contains many exceptional Cornish mineral specimens, as well as minerals from classic localities elsewhere in Britain and abroad (Enys, 1903 Burchard and Bode, 1986 Embrey and Symes, 1987 Jones, 1995). Many, if not all, GCG members will be aware of the wonderful mineral collection housed at the Royal Cornwall Museum, River Street, Truro. Written by Roy Starkey, Mineralogist and Author

Mineral Museums of Europe by U. Burchard, R. Bode