Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden
Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden things to do, attractions, restaurants, events info and trip planning
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Like the Tate St Ives, we have visited this museum and gardens on several occasions over the years since we were kids…and if you’re visiting one, you may as well visit them both! Unlike the Tate St Ives with its ever changing artists, artwork, themes, and exhibitions, the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden never changes. It is like an artist’s work stuck in time, and quite simply, always amazes. This unassuming property is the gateway to a lush and serene secret garden, filled with beautiful vistas and an amazing collection of sculptures, located in the heart of St Ives. You could be forgiven for thinking the tranquil garden is miles away from the tourist ladden streets of the ever popular fishing town. The home now turned museum is laid out with a fascinating timeline of photographs, letters, facts, events, and drawings, giving you a real insight into the life and history of Barbara Hepworth and her association with St Ives. Venturing up a narrow flight of cottage stairs, the bedroom is elegantly laid out with several smaller sculptures and more interesting features and facts. Heading out of the museum and into the courtyard, the old workshop and glasshouse is set back to the right, and a path leads left and into the garden where you can walk amongst Barbara’s sculptures. The old timber-framed glasshouse, filled with large mature house plants, is awesome. The size of some of those house plants is incredible - we loved this area. The garden too, as well as hosting several amazing sculptures, contains a wonderful variety of mature trees and shrubs. The trees are sculptures in themselves and provide a unique balance to this beautiful environment. We visited this museum and sculpture garden back in early July 2023, just after visiting the Tate St Ives (Check out review on the Tate St Ives). Although it was mid afternoon, we did not have to wait and again, entry is reasonably priced. We would highly recommend, and will most definitely return again and again!
Our Road To NowhereOur Road To Nowhere
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We had an absolutely fab visit to the Barbara Hepworth museum. The garden in particular is stunning and it was great to see where she worked and loved and learn about her life. We attended a talk which was really informative and we found the staff generally enthusiastic, friendly and incredibly helpful. We came from the Tate and borrowed a wheelchair to use at both sites and to get from one to the other. The staff really couldn't be more helpful if you have a disability. It's a little difficult to get around the site if you're a wheelchair user as there are stairs so you would need a companion or assistance. I recommend calling them before you go to talk about your requirements. It is well worth the visit.
Francesca HFrancesca H
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Great place to visit and you can spend at least 2 hours over here. Full of sculptures and creation done by Barbara. This is a part of creative history of this place and you need to pay £ 7/- per head. However of under 19 people it is free of cost. They don't have clock rooms but the humble lady at reception gave us some place to keep few bags. The Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden in St Ives, Cornwall preserves the 20th-century sculptor Barbara Hepworth's studio and garden much as they were when she lived and worked there. She purchased the site in 1949 and lived and worked there for 26 years until her death in a fire on the premises in 1975. The studio, known as Trewyn Studio, was purchased by Barbara Hepworth in 1949, and is typical of the stone-built houses in St Ives. Her living room is furnished as she left it, while the workshop remains full of her tools and equipment, materials, and part-worked pieces. The museum was opened by her family in 1976, after Barbara had left instructions to this effect in her will. It is the largest collection of her works that are on permanent display. The sculptures featured at the museum (mainly in the secluded garden) were some of her favourites. Her workshop also includes a queue of uncut stones that one visitor has described as "still waiting for their moment in the shadow of her workshop". In 1950 she acquired two huge blocks of Galway limestone which she carved into her Festival of Britain commission, the Contrapuntal Forms. A set of photographs in the museum shows the progress of this project. Wood carving was done in an upstairs room, and the bronze statues she started casting in 1956 had their origins in the plaster prototypes she worked on in the upper of the two outside studios. She was helped in the creation of the garden by her friend, the South African-born composer Priaulx Rainier. Barbara Hepworth died in a fire at this site in 1975, which was caused by one of her cigarettes making some package burn, when she was aged 72. The family passed the museum to the Tate gallery in 1980 and they still manage it.
Shivang KanoujiaShivang Kanoujia
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Could this be the greatest museum ever? Quite possibly, the amazing exhibits are without equal and the beautiful surrounds make it absolutely a picture perfect location. This was the actual place Barbara Hepworth lived and worked, and died. Its a very strange but enlightening experience, seeing the place where sculptures you know and love were brought into existence is an experience that fully enriches the joy her work brings. If you time your visit to include the talk then do it... Seriously. The talk is amazing, I learnt more than i could have imagined and the genuine joy and love that the staff have for Barbara and her work is palpable. Do it, just go now.
Mark “HippieMark” DixMark “HippieMark” Dix
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I knew little of this sculptor when I visited and was ultimately transported by this little place. I read all about the lady in the room downstairs, which was very interesting. Having gone up to her work, I tried to follow the meanings in the book of her work and was totally lost. I put down the guide and just wandered into her garden on a sunny day. I took in all those fabulous sculptures once in the garden and loved them. I only took these 4 photos, I recommend just sitting and enjoying the garden. I could have spent hours in this amazing place. A great place to write.
Karen ConabeareKaren Conabeare
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Beautiful quaint garden with numerous fascinating sculptures closely integrated for easy viewing. Excellent photographic opportunities from various angles (although I was told no flash is allowed). I would highly recommend this hidden gem in the town centre of St Ives. Parking can be tricky at the height of the season we parked at the rugby club and walked into the town. In my opinion, although this is smaller than some of the larger sculpture gardens, the sculptures are much more beautiful and intriguing and I would prefer to spend my time in this tranquil little oasis.
Noodle _Noodle _
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Nearby Attractions Of Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden
Tate St Ives
Tate St Ives
St Ives Harbour
Porthmeor Beach
Bamaluz Beach
Moomaid Of Zennor Ice Cream Parlour
Saint Ives Bay
St Nicholas Chapel
St Ia's Parish Church
Smeaton’s Pier

Tate St Ives
4.2
(1.5K)
Click for details

Tate St Ives
4.2
(1.2K)
Click for details

St Ives Harbour
4.7
(855)
Click for details

Porthmeor Beach
4.8
(395)
Click for details
Nearby Restaurants Of Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden
Hub St Ives
Sloop Inn
The Rum & Crab Shack
Porthmeor Beach Cafe
Porthminster Beach Cafe
The Balcony Bar & Kitchen
Lifeboat Inn, St Ives
Pedn Olva, St Ives
Firehouse Bar & Grill
Ardor

Hub St Ives
4.4
(1.1K)
Click for details

Sloop Inn
4.4
(1.1K)
Click for details

The Rum & Crab Shack
4.2
(981)
Click for details

Porthmeor Beach Cafe
4.6
(887)
$$
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Basic Info
Address
Barnoon Hill, Saint Ives TR26 1AD, United Kingdom
Map
Phone
+44 1736 796226
Call
Website
tate.org.uk
Visit
Reviews
Overview
4.7
(578 reviews)
Ratings & Description
cultural
outdoor
family friendly
Description
The Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden in St Ives, Cornwall preserves the 20th-century sculptor Barbara Hepworth's studio and garden much as they were when she lived and worked there. She purchased the site in 1949 and lived and worked there for 26 years until her death in a fire on the premises in 1975.
attractions: Tate St Ives, Tate St Ives, St Ives Harbour, Porthmeor Beach, Bamaluz Beach, Moomaid Of Zennor Ice Cream Parlour, Saint Ives Bay, St Nicholas Chapel, St Ia's Parish Church, Smeaton’s Pier, restaurants: Hub St Ives, Sloop Inn, The Rum & Crab Shack, Porthmeor Beach Cafe, Porthminster Beach Cafe, The Balcony Bar & Kitchen, Lifeboat Inn, St Ives, Pedn Olva, St Ives, Firehouse Bar & Grill, Ardor
