The Old Mill,
St. Stephen, St. Austell, PL26 7RX
Tel: (01726) 823092
Cornwall's Motor Museum
Many years of painstaking detective and restoration work have assembled the most comprehensive collection of vintage and veteran cars in the South West. The owners are Colin Vincent and his wife Carole Vincent.
Automobilia is housed on three floors of a fine old 19th century watermill and two outbuildings. It aims to give shape and structure to the development of the motor car from the horseless carriages of 1904 to the classic sports cars of the 1960's.
The motor museum was first opened in 1980. Unusually, the top floor of the cars' main showcase is dedicated to "Autojumble" - a kind of veterans' parts warehouse where elusive components may be found to complete a restoration, or encourage a new beginning. An audio-visual presentation traces the history of the collection and explains the extraordinary mixture of dedication, coincidence and piece-by-piece restoration] that have saved the older cars for posterity.
Each car on display is there on merit - for its popularity, eccentricity or originality in engineering or construction. And naturally there are stars - a Marendaz, a Skinner Union, a one-off Bentley from "W.O's" heyday - which makes this a must for all true enthusiasts.
Displays of motoring memorabilia spice the main exhibits and a large number of reproduction and modern motoring accessories can be purchased in the museum shop in Reception.
Alternatively, the Grille Room on the ground-floor of the Mill offers the chance to sit down and discuss the exhibits over a home-made cake, a hot snack or full meal.
On the A3058 in the village of St. Stephen.
Now Closed |
St. Austell St. Stephen Newquay