ALL the volunteers who keep Launceston’s ‘little gem’ of a museum, Lawrence House, running and free to come to were delighted to learn that their hard work had paid off and that the museum has been awarded another Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence with a score of 4½ points out of a total 5 for 2018.

Trip Advisor Certificates of Excellence are awarded on the basis of the reviews posted on their website about any particular place, be it accommodation or attraction.

Volunteer publicity officer for the museum, Cherry Warne said: “When I received the email telling us of the award, I went straight to the Trip Advisor website to have a look at all the reviews and was delighted by what I saw.”

The museum is housed in a beautiful Georgian townhouse. The themed rooms provide an overview of how all classes of people lived from the prehistoric to the — almost- present day through a varied collection of artefacts. At the moment in the inner hallway display case there is an exhibition dedicated to travel in the past. In the downstairs exhibition room the exhibition of paintings from Mr David Tovey’s collection of paintings by artists based in St Ives in the late 19th century entitled ‘Fishing round the Cornish Coast’ continues but you’ll have to hurry. This will be replaced at the end of June by the splendid exhibition of Launceston’s architectural treasures.

Visitors can still play with the toys in the Toy Room, put an old penny in the Polyphon and do a polka up the inner hallway, sigh at the museum’s wonderful collection of wedding dresses and see an accurate representation of the rations for one week for an adult during the Second World War, a salutary experience in these days of excess consumption.

Come and see what the fuss is about for yourself. Entry to the museum is still free so anyone can come as often as they like. Opening times are 10.30am to 4.30pm (last entry 4pm) Monday to Friday, all bank holidays and Saturdays, June 9, July 14, August 11, September 8 and October 13.

To find out more information call the museum on 01566 773277 or email [email protected]

Check out the website: www.lawrencehousemuseum.org