Cornwall At War Museum

It's the end of 2017 and we have achieved an awful lot at the museum this year. It has been the first year that we have recorded over 10,000 visitors through the gates from March through to October. We had our first visitors from Israel, and then we had a huge camper van from Austria which even had a very comfortable kennel room built in with a window so the dog can see where it's going. Raven is a beautiful black Labrador who had the ultimate mobile kennel. She was given one of our handmade doggie bandanas, as a gift. Another first was the honeymoon couple who spent a very wet and windy morning with us. The wedding trimmings on their car suffered in the weather, but the two lovebirds didn't seem to mind. We have had many more dogs visiting with their owners this year. Our advert with the Good Dog Guide has helped enormously and we're very grateful for all their help and guidance. If you visit us due to seeing our advert with them please tell us and leave feedbac...

Seasons greetings to all our followers and supporters. Work has been suspended for a few days and will then resume in Earnest. Volunteers not called Earnest are also invited back!!! Steve & Sheila

Last Friday we were working in the hangar and glad to out of the biting cold wind. The Fairey Gannet painting continued, whilst Adrian removed the rust from a WWI gun that was brought up in the nets of the trawler Elizabeth N in 2015. It was donated by the crew with the consent of the receiver of wrecks. Roger was working on an old motor, whilst Les attended to the tyres of a cradle that normally contains the V1 replica. Steve, Roger and John looked as though they were busy making plans and the little robin who has made his home in the hangar ate his Christmas Cornish pasty. Painting the Fairey Gannet. Roger working on the engine. Adrian removing rust from the gun. Making plans. The V1 cradle. Robin and his Christmas pastie.

After weeks of painstaking work, Les has at last finished restoring the mobile control tower to its former glory. He's taken hours painting the red and white squares, making the antenna and giving it a good clean. Two new panes of glass will be put in the ceiling to replace broken ones and it will be complete. Well done, Les, you've done a great job. The mobile control tower.

Following a comment received about the museum logo I thought you'd like some details about the remains of the Davidstow airfield. Davidstow airfield today is very much a collection of derelict R.A.F WWII buildings dotted about the remains of the three runways. As common land,farmers are allowed to let their animals graze there so there are always sheep and ponies around. With the right to roam classification you can walk on the airfield and even climb up to the first floor of the old control tower. The three runways are full of potholes so walk carefully. During July, August and September each year the museum runs an airfield tour every Thursday afternoon on our electric bus named Marlene. The tour lasts for about 2 hours, covers everything of interest and you'll be amazed at tales of what went on there during the war. Stories that are funny, poignant and full of facts. These tours are extremely popular and as there only 10 seats on the bus we always advise that you boo...

Going through all the photos taken whilst moving the Hunter, one stood out asking to be "modified". A superimposed photo of our black Labrador, Carrek, fitted the bill. The 3 photos are pinned up in the guard room and have caused a few chuckles. " I think I've got the wrong thing on the lead." " I think he's got the wrong thing on the lead." " He should have gone to Specsavers!"

Once the construction of the hangar had begun and the floor was completed it was time to move the Hunter and the Gannet in. After the front hangar panels had been erected there wouldn't be sufficient room to move them in. The Gannet was moved first, a relatively easy job as she had been near the hangar and was virtually straight line move. The Hunter had stood by the R.A.F flagstaff and her journey would be a little more complicated. She had to be lifted over 2 buildings and parked up in between the water tower and another building. A very skilled job by the crane operator. Then the crane had to move forward, pick her up, turn her 360 degrees over the car park and then forward as far as she would go. The final part was to move the crane again, raise her and turn her around so that she was tail first into the hangar. From then on it was man & woman power helped by the Manitou. Steve had a plan of how they should be parked and in the end it wasn't far off. The Ga...

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Every December Steve and Sheila put on a superb Mess Dinner for all the volunteers and their partners. It takes place in the Nissan hut which is built on the exact location of part of the original Officers' Mess. The brick fireplace that you can see was the only original part of the building left standing. Sheila spends days preparing and cooking all the food. It's always guaranteed to be absolutely sumptuous. It's a wonderful evening, a chance to catch up with friends and relax. The guest of honour this year was Wing Commander Alex Mason Station Commander R.A.F. St Mawgan. Wing Commander Alex Mason can be seen sitting with Steve and Sheila at the top table. Thanks to Les for the photos. Sheila, Steve & Wing Commander Alex Mason One of the tables of volunteers

Yesterday I met up with a friend of mine who, after a visit to the museum in the summer, looks out for things to donate to us. Along with some buttons from her late father's Royal Navy uniform, Lis gave me 5 little Spitfire buttons. The buttons are actually made from the perspex of a Spitfire canopy. A very unusual donation which is much appreciated.

Welcome to the first blog of The Cornwall At War Museum. The museum is on part of the site of the R.A.F Davidstow Moor air station. There are 19 buildings which cover the Navy, Army, Air Force, Marines and Royal Naval Air Stations from WWI to the Falklands Conflict.  The museum is wheel chair friendly and dog friendly - one of the few museums where dogs are allowed in all the buildings. The museum is so different to other museums, it's owned by Steve and Sheila Perry and staffed totally by volunteers. Sheila was awarded the British Empire Medal in the last new years honours for services to Second World War Heritage.  99% of visitors comment on how the place is run with a passion and love. Many of the exhibits have been donated with a mix of military and domestic items. Displays range from a grocer's shop in WWII to the hangar filled with military vehicles and planes.  Unlike some military museums, Cornwall At War appeals to the ladies as well as the men and ...