Turner House

About the museum

The Turner House was built by the flour miller James Pyke Thompson (1846-1897) in the corner of his garden in Penarth to show part of his collection of paintings, prints and china. He named it after the painter J. M. W. Turner, whom he greatly admired, and the architect was Edward Seward. It opened to the public on 27 June 1888. Pyke Thompson believed that looking at art improved wellbeing and deliberately opened the gallery on Sundays, when only churches and chapels were otherwise open.

Pyke Thompson hoped to give the gallery to the town, but this did not happen, and after his death his brothers set up a trust for the building and its collection in 1899. In 1921 the trustees handed both to the National Museum of Wales, which has acted as trustee ever since. Apart from about ten years during and after the Second World War, the building has always been a venue for art and culture. In 1950 the National Museum remodelled it to create today's ground-floor gallery and the balcony display area above.

For nearly twenty years it was the home of Ffotogallery, the national development agency for photography in Wales. Today Penarth Town Council manages the Turner House as an arts and creative hub for Penarth and beyond, in partnership with Amgueddfa Cymru. It stages a changing programme of exhibitions, which are free to enter, and an annual open exhibition.

Highlights

• Victorian gallery building from 1888, opened by the collector James Pyke Thompson
• Changing exhibitions of contemporary art and photography, free to enter
• Annual open exhibition for artists of all ages and abilities
• Located directly behind Penarth station

Founded

1888

Operated by

Penarth Town Council in partnership with Amgueddfa Cymru - Museum Wales

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission to all exhibitions is free.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The upstairs gallery is not accessible by wheelchair.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The gallery is on Plymouth Road, Penarth.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.