Cornish Life Stories is a series of micro-films commissioned by Museum of Cornish Life, Helston. 

Cornish Life Stories - Farming Films
Completed 2026
Four short film about contemporary farming.

Farmers will like it! That was the headline when the Museum of Cornish Life, Helston opened back in 1949 in the old market buildings of Helston. Farming and agriculture was at the heart of the museum and its collections so over the last couple of years we have been documenting stories of contemporary Cornish farming to preserve for posterity.

Commissioned by the Museum of Cornish Life as part of the 2023-25 project 'Farmers Will Like It' funded by the Museums Association Esmée Fairbairn Collections Fund. Film by Barbara Santi, awen productions.

Pillas
A grain no one has grown in Cornwall for 150 years. A handful of seed. A grandfather's obsession with cultural revival. In the marginal soils of far west Cornwall, where the Cornish language made its last stand, Harriet Gendall is coaxing a forgotten oat back to life — painstakingly bulking up samples from seed banks, persuading farmers to trial small plots, exploring whether this forgotten grain might hold something valuable for the future. But as the first pillas is harvested for the first time in over a century, Harriet begins to discover that bringing back pillas isn't just about agricultural diversity or climate adaptation - it's about asking a deeper question: where am I from?

Scamp Bulbs
Cornwall has been historically well-known for growing flowers, especially daffodils. This new film looks at life at Scamp's Bulbs with growers Adrian and Sharon Scamp. Hear how they diversified from cut flowers to cultivating daffodil, tulip and other spring and summer Cornish bulbs.

Leyonne Farm

Beth grew up on her family's dairy farm in Cornwall, where memories are made in early mornings, muddy fields, and the quiet rhythm of 450 cows coming in to be milked. Now back full time alongside her sister, she's part of the third generation carrying forward a way of life her grandfather and father built from the ground up — not out of obligation, but out of love. This is her story.

St. Pirans Pork
Meet Cornish farmers Nick and Jackie Dymond of St Piran’s Pork. This new film discovers how the farm converted to a sustainable pig and sheep farm, including growing all of their own feed and selling direct to the public at Truro Farmer’s Market.

Cornish Life Stories - The Albion Press
Completed October 2024
The story of the Albion Press which is housed at The Museum of Cornish Life in Helston. The film blends documentary with animation by Ruby Ingleheart and music by awen co-director, Nick Harpley.

Cornish Life Stories - The Serpentine Runway
Completed March 2023 
Horace Stone recounts how life on the Lizard was impacted by the Second World War. The film blends documentary with animation by Ruby Ingleheart and music by awen co-director, Nick Harpley.

Cornish Life Stories - World War II
Completed March 2022
This micro-film introduces us to Beryl who recounts her memories of being brought up during WWII. The film blends documentary with animation by Maria Majkowska and music by awen co-director, Nick Harpley.

3 x micro short films discovering the stories associated with objects held at The Museum of Cornish Life, Helston
Completed 2021

Cornish Life Stories - Gabbroic Pottery
Animation mixed with documentary explores the ancient history of Gabbroic rock and pottery, found on the Eastern side of the Lizard peninsula, retold by archaeologist Dr. Imogen Woods.

Cornish Life Stories - Helston Railway
A railway staff, part of the signalling system, reveals the story of the Helston branchline and Chris Heaps' personal connection.

Cornish Life Stories - The Porthallow Banner
An old, faded, delicate banner tells the story of tea treats and chapels in the St. Keverne parish on the Lizard Peninsula.

Funded by Awards for All, The Tanner Trust