The first ever complete history of Trebah
A fascinating journey through history, horticulture, and heritage returns, as The Story of Trebah Exhibition opens once again to visitors.
Back by popular demand for 2026, this landmark exhibition is Trebah’s most comprehensive to date, offering an immersive look at the remarkable evolution of the valley garden over centuries.
New highlights this year include:
- A unique colour video of Trebah in the late 1930s – the final year’s of Alice Hext’s remarkable ownership. Expect flamingos on the ponds, beautiful planting and the only known footage of the Victorian mansion.
- A fascinating c.1920s photo album called Memories of Trebah, packed with photos of giantgunnera, Trebah estate staff and
- Heartwrenching letters sent between an American soldier and his Penzance wife of 3 weeks, sent just days before he left trebah for Normandy and never came back.
- An updated look at Trebah’s role in WW2 and D-Day, thanks to new information shared with us
- A cross section of one of the fallen Storm Goretti trees, overlayed with a timeline of the historical events the tree lived through.
Running from Saturday 9 May to Sunday 27 September, the exhibition is open daily from 9.30am to 5pm and is free to view for all visitors.
Visitors will be taken on a captivating journey through time, beginning with Trebah’s earliest recorded history in the Middle Ages and tracing its transformation into the world-famous sub-tropical paradise admired today. Through carefully curated displays, historical imagery, and rare archival material, the exhibition explores the people, plants, and stories that shaped Trebah from the 1800s to the present day.
Whether you are a returning visitor, a garden enthusiast, or discovering Trebah for the first time, The Story of Trebah Exhibition offers a unique opportunity to uncover the heritage behind one of Cornwall’s most celebrated gardens.
