The winner of this year’s 2025 ‘Object of the Year’ at the Cornwall Heritage Awards has been announced. 

The annual awards celebrate venues across Cornwall that help preserve its culture and heritage.

Six historic treasures were put forward in the Object of the Year category by museums, galleries and historic organisations across the Duchy and after 1,600 people voted for their favourite, the winner has been revealed… an ingenious cork life-jacket that was designed 200 years ago following a tragedy off the Cornish coast.

The cork life-jacket, Poppy the bus, and a painting that inspired Daphne Du Maurier’s first novel

In 1807 Henry Trengrouse witnessed the wreck of HMS Anson and the loss of over 100 lives at Loe Bar. He immediately drew on his skills as a cabinet maker and designed ingenious equipment that would prevent future tragic loss of life so close to shore.

The life-saving equipment, developed by Henry Trengrouse, was nominated by the Museum of Cornish Life in Helston.

Amongst the other nominations were a painting capturing Cornwall’s maritime spirit which inspired Daphne Du Maurier’s first novel and a 27 foot bus called Poppy.