Farleys House and Gallery is thrilled to announce that the former home of photographer Lee Miller and artist Roland Penrose, will now be operating as a charity, marking a significant new chapter in its remarkable history.
Antony Penrose, son of Lee Miller and Roland Penrose and co-Director of Farleys, is giving the entirety of the house, galleries and wider site to the newly formed charity, securing his childhood home for the public for decades to come. Bought in 1949 by Surrealist artist Roland Penrose as a place of recuperation and rest for photographer and war-correspondent Lee Miller following the Second World War, Farleys quickly became a destination for the leading artists of the century to rest, meet, collaborate and create, including Pablo Picasso, Leonora Carrington, Joan Miró, Dorothea Tanning, Man Ray and Henry Moore.
Antony Penrose said: “Growing up at Farleys I was unaware of how exceptional my circumstances were. Little by little, I began to realise that not everybody had some of the most famous artists of the time among their family friends; it’s even more exciting in retrospect. The last 50 years have been an incredible journey; we’ve had huge disappointments and major triumphs… We’ve assembled a board of amazing trustees; their guidance and expertise will be essential to Farleys’ long-term future.”
Had Lee Miller’s legacy not been fiercely championed by her descendants when her son discovered her life’s work in the Farleys’ attic almost 50 years ago, it would have likely dispersed or faded into obscurity. For decades, the small team has raised awareness for Miller’s oeuvre, reinstating her prowess in art history.
Building on tireless efforts to champion Miller’s story, momentum has surged following the major motion picture LEE (2023) and a record-breaking Tate Britain exhibition (2025-6). This groundswell of international attention underscores public appetite for the continued development of Miller’s rural home, securing and amplifying not only her legacy but that of her contemporaries.
Today, managed by the family and a dedicated small team, Farleys continues its commitment to public engagement through tours, exhibitions, events and workshops. Channelling the Surrealist spirit to look ahead, the galleries champions contemporary artists, celebrating narratives from the fringes, as well as shining a light on artists who were contemporaries of Miller and Penrose. The house, galleries and sculpture garden are open seasonally April – October on Thursdays, Fridays, Sundays and select Saturdays.
Launching as a charity means Farleys will be more reliant than ever on the support from individuals, trusts, foundations and corporations. Having grown from a home to a private company and now charity, Farleys is now one of the major centres for Surrealism in the UK.