The former home of two leading artists connected to the Surrealist movement has been given charitable status.
Farleys House and Gallery was the residence of photographer Lee Miller and artist Roland Penrose. Their son, Antony Penrose, 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.
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 farmhouse, purchased in 1949, became a hub of artistic activity and creative exchange, hosting notable guests such as Pablo Picasso, Joan Miró and Dorothea Tanning.
It also became the site where Miller’s legacy was rediscovered almost 50 years ago, when Antony Penrose found her life’s work in the attic.
Since then, the family has worked to preserve and promote her contributions to photography and art history.
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Ami Bouhassane, co-director of Farleys and Miller’s granddaughter, said: "Becoming a charity is the biggest step that my family has taken since my parents, Antony and Suzanna Penrose, along with my grandfather Roland Penrose, started the archives in 1977.
"As a small family enterprise, we have spent decades establishing Lee Miller’s legacy and Farleys – often against considerable odds.
"In the current climate where arts funding is in crisis, this transition feels necessary."
The new charitable structure is designed to support the long-term preservation of the house, gardens and archives, while also widening public access, improving resilience and enabling further educational outreach.
The trust also aims to raise awareness of wider issues connected to Miller’s and Penrose’s values, including women’s rights and mental health.
Farleys House became home to the Lee Miller Archives in 1984 and has been open to the public for tours and exhibitions in recent years.
The property remains a place of artistic inspiration, hosting exhibitions, workshops and events that honour both its celebrated past and new voices in contemporary art.
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