Dartmouth's rich history is displayed in three first floor rooms of an old Merchants House dated 1640. The collection comprises maritime, trade artefacts and local history. There is an especially good collection of ships in bottles and an extensive archive of local photographs, some dating from the early days of photography. New in 2006 is the amazing Henley Collection representing the life of a Victorian gentleman as seen by his sister and a family friend.

Visit Dartmouth Museum's large collections of images showing the town from the early days of photography.






'Sailors Rest' built by Hunt Roope at the corner of Oxford Street, about 1875, before the South Embankment was built.








The Quay in 1836, with sailing ships.



These are two examples of over 2,000 photographs of old Dartmouth that can be studied in the Museum. Printed copies can be supplied at a small cost.
 

The Museum has a fine collection of ship models including HMS Deptford (shown) of the same class as HMS Dartmouth. It is one of a number of superb models from the sailing era.  The Collection includes models of ships going back to the 13th Century and comes up to date with excellent recent examples.

This model is fashioned entirely of bone and is made by French prisoners of war held in Britain during the Napoleonic Wars 1802-1814. Dartmouth Museum also holds a more modern replica.

           An example of a highly accurate model of a topsail schooner from the Dawe Collection of Ships in Bottles.

Dartmouth Museum has a collection of interesting paintings mostly related to the Town and River Dart.  Some examples are shown here.

                               Mayflower ll, Morning Departure 1957

                              Arthur Holdsworth conversing with Thomas Taylor and Captain Stancombe by the River Dart 1757.       Painting by Arthur Devis  1712 - 1787






Merchant ship entering the Dart by Thomas Luny 1759 - 1837

 

 

Like most museums we are unable to show all the items we hold. These are currently stored in the Jesse Room named after its unique plaster ceiling portraying the “Tree of Jesse” from Matthew Chapter 1. Believed to be the only example of this depiction now in existence.

The pattern of scrolls emerging from the reclining figure of Jesse holding a skull embraces rows of little figures ending with the mother of Jesus with the babe in her arms

Stored items are shown on a rotational basis or reserved for special events or possible handling collections. 

Visits to the Jesse Room may be made by appointment through the Museum