The Museum subdivides into four main areas:

a) The Sail Loft displays the history of Topsham from Prehistoric times: Shipbuilding, fishing and maritime trade, including ship models, shipwrights' tools, maps, photographs, paintings, documents etc. Other exhibits include a model of Topsham as it was in 1900, collections of lace and decorative items.

b) The River Gallery displays a collection of unique Exe boats saved after the closure of their former home at the Exeter Maritime Museum.

 

c) The House dates from the late 17th century and three rooms are furnished in that period. A further room contains items inherited from Miss Holman, the founder of the Museum and her family and her kitchen is preserved in 1930s period. A further room contains memorabilia of Vivien Leigh. In 2007, there will be a small display of the work of Hester Holman, a remarkable wood engraver and sculptor.

d) The Underloft displays during 2007 will include a display of pictures from the Museum from the reserve store. Natural history photographs of the Exe Estuary by Richard Hargreaves are also on display as well as the famous Salmon.

Our River Gallery, opened in 2008, features a collection of unique and historic Exe river craft including the delightfully eccentric Cygnet boat (right) , originally a tender to a larger 'Swan'; an Exe salmon boat; a mahogany skiff; and an Exe Lugger, probably the sole surviving example of a British market boat.

The Gallery has a new wheelchair-accessible entrance from the garden, and a lift and stunning staircase to the refurbished Sail Loft: a real treat for all visitors.

Dorothy Holman (1888-1983) created a very personal museum in 1967 for Topsham in the sail loft behind her home. This included artifacts relating to her great grandfather who owned three sailing shipyards in the port of Topsham. In her will she left the whole property to continue as a more extensive museum for Topsham and expressed her hope that the house would be used to show the home of a Topsham seafaring family.

Originally a random curio collection, the displays have been reorganised through the Lottery-funded refurbishment into a time-line of Topsham’s history, from Roman occupation onward.

The model of Topsham in 1900 is a popular feature, and has been brought to a central floor-based display for convenient viewing.

Dining Room: this room, with its attractive pine panelling, displays a table setting, a Topsham Tide Clock and a reconstructed floorcloth. Its colour scheme and furnishing reflect the period when the port of Topsham was at its most prosperous, the late 17th and early 18th centuries.

Parlour: the tick of an Upjohn Grandfather Clock and the Mantua gowned figure as well as the open Bible and writing equipment contribute to a fascinating look at early 18th Century life.

Photograph by John Bowers.

Topsham has a rich and varied wildlife, and is famous for its estuary birds such as the curlews, shown right, and the avocets which overwinter on the mudflats of the Exe Estuary. Some of these are featured on the touch screen displays and in photographs.

In this room, some of Dorothy Holman's family portraits, furniture and personal items are displayed. The Holman Family Tree and other Holman memorabilia are now displayed within this room.

A room dedicated to memorabilia of Vivien Leigh, who married Dorothy Holman’s brother, Leigh Holman, before going on to become a star of stage and screen. Included in the display is the nightgown she wore in 'Gone with the Wind'.

The kitchen which was fitted out just before Dorothy Holman came to this house in 1939, is now a period piece of its own. The wooden drainer and plate rack and the varied bygone gadgets evoke many memories of days gone by.