Devon social history
Find out more about the social history of Devon at these museums. Select a museum to find out more, including their opening times (which may be seasonal), how to find them and what else is in their collections.
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Bill Douglas Centre
Exeter
Founded in memory of the British film-maker Bill Douglas in 1994, this museum on Exeter University campus contains an enormous collection relating to the history of film and optical entertainment.
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The Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon
Barnstaple
The museum tells the stories of the people and landscapes of North Devon.
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Fairlynch Museum Budleigh Salterton
Budleigh Salterton
Fairlynch Museum and Arts Centre is one of the very few thatched museums in the UK.
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Coldharbour Mill Working Wool Museum
Cullompton
Coldharbour Mill, built between 1797 and 1799 as Fox Brothers' first spinning mill in the South West, preserves a collection of Victorian spinning frames for the worsted process, and Hattersley looms are still in use to weave knitting yarns, tartan cloth, rugs and stair runners.
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Dartmouth Museum
Dartmouth
Dartmouth Museum is a small, fascinating and interesting museum housed in an atmospheric old merchant's house, built in approximately 1640.
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Topsham Museum
Topsham
We look forward to welcoming new and returning visitors to our beautiful Museum, tearooms and garden when we re-open on March 27th 2024.
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Holsworthy Museum
Holsworthy
The museum is housed in part of a building which is in itself a museum piece; a small manor house dating from the 17th century which was used as a parsonage in 1724.
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Kingsbridge Cookworthy Museum
Kingsbridge
In the Old Grammar School you find an historic building, a range of collections and a local history archive.
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Lyn and Exmoor Museum
Lynton
A charming small museum with collections of agricultural and domestic tools from Lynton and Exmoor.
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Newton Abbot Town and GWR Museum
Newton Abbot
The museum now lives inside Newton's Place, a beautifully restored and adapted nineteenth century church.
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Teign Heritage Centre Home to Teignmouth and Shaldon Museum
Teignmouth
Teignmouth and Shaldon are beautiful.
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Torquay Museum
Torquay
Ranked among the finest in South West England and Designated as an outstanding collection in 2016, Torquay Museum is a journey of discovery for all ages.
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Totnes Museum
TOTNES
Totnes Museum is housed in a Grade I listed authentic Elizabethan Merchant's House, built around 1575 and located on Fore Street in the heart of Totnes.
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Whimple Heritage Centre
Whimple
The Whimple Heritage Centre is managed and maintained by an enthusiastic group of volunteers interested in Whimple's past and also its present.
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Museum of British Surfing
Braunton
The Museum of British Surfing is an award-winning visitor attraction in Braunton, near the North Devon coast.
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Axminster Heritage Centre
Axminster
OPEN FROM AUGUST 1st Temporary CV19 measures have been introduced so guests can visit us safe in the knowledge we are diligently following the Government and museum sector recommendations.
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Ottery St Mary Heritage Museum
Ottery St Mary Heritage Museum opened in August 2018 in the Victorian Old Town Hall and opposite historic St Mary's Church, one the finest churches in Devon.