Home of the Devonshire Collection of Period Costume

The Devonshire Collection of Period Costume is one of the largest private collections of its type in the UK. It holds tens of thousands of objects and items of clothing, the earliest from about 1650, although most date from the 18th century to the present day. Our hat collection alone consists of more than a hundred storage boxes, each holding multiple examples, and we have eight boxes simply storing shawls. There are legions of accessories, handbags and shoes, and clothes ranging from the sumptuous to the everyday.

Each year we present a new themed exhibition containing clothing for men, women and children from the 18th to the 21st century. It is displayed in Grade I listed Bogan House, the most intact Tudor merchant's house in Totnes.

The museum is currently closed BUT WILL BE REOPENING LATER THIS YEAR

We were not able to mount an exhibition in 2023 as the restoration work on Bogan House had reached a point where we could not guarantee safe access for our volunteers and for the public, or the careful conservation of our collection. The restoration work is now largely complete and Bogan House presents a beautiful new face to the town. Our team of volunteers are busy preparing an exciting new exhibition to celebrate the reopening of the museum, which will feature many of the ‘stars’ of the Collection.

Watch this space!

Lecture programme

On 14 April, in the third of this year’s programme of lectures for the Friends of the Devonshire Collection of Period Costume, trustee Kate Strasdin will talk about the choices which royal ladies have made in order to be photographed or painted. This event is free for Friends of the Collection (join the Friends) but visitors are also welcome and a donation would be appreciated.