Museums

Museums

What are they and what do they involve?

Museums are venues with the primary purpose of exhibiting items of interest, often of a historical nature. The exact focus of a museum will vary, but they always offer educational insights into their artefacts and can include extra activities such as workshops and guided tours! Incredibly there are museums for pretty much everything in the UK - from Prams to Anaesthetic, Radar to Pencils, Locks to Lawnmowers, Mustard to Surfing, Straw to Dog Collars (the canine kind) or Magic to Embroidery. Search our list of venues for topics these fantastic, quirky places feature and you'll be surprised what pops up! It might inspire a new approach to a curriculum topic or a different slant on your locality.

What are the benefits?

A museum can be a highly educational place, especially for those with prior interest in the subjects on display. Taking a student group that have been covering a specific historical event or time period to a relevant museum will enable them to really connect with the subject and create an extra dimension to their education.

What students is it suitable for?

Provided the content of the museum is suitable for the age group, all students can benefit from a trip to a museum!

Costs?

Some museums are free for the public to access but there are some venues that have admission costs due to the specific nature of the exhibit – make sure to thoroughly check out the prices of museums in your area.

Safety Implications?

Museums can be quite large and confusing venues, so make sure your group of students is properly supervised to ensure nobody gets separated from the group!

Accreditations?

There is a national accreditation scheme in operation for museums - find out more HERE about Accredited Museums.

 

See below for a list of venues and providers of this kind: 

Dingles Fairground Heritage Centre

Venue Type: 
Museums
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Dingles Fairground Heritage Centre is a 45,000 square foot indoor attraction that provides a unique opportunity to view our Fairground Heritage in a beautiful rural location. It is a facility unique in the UK, designed to capture the magic of a bygone age through exhibits, vintage engineering and stunning artwork displays - offering a great day out for all the family. We have working rides and vintage stalls to make your experience complete.

There is free parking on site, a cafeteria, and picnic tables should you prefer to bring your own refreshments.

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Dawlish Museum

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Museums
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The displays in Dawlish Museum are changed regularly and aim to represent life past and present in the town, for example the acclaimed display of the February storms which severely damaged the railway.

Children as well as adults are catered for and there are activities especially for them.

The museum is run by volunteers and is self funding. The artefacts have to be kept to the same standard as those in the British Museum - running costs are therefore high. Some businesses are now providing sponsorship.

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William Pengelly Cave Studies Trust

Venue Type: 
Museums
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A small collection of artifacts and bones recovered from the caves at Buckfastleigh Devon and interpretation of the geology and speleology of that area.

On our public guided walk you can see our Lime Kilns, 120,000 bone deposits and meet our Greater Horseshoe bats.

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Museum of British Surfing

Venue Type: 
Museums
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The Museum of British Surfing has what’s believed to be the largest & most comprehensive public collection in Europe. Our policy with vintage surfboards is to collect at least one example of each British shaper. We also take in foreign-made surfboards if they have an important connection with British surfing.

We chronicle and celebrate British surf history - from the time Captain Cook first encountered surfers right up to the present day.

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Ball Clay Heritage Society

Venue Type: 
Museums
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The Society was formed in February 2000 to further understanding of the geology, occurrence and properties of the ball clays of Devon and Dorset and to preserve the history and heritage of clay production, transport and use. 

To that end, the Society is assembling an irreplaceable collection of artefacts, store of archive materials and a range of photographs, films and videos. After identification of suitable premises, the aim will be to establish a museum.

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Torquay Museum

Venue Type: 
Museums
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Ranked among the finest in South West England, Torquay Museum is a journey of discovery for all ages. Experience the sights and sounds of country living as you walk through a reconstructed Devon farmhouse, wonder at the prehistoric artefacts excavated from nearby Kent's Cavern or become an explorer on our interactive trail. 

In the Agatha Christie gallery, detect the real-life story behind the world-famous crime writer, who was born in Torquay.There’s a programme of temporary exhibitions as well as children’s activities during the school holidays.

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Salcombe Maritime Museum

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Museums
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A treasure trove of models, paintings, photographs and artefacts which tell the story of Salcombe’s links with ships and the sea from ancient times to the Second World War.

There is plenty to amuse and engage younger visitors including tales of local smugglers and pirates as well as dressing-up box in the ‘young sailors corner’.

The museum has a unique gallery of paintings depicting the famed racing fruit schooners built in Salcombe during the 19th century.

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Ilfracombe Museum

Venue Type: 
Museums
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A glimpse of the museum from Runnymede Gardens, which is situated next to The Landmark Theatre on Ilfracombe's seafront. A fascinating place to visit come rain or shine and one of the best value for money attractions in North Devon.

The Main Gallery has drawers of butterflies, beetles and spiders. There are pipes, 20th century ideal home objects, china, items from India, a medical display, pickled two headed kitten and skeleton of a four legged chicken.

Lovely gift items and Lundy stamps and coins are on sale in the shop.

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North Devon Maritime Museum

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Museums
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The North Devon Maritime Museum offers a fascinating insight into the rich shipbuilding and seafaring history of the area. It is housed in a fine, Georgian Grade II listed building which has been the home of several ship owners and master mariners in the past 200 years and is situated in the picturesque village and sea port of Appledore. Our collections and displays include historical exhibits, models, dioramas, photographs and paintings and cover most aspects of our region's maritime trades which have worldwide connections.

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The Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon

Venue Type: 
Museums
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The Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon is the perfect way to find out more about North Devon. Our collections and displays cover the natural and human history of this beautiful part of the country. Highlights of the Museum include the Tarka Gallery, the Story of North Devon and the Regimental Collection of the Royal Devon Yeomanry.

The entrance to the museum includes a Gift Shop, Tea Room, Tourist Information and Visitor Reception.

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