Bill Douglas Centre for the History of Cinema and Popular Culture

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. 

From shadow puppets to Shirley Temple dolls, from magic lanterns to Marilyn Monroe postcards, there should be something to fascinate every visitor. Whether you are a casual browser, a teacher looking for activities for your class, or an academic hunting for those elusive social history artefacts, you've come to the right place.

The Bill Douglas Centre at the University of Exeter is a free, accredited, public museum and a research centre housing a unique collection of artefacts about the history of the moving image from shadow puppets and magic lanterns to classic Hollywood and the latest blockbusters. There is a particular emphasis on the audience’s experience of the moving image, reflected in over 75,000 items.