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List of museums in Devon

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This list of museums in Devon, England, contains museums which are defined for this context as institutions (including nonprofit organizations, government entities, and private businesses) that collect and care for objects of cultural, artistic, scientific, or historical interest and make their collections or related exhibits available for public viewing. Also included are non-profit art galleries and university art galleries. Museums that exist only in cyberspace (i.e., virtual museums) are not included.

Museums

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To use the sortable table, click on the icons at the top of each column to sort that column in alphabetical order; click again for reverse alphabetical order.

Name Image Town/City Region Type Summary
A La Ronde Exmouth East Devon Historic house Operated by the National Trust, late 18th century sixteen-sided house with unusual decorations and collections
Allhallows Museum Honiton East Devon Local website, local history, Honiton lace collection, Honiton pottery, palaeontology, toys, war memorabilia
Ariel Centre Totnes South Hams Art website, art centre with gallery and theatre, part of King Edward VI Community College
Arlington Court Arlington North Devon Historic house Operated by the National Trust, early 19th-century country house with collection of antique furniture and an eclectic collection of family memorabilia, National Trust Carriage Museum, gardens
Ashburton Museum Ashburton Teignbridge Local website, local history, culture, collection of Native American artifacts
Axminster Museum Axminster East Devon Local Local history, culture, industry, agriculture
Barnstaple and North Devon Museum Barnstaple Torridge Local history Devon County Council
Barometer World Merton Torridge Science & Technology Shop (sells, repairs and restores Barometers) and Museum collection which houses the famous Tempest Prognosticator.
Berry Pomeroy Castle Totnes South Hams Historic house Operated by English Heritage, ruins of a large late-medieval fortified house and castle
Bicclescombe Watermill Ilfracombe North Devon Mill information, late 18th century mill
Bideford Railway Heritage Centre Bideford Torridge Railway
Bill Douglas Cinema Museum Exeter Exeter Media History of film and visual media, media memorabilia, part of the University of Exeter
Bishopsteignton Museum of Rural Life Bishopsteignton Teignbridge Local information, local history, agriculture, geology
Bomb Shelter Beer East Devon Local History Small museum showing the story of a large bomb that didn't destroy the village.[1]
Bovey Tracey Heritage Centre Bovey Tracey Teignbridge Local information, local history, culture, located in the Bovey railway station
Bradley Newton Abbot Teignbridge Historic house Operated by the National Trust, medieval manor house, riverside meadows and woodland
Braunton and District Museum Braunton North Devon Local information, local history, agriculture, maritime heritage, industry, railway
Braunton Countryside Centre Braunton North Devon Natural history website, environment of the coastal and farmed landscapes surrounding Braunton, farming and Braunton Marshes
Bridge Mill Bridgerule Torridge Mill website, restored 19th century watermill
Britannia Museum Dartmouth South Hams Maritime website, history of the Britannia Royal Naval College, open by pre-booked tour
Brixham Battery Heritage Centre Brixham Torbay Military Local World War II military history, gun battery, pill box, tours of battery garden
Brixham Heritage Museum Brixham Torbay Local website, local history, fishing and ship building industries
Buckland Abbey Buckland Monachorum West Devon Historic house Operated by the National Trust, abbey estate and grounds with exhibits about explorers Sir Richard Grenville and Sir Francis Drake
Budlake Old Post Office Broadclyst East Devon Historic house Operated by the National Trust, website, 1950s period cottage post office, near Killerton
Burton Art Gallery and Museum Bideford Torridge Art website, watercolours, oil paintings, prints and drawings, decorative arts, contemporary crafts, Napoleonic ship models, also local history
Bygones Museum Torquay Torbay Multiple website, Victorian period shop and room displays, model railway and memorabilia, military displays, 1940s and 50s shopping arcade, amusement machines, model buildings, Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company memorabilia
Cadhay Ottery St Mary East Devon Historic house Elizabethan manor house and gardens
Castle Drogo Drewsteignton West Devon Historic house Operated by the National Trust, early 20th-century castle house designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, gardens
Chambercombe Manor Ilfracombe North Devon Historic house Norman manor house with period furniture ranging from Elizabethan to Victorian times
Clovelly Clovelly North Devon Historic house Historic fishing village that includes the childhood home of the Victorian author and social reformer Charles Kingsley, 1930s fisherman's cottage
Clyston Mill Broadclyst East Devon Mill Operated by the National Trust, website, water-powered corn mill, near Killerton
Cobbaton Combat Collection Chittlehampton North Devon Military website, military artifacts, most from World War II
Coldharbour Mill Uffculme Mid Devon Industry Working spinning mill textile museum, historic steam engines (run on Bank Holidays), dolls house exhibition, model railway, schools education programme
Coleton Fishacre Kingswear South Hams Historic house Operated by the National Trust, 1920s Arts and Crafts style country home for Rupert D'Oyly Carte, gardens
Colyton Heritage Centre Colyton East Devon Local website, local history
Combe Martin Museum Combe Martin North Devon Local website, local history
Compton Castle Marldon South Hams Historic house Operated by the National Trust, medieval fortress house
Crediton Museum Crediton Mid Devon Local website, local history, operated by the Crediton Area History and Museum Society
Cricklepit Mill Exeter Exeter Mill website, 19th-century watermill, headquarters and visitor centre for the Devon Wildlife Trust
Crownhill Fort Plymouth Plymouth Military Victorian era fort with artillery, operated by Landmark Trust
Dartmoor Prison Museum Princetown West Devon Prison History of Dartmoor Prison
Dartmouth Castle Dartmouth South Hams Military Operated by the English Heritage, coastal fortress with gun battery
Dartmouth Museum Dartmouth South Hams Local Located in a 1640 merchant's house, maritime and local history, several local and maritime history collections, also houses The Henley Collection and the Dawe Collection of ships in bottles
Dartmoor National Park Visitor Centre - Princetown Princetown West Devon Multiple website, one of three visitor centres for Dartmoor National Park, exhibits on local history, culture, wildlife, art
Dawlish Museum Dawlish Teignbridge Local information, local history, culture, industry, porcelain, natural history, dolls and toys
Devon Railway Centre Bickleigh Mid Devon Railway 2 ft 610mm) gauge passenger railway, narrow gauge collection, miniature railway, model railway layouts
Devonport Naval Heritage Centre Plymouth Plymouth Maritime Artifacts from the Royal Navy, open by appointment
Dingles Fairground Heritage Centre Lifton West Devon Amusement website, fairground art and memorabilia, vintage rides, stalls and shows, industrial and road steam engines, vintage vehicles, roadsigns, vintage machinery
Elizabethan House Plymouth Plymouth Historic House website
Dunkeswell Airfield Heritage Centre Dunkeswell East Devon Military website, history of RAF Dunkeswell in World War II,
Exeter's Underground Passages Exeter Exeter History website, medieval underground passages built for supplying drinking water
Exmouth Museum Exmouth East Devon Local website, local history, culture
Fairlynch Museum Budleigh Salterton East Devon Multiple website, housed in an early 19th-century house with a thatched roof, local history, costumes and lace collection, archeology, geology
Finch Foundry Sticklepath West Devon Technology Operated by the National Trust, water-powered forge
Fursdon Cadbury Mid Devon Historic house website, farming estate dating back over 700 years, costume collection, garden
Golden Hind Museum, Brixham Brixham Torbay Maritime website, museum ship replica of Sir Francis Drake's ship Golden Hind
Great Torrington Heritage Museum Great Torrington Torridge Local website, local history
Greenway Estate Galmpton Torbay Historic house Operated by the National Trust, Georgian house owned by author Agatha Christie, 1950s decor with collections of archaeology, Tunbridgeware, silver, botanical china and books, gardens
Hartland Abbey Hartland Torridge Historic house Former medieval monastery, country home with collections of pictures, furniture and porcelain, gardens
Hartland Quay Museum Hartland Torridge Maritime website, shipwrecks, natural history, coastal trades, geology and history of Hartland Quay, located in the Hartland Quay Hotel
Hele Corn Mill Hele North Devon Mill website, 16th century working watermill, tea room and shop
Hemyock Castle Hemyock Mid Devon Historic house Open on Bank Holidays, medieval manor house ruins
Holsworthy Museum Holsworthy Torridge Local website, local history, period rooms
House of Marbles Bovey Tracey Teignbridge Art website, working glass and games factory set in an historic pottery, exhibits of glass, games, marbles, and Bovey Pottery
Ilfracombe Museum Ilfracombe North Devon Multiple website, local history, natural history, Victoriana, maritime artifacts, minerals, archaeology, maps, paintings, photos, military items and costumes
Kelly House Kelly West Devon Historic house Georgian country house & Bed & Breakfast currently under restoration
Kelly Mine Lustleigh Teignbridge Mining Former iron mine with equipment and mill with Californian stamps
Killerton Broadclyst East Devon Historic house Operated by the National Trust, 18th century estate and garden, costume collection
Kingsbridge Cookworthy Museum Kingsbridge South Hams Local website, local history, social history, trades and crafts, William Cookworthy porcelain, Victorian kitchen, costumes, agriculture
Kirkham House Paignton Torbay Historic house Operated by English Heritage, late medieval stone house
Knightshayes Court Tiverton Mid Devon Historic house Operated by the National Trust, Victorian country house designed by William Burges, garden
Lyn and Exmoor Museum Lynton North Devon Local Local history, natural history, culture
Marker's Cottage Broadclyst East Devon Historic house Operated by the National Trust, website, medieval cob cottage with a thatched roof, near Killerton
Merchant's House, Plymouth Plymouth Plymouth Historic house website, 17th-century house, home to three Plymouth mayors, includes antique artifacts, prison equipment, Victorian school room, an entire chemist's shop
Mortehoe Museum Mortehoe North Devon Local website, local history, maritime heritage, agriculture
Morwellham Quay Tavistock West Devon Open air Restored 19th century village, docks and quays, a restored ship, copper mine tour by train, Victorian farm, nature reserve
Museum of Barnstaple & North Devon Barnstaple North Devon Multiple website, local history, natural history, culture, Royal Devon Yeomanry and Devonshire Regiment, archaeology, decorative arts; also known as Barnstaple Museum
Museum of British Surfing Braunton North Devon Sports website, surfing in the UK, surfboard collection
Museum of Dartmoor Life Okehampton North Devon Multiple Local history, culture, industry, trades, period rooms, art
Newcomen Engine House Dartmouth South Hams Technology Newcomen steam engine and history of Thomas Newcomen
Newton Abbot Town & GWR Museum Newton Abbot Teignbridge Multiple website, local history, Great Western Railway, art
North Devon Maritime Museum Appledore North Devon Maritime History of shipbuilding and seafaring in the village
Old Bakery, Manor Mill & Forge Branscombe East Devon Historic site Operated by the National Trust, restored bakery, water-powered forge and forge
Otterton Mill Otterton East Devon Mill 19th century water mill, bakery, shop
Overbeck's Salcombe South Hams Historic house Operated by the National Trust, Edwardian house with collections of stuffed animals, model ships, nautical tools and photos, doll houses
Plough Arts Centre Great Torrington Torridge Art Includes visual art gallery, theatre and cinema
Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery Plymouth Plymouth Multiple Local history, natural history, art, archaeology, decorative arts
Powderham Castle Powderham Exeter Historic house Medieval castle, home of the Earl of Devon, Victorian kitchen, deer park, gardens
Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery Exeter Exeter Multiple Art, natural history, local history, decorative arts, archaeology, coins, costumes, world culture
Salcombe Lifeboat Station Salcombe South Hams Maritime History of the RNLI lifeboat station in Salcombe
Salcombe Maritime Museum Salcombe South Hams Maritime website, ship portraits, shipwreck and rescue, shipbuilding, local history
Saltram House Plympton Plymouth Historic house Operated by the National Trust, Robert Adam-designed Georgian house with original decor, plasterwork and furnishings
Sand, Devon Sidbury East Devon Historic house website, Elizabethan manor house, garden
Seaton Museum Seaton East Devon Local website, also known as Axe Valley Heritage Museum, local history, archaeology, natural history, geology
Sidmouth Museum SidMusExt Sidmouth East Devon Local website, local history, natural history of the Jurassic Coast
Smeaton's Tower Plymouth Plymouth Maritime 18th century former lighthouse
South Devon Railway: Buckfastleigh Buckfastleigh Teignbridge Railway Headquarters and museum for the South Devon Railway, steam locomotive depot and workshops
South Molton Museum South Molton North Devon Multiple website, local history, trades, agriculture, culture, archaeology, toys, household items, railway
St Nicholas Priory Exeter Exeter Historic house Furnished as an Elizabethan town house in 1602
Start Point Lighthouse Start Point South Hams Maritime Lighthouse open for tours
Tamar Belle Visitor Centre Bere Ferrers West Devon Railway Victorian railway station with equipment, rolling stock and memorabilia
Tavistock Museum Tavistock West Devon Local website, local history
Teignmouth & Shaldon Museum Teignmouth Teignbridge Multiple website, maritime and local history, art, area railway and air transport
Tiverton Castle Tiverton Mid Devon Historic house Medieval castle manor house, garden
Tiverton Museum of Mid Devon Life Tiverton Mid Devon Multiple Local history, railroads, transport, social history, agriculture
Topsham Museum Topsham Exeter Multiple website, maritime and local history, 17th century period rooms, natural history, local trades, memorabilia of film star Vivien Leigh
Torquay Museum Torquay Torbay Multiple website, local history, Agatha Christie, artifacts from Kents Cavern, archaeology, replica farmhouse interior, Ancient Egypt, and world jewellery
Torre Abbey Torquay Torbay Multiple Former abbey and country house, art gallery, collections of fine and decorative art, gardens
Totnes Castle Totnes South Hams Military Operated by English Heritage, preserved Norman motte-and-bailey castle
Totnes Elizabethan House Museum Totnes South Ham] Historic house 1575 Tudor house with period rooms, local history including computer inventor Charles Babbage, Saxon coins
Totnes Fashion and Textiles Museum Totnes South Hams Fashion Located in Bogan House, clothing and accessories from the 18th to 20th centuries from the Devonshire Collection of Period Costume
Totnes Guildhall Totnes South Hams Historic site 16th century Tudor guild hall, magistrate's court and prison
Totnes Image Bank and Rural Archive Totnes South Hams Photography website, changing exhibits of historic area photographs from its collections, cameras and photography equipment, located in the town watermill
Ugbrooke Chudleigh Teignbridge Historic house Estate dating to the 12th century, house and grounds remodeled in the 18th century by Robert Adam and Capability Brown
University of Exeter Galleries Exeter Exeter Art website, part of the University of Exeter, galleries in Northcote House and Queen's Building
Upottery Heritage Centre Upottery East Devon Military website, operated by the South West Airfields Heritage Trust, history of RAF Upottery in World War II
Valiant Soldier Buckfastleigh Teignbridge Historic house website, information, 1960s period pub and home
Watermouth Castle Watermouth North Devon Amusement Theme park with collection of Victorian antiques, domestic tools, amusement machines, mechanical instruments, toys, model trains
West of England Transport Collection Winkleigh Torridge Transportation website, private collection of transport vehicles open to the public once a year
William Pengelly Cave Studies Trust Museum Buckfastleigh Teignbridge Natural history website, caves, geology, fossils, conservation

Defunct museums

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References

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  1. ^ "Bomb Shelter". Beer Village Heritage. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  2. ^ "Barnstaple Heritage Centre". Barnstaple Town Council. Archived from the original on 11 August 2016. Retrieved 15 July 2016. Barnstaple Heritage Centre closed for business on 31st March 2016.
  3. ^ "Bradworthy Transport Museum Sale". Cheffins. 2010. Retrieved 9 March 2015. Cheffins are pleased to have been instructed by Ken and Pat Wilson to sell by auction the contents of the Bradworthy Transport Museum. The decision to sell the collection is due to ill health and the sale of Higher Alsworthy Farm.
  4. ^ "High Cross House closes after National Trust ends lease". BBC News Devon. 29 December 2013. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
  5. ^ "Owner gears up to wind down museum". Western Morning News. 10 September 2011. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 9 March 2015. Colyford Motoring Memories Museum, located in the small Axe Valley village, is to close at the end of the month as its owner, Robin Barnard, puts his hobby to rest.
  6. ^ Robinson, Chris (11 August 2017). "Odd decisions may have contributed to failure of Plymouth Dome". The Herald. Plymouth. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
  7. ^ "Official site". Torrington 1646. Retrieved 9 March 2015. Please note that TORRINGTON 1646 will be closing down as an educational facility on 31 March 2015.
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See also

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