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Tiverton Museum is a veritable gem of a museum!
The Museum started, in 1959, in modest and very restricted premises
on Angel Hill which it soon outgrew; after a brief period at Chilcott
School it moved to a former National School Building (dated 1841)
in St Andrew’s Street. This site recently saw major improvement
so as  to
house the important collection in the best possible environment
for enjoyment, interest and research, and re-opened in 2001. The
entrance, in Beck’s Square, is bright, light and welcoming.
There is plenty of car parking (short and long stay) nearby and
the bus station is less than 200 metres away; look for the mural
of the “Tivvy Bumper”!
The Museum has one of the best social history collections in the
South West covering local agriculture, domestic life, industry,
and transport in the Mid Devon and south Exmoor areas. Ride the
footplate of the “Tivvy Bumper” and hear the sounds
of the engine at full steam – just as it did when it hauled
the last train to Tiverton Town Station in October 1965.
There is a fine collection of local clocks, domestic and agricultural
equipment and a large collection of archives, and several thousand
photographs. Children always seem to remember the “bleeding
leg” caught in a mantrap! Indeed, there is something of everything
to keep an entire family delighted by their visit, as well as resources
for researchers of local or family history. Almost every part of
the collection is now accessible to the disabled with a lift and
easy ramps for wheelchair access, together with Braille panels and
sound points.
In the Amory Gallery there is a real gold mine of items and records
showing local history, commerce, the war years, shops, toys, sport,
fashion and a detailed “time-line” showing the relationship
of events in Tiverton and Mid Devon to national and international
happenings.
The Museum is a Service Point for the Devon Records Office and can,
with notice, give access to the County’s extensive records.
Family history researchers can get help and advice on Mondays (2.00
p.m. to 4.30 p.m.) and Wednesdays (10.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.) or at
other times by appointment.
One of the features of the present Museum is the beautifully presented
interpretation of the exhibits throughout the galleries. The graphics
panels are models of clarity and lucid explanation and add hugely
to visitors’ enjoyment.
Mention must be made of the quite remarkable success of the Museum’s
website (to be found at www.tivertonmuseum.org.uk.) The on-line
learning resource “Virtual Victorians” has had millions
of “hits” from thousands of “virtual” visitors
from all round the world. The Museum Education Service offers a
wide range of resource for both formal education and lifelong learning;
there are handling collections for schools and special activities
and events during school holidays.
The Museum is open (February to December) Monday to Friday from
10.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. and on Saturdays from 10.00 a.m. to 1.0
p.m.; there is a shop with many items of local interest, and with
cards and photographs to remind you of your visit.
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