Axminster Heritage Centre
A volunteer-run heritage centre in the former Thomas Whitty carpet factory telling the story of Axminster carpets and the town.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Axminster Heritage Centre stands on the site of the carpet factory founded by Thomas Whitty in 1755, the beginning of Axminster carpet making. The factory worked until 1835 and the building later served the town as a court house and a hospital. Local enthusiasts founded Axminster Museum in 1982, and the present organisation, Axminster Heritage Ltd, was formed in 2005 and became a registered charity in 2006.
The trustees bought Thomas Whitty House in the 2010s and converted it, and the centre opened to the public at Easter 2016. An extended gallery with an interactive exhibition, "The Story of Axminster", followed in April 2019. The centre is run by volunteers.
The displays cover the town's carpet-making heritage, including an early Whitty carpet from 1769 and an eighteenth-century loom, as well as a 1930s Crabtree loom that is sometimes run in working order. Other galleries deal with Bronze and Stone Age finds, the Roman Fosse Way, the medieval abbey at Newenham and local industries such as brush making and precision engineering. A restored dye house and courtyard garden show plants used to colour wool.
Highlights
- Early Axminster carpet of 1769 and eighteenth-century loom
- Working 1930s Crabtree loom on selected days
- Interactive exhibition "The Story of Axminster"
- Restored dye house and dye-plant garden
- Children's trail with dressing-up points
- Founded
- 1982
- Operated by
- Axminster Heritage Ltd
Admission & discounts
| Adults | £4 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 17 · Children aged 17 and under are free. |
| Annual membership, individual | £12.50Includes free entry for a year |
| Annual membership, couple | £20 |
| Annual membership, family (two adults, up to four children) | £25 |
Free admission: Last Saturday of each month for residents of the EX13 postcode area (proof of residency required), when the 1930s Crabtree loom is in operation
Membership also gives 10% off event tickets. A lifetime individual membership costs £125.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: no information
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The building has a lift as well as stairs to the upper-floor meeting room.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 17 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
- Hands-on stations
A children's trail with dressing-up points and interactive displays; family activities, workshops and children's sleepovers are held during the year.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
The railway station is reached on foot by walking into the town centre along West Street to Trinity Square next to the Minster Church; Silver Street leads off the square.
By car
Parking available
Lyme Street car park directly behind the building (run by East Devon District Council); Coombe Lane car park and West Street (Co-op) car park are also nearby.
Silver Street leads off Trinity Square next to the Minster Church.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Museum shop
Gift shop and tourist information point. Wi-Fi is available in the hire meeting room.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Private parties
- Corporate events
Up to 50 guests.
The Bradshaw Meeting Room (10.5 by 5.2 metres) has a projector, screen, sound system, Wi-Fi, a lift and a kitchenette. Hire is £17.50 per hour, or £12.50 per hour for charities and community groups; available 09:00 to 22:00 Monday to Saturday.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| Good to know | The centre also offers talks, craft courses, workshops and coach trips through its Heritage Alive programme. |
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