Braunton and District Museum
Free museum in a converted bakehouse in Braunton with a working model of the 1950s railway station and displays on wartime, farming, maritime life and Henry Williamson.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Braunton and District Museum is based in the Bakehouse Centre in Caen Street, in the main car park in the centre of Braunton. The building was created by converting a former bakehouse and two cottages. A Heritage Lottery grant awarded in 2009 helped the museum to tell the military history of the area.
The displays cover the history of the village and its surroundings. A working model shows Braunton railway station as it looked in the 1950s. The military section deals with both World Wars, including the training that took place on Braunton Burrows in 1943 and 1944 before the D-Day landings. Another display is devoted to Henry Williamson, the local author of Tarka the Otter.
The museum also shows the maritime heritage of the village, with a diorama of Vellator Quay, an interactive multimedia display and model ships by Sam Mitchell. The agricultural collection from the Great Field is currently on loan to Braunton Countryside Centre. Volunteers offer limited local and family history research using indexed parish registers and census returns, by appointment, and the museum hosts the village tourist information.
Highlights
- Working model of Braunton railway station in the 1950s
- Military history of both World Wars, including D-Day training on Braunton Burrows
- Display on the author Henry Williamson
- Maritime heritage with Vellator Quay diorama and model ships
- Printed guide to the collection
Permanent exhibition
- Braunton Railway, Military History, Henry Williamson and maritime heritage – Permanent displays include a working model of Braunton station in the 1950s, the two World Wars, the author Henry Williamson and the maritime past of the village.
- Founded
- 1974
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
Entry is free. Donations are welcome.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- 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 museum has disabled access and a stair lift to the first floor. A folding wheelchair is available.
Kids & families
The listing shows children’s activities but gives no details.
Getting there & parking
By car
Parking available
The museum is inside the main Caen Street car park, which has toilets.
The museum is in the centre of Braunton, in the main Caen Street car park.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Museum shop
A small shop sells gifts, souvenirs and local history booklets, and there is a postal book service. Toilets are in the adjacent car park.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Guided tours and group bookings are available on request. The museum also offers film shows, talks and quizzes. Personal research is possible by appointment, using indexed transcriptions of St Brannock’s Church parish registers and Braunton census returns from 1841 to 1901. |
