Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon

About the museum

The Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon was established in 1989, bringing together the collections of the North Devon Athenaeum and the Borough Museum, which had been in St Anne's Chapel. It is part of North Devon Council, which cares for the collections for the local community and offers free admission all year.

The museum is in a Grade II listed building on The Square, at the end of Long Bridge over the River Taw, which was built in 1872 for the quarry owner William Thorne. A later Long Bridge Wing was paid for by several funders including the Heritage Fund and the Garfield Weston Foundation, and the MBND Development Trust, set up in 2014, supports the museum's collections and education work.

The twelve permanent galleries show a selection of about 80,000 objects, from the formation of North Devon's rocks to life in the twentieth century. The collection is known for North Devon art pottery, furniture made by Shapland and Petter, the Royal Devon Yeomanry, natural history including the remains of the Barnstaple Elephant, archaeology, fine art and geology. There is also a shop and a tearoom.

Highlights

• North Devon art pottery from the medieval period to today
• Arts and Crafts furniture by Shapland and Petter
• Natural history collection including the Barnstaple Elephant
• Art by North Devon artists such as Frederick Richard Lee
• Free entry and a riverside tearoom

Permanent exhibitions

• North Devon Art Pottery – One of the finest collections of North Devon pottery, from the medieval period to the present.
• Shapland and Petter furniture – Furniture from Barnstaple's largest twentieth-century employer, including Arts and Crafts pieces.
• Natural History – More than 10,000 plants and animals, including Victorian herbaria and the remains of the Barnstaple Elephant.

Founded

1989

Operated by

North Devon Council

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Entry is free all year round; some events and talks are charged separately.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The building and lift are wheelchair accessible, but wheelchairs or mobility devices 75 cm or wider may not reach some areas of this Grade II listed building, so visitors with larger devices should contact the museum in advance. There are accessible toilets on every floor and a fixed induction loop in the Learning Room. Two disabled bays outside the museum are available with a permit from the Welcome Desk, shown with a blue badge. Assistance dogs are welcome, and a visual guide and an accessibility guide are available.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Stroller-friendly
• Baby changing facilities

A free museum trail and quiz can be downloaded or collected at the Welcome Desk, and family workshops are held. The museum gives advice on visiting with a buggy, and there is baby changing in the ground-floor toilet.

Getting there & parking

The museum is at the end of the Long Bridge and is the only building on The Square.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

Bromley's Tearoom is on the ground floor with views of the square, and the museum shop sells gifts inspired by the exhibitions and by local makers.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

Up to 40 guests.

The David Butt Learning Room on the first floor overlooks the River Taw and holds 30 or more for meetings and conferences and 40 for talks or workshops. It has IT access, Wi-Fi, a hearing loop, a cloakroom and a kitchenette; hire is booked by email.

Plan your visit