Radio Museum

About the museum

The museum began in 1993 as the Washford Radio Museum at Tropiquaria, the attraction in the former BBC West Regional transmitting station at Washford Cross. That station opened in 1933 as part of the BBC's Regional Scheme and was Grade II listed in 1984, and the museum told its story and the wider development of broadcasting.

In 2014 the collector and curator Neil Wilson decided to move the museum to a new home. He bought the former Anchor Inn in Watchet in 2015, and the museum now fills the building as The Radio Museum. Inside, a time-line from the early 1920s to the 1960s shows the development of radio and television through the exhibits.

The collection includes radio and television sets, record players, microphones and broadcasting equipment, among them part of a 1930s BBC transmitter from Moorside Edge, BBC outside-broadcast equipment, studio desks and mobile disc recorders. The museum also keeps an archive of literature, sound recordings and service data that is open to researchers and people restoring vintage radios.

Highlights

• Part of a 1930s BBC transmitter from Moorside Edge
• Time-line of radio and television from the early 1920s
• BBC microphones, studio desks and outside-broadcast equipment
• BBC mobile disc recorders of the 1940s
• Archive of broadcasting literature and photographs

Permanent exhibition

• Time-line of radio and television – Exhibits from the early 1920s to the 1960s show how radio and television developed, with BBC studio, microphone and outside-broadcast equipment.

Founded

1993

Operated by

Neil Wilson (private collection and museum)

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission is free; donations are welcome.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The museum is in the centre of Watchet on the West Somerset coast.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.