The Museum of Barnstaple & North Devon

The Museum of Barnstaple & North Devon A centre for curiosity | A house of stories | A place for learning
Admission FREE The history of the museum building. Connecting wires run all over the building.

The most prominent building on the Square was built for William Thorne, in 1872. ( Thorne was a quarry owner and operator of the horse-drawn railway to Fremington Quay.) His new house was constructed of brick with decorative stone details. It is said that Thorne never actually lived in the house. The house was a sizeable building, with a grand staircase and 15 servants' bells in the back corridor.

The house was bought by William Rock (Barnstaple benefactor) in 1887, to house the North Devon Athenaeum, a free library and Museum. It was opened to the public the following year. The Athenaeum inherited the collections of the Barnstaple Literary and Scientific Institution - founded by William Rock in 1845 and continued to accumulate a wide variety of objects, papers and books. From 1956, the Athenaeum shared the building with the local branch of the County Library Service. Local people remember coming to the Athenaeum to do their homework. In 1988, North Devon District Council bought the building. The Athenaeum, its collection of documents and the County Library moved to purpose-built premises in Tuly Street. Many of the Athenaeum's objects remain in the Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon. These include the rocks and minerals in the first gallery, local paintings and part of the pottery collection.

✍️🌿 The power of the written wordThe power and potential of words are celebrated as key elements in our current exhibiti...
30/05/2026

✍️🌿 The power of the written word

The power and potential of words are celebrated as key elements in our current exhibition, The Art of Resurgence, which opened last week.

The Resurgence Trust are offering a special creative writing workshop as part of the exhibition, inviting you to slow down, observe, and connect with the natural world through words.

Join writer and tree specialist Cheryl Silvawood for an inspiring session using natural elements, guided visualisation, and tactile observation as creative prompts for poetry and storytelling.

📌 Sensing Nature: A Creative Writing Workshop
Saturday 6 June, 10.30am-12.3pm
£15 (ticket includes a free copy of Resurgence & Ecologist magazine)

👉🏼 https://www.tickettailor.com/events/theresurgencecentre/2155466/r/bmus

🌿 Suitable for anyone with an interest in creativity, nature, and writing.

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Resurgence Cheryl Silvawood

New in! ​This fascinating story tells of Devon women faced with a choice: were they for or against Votes for Women? If f...
29/05/2026

New in! ​This fascinating story tells of Devon women faced with a choice: were they for or against Votes for Women? If for, should they support the law-abiding Suffragists or the militant Suffragettes?

Read about an ambush of the Prime Minister in Clovelly and why Ilfracombe was dubbed an 'island of militancy'.

In the museum shop now 💚💜

// Now on display: photographs by James Ravilious ✨Drawn from the Museum’s collection of over 170 photographs by James R...
29/05/2026

// Now on display: photographs by James Ravilious ✨

Drawn from the Museum’s collection of over 170 photographs by James Ravilious, this special display accompanies our Documentary Photography Open exhibition and celebrates the people and places of North Devon through Ravilious’ compassionate and quietly powerful portraits.

Whether at work, at home, or sharing everyday moments, each image tells a story rich in personality and local history.

💛 A must-see for photography lovers and anyone with a connection to North Devon.

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A reminder about our annual symposium taking place this June.Whether you are an archaeology enthusiast, local historian,...
28/05/2026

A reminder about our annual symposium taking place this June.

Whether you are an archaeology enthusiast, local historian, student, or simply curious about North Devon’s past, this symposium promises an engaging and insightful day celebrating the stories hidden beneath our feet.

👇 Booking via Ticket Source 👇
https://www.ticketsource.com/museum-of-barnstaple

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💫 Now open at Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon ✨The Art of Resurgence celebrates 60 years of Resurgence - from its b...
27/05/2026

💫 Now open at Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon ✨

The Art of Resurgence celebrates 60 years of Resurgence - from its beginnings as a pioneering peace publication to its on-going role in inspiring environmental thought, creativity, and change.

Discover iconic cover art from the archive dating back to 1966, artwork and prints by celebrated illustrators including Axel Scheffler and Jackie Morris, plus crafts by local ceramicist, Sandy Brown and Sarah P Corbett, founder of the global Craftivist Collective.

🎟️ Free entry

📷 Skizzajuxxi (dish), Sandy Brown, sandybrownarts.co.uk

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Resurgence Sandy Brown

25/05/2026

Get hands-on with history this half term at the Museum! 🏺✨

Join local potter Taz Pollard and create your very own pot, inspired by everything from traditional pottery to fascinating archaeological finds. Alongside the pottery workshop, families can enjoy some archaeology-themed activities, and explore the museum with our brand new 'Spot the Pot' trail!

📅 Wednesday 27 May
🕙 10am–12pm and 1pm–3pm
🎟️ Free drop-in sessions

Please note: adults must be accompanied by a child, and children must be supervised at all times.

💫 Perfect for curious kids, creative families, and anyone who loves discovering the stories behind the pots of the past! 🏺🔎

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✨ Join Satish Kumar at the Museum this June!Satish, founder of Resurgence, is a world-renowned author and international ...
23/05/2026

✨ Join Satish Kumar at the Museum this June!

Satish, founder of Resurgence, is a world-renowned author and international speaker who has been inspiring global change for over 60 years. He will be joined by Clare Goulet, poet, essayist, editor, and coordinator of the Writing Centre at Mount Saint Vincent University, Nova Scotia, Canada.

📌 60 Transformative Years of Resurgence - a talk by Satish Kumar with poetry from Clare Goulet
📆 Friday 5 June, 6.30-8pm
✨ £10 | Places limited - advanced booking necessary
🔗https://www.tickettailor.com/events/theresurgencecentre/2116770/r/bmus

This event is part of the Resurgence 60th anniversary exhibition now showing at the Museum and running until 18 July.

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Resurgence

Need some Fathers Day gift ideas? We got you. Support your local museum 💚PS The tearoom's cheese scones are possibly the...
22/05/2026

Need some Fathers Day gift ideas? We got you. Support your local museum 💚
PS The tearoom's cheese scones are possibly the best gift. But that could just be me.

Address

The Square
Barnstaple
EX328LN

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 10am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 10am - 4:30pm
Thursday 10am - 4:30pm
Friday 10am - 4:30pm
Saturday 10am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+441271346747

Website

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