Torquay Museum Society

08/12/2023

04/12/2023

Tuesday 12th December at Torquay Museum Society lecture series at Torquay Museum
The March of William of Orange through Devon
Torquay Museum Society Lecture by Phil Badcott

Follow the historic journey of William of Orange from Holland to Brixham, Paignton, Newton Abbot and through the rest of Devon and find out whom he met and what he did. The talk includes live early music accompaniment , including music written by composer Henry Purcell played by violinist Tim Trewin.

Lectures are free of charge to Torquay Museum Society Members but the general public are also welcome to attend - £5 per ticket, payable on the door.
Doors open at 10.30am - with lectures starting at 10.45am, finishing at 12pm.
To find out how to become a member of the society click on the link below
https://torquaymuseum.org/torquay-museum-society

04/12/2023

The Christmas Market tradition

29/11/2023

Please join us at the Museum for an entertaining mixture of folk songs, legends and customs:-

The Folklore of Devon presented and performed by Jim Causley
and Mark Norman

Torquay Museum, Saturday 27 January 2024, 2pm to 4.15pm - doors open 1.30pm for a prompt start

As a number of you will know, Jim Causley is a folk-singer, award winning songwriter, musician, proud Devonian and all-round entertainer, while Mark Norman is a folklorist, the curator of the Devon Folklore Library and also the current folklore recorder for the Devonshire Association. Together this should make for a memorable, informative and entertaining afternoon.

The Museum Cafe and Bar will be open for refreshments before the event and during the interval.

This event is a Fund Raiser for Torquay Museum, arranged by the Torquay Museum Society

Tickets are priced at £10 and can be purchased direct through the Museum’s website by following this link:-

https://torquay-museum.arttickets.org.uk/torquay-museum/2024-01-27-the-folklore-of-devon-presented-and-performed-by-jim-causley-and-mark-norman

27/11/2023

Supporting Torquay Museum

26/11/2023

This Wednesday's Torquay Museum Society lecture at Torquay Museum

Ducking Stools, Dissenters, Debtors and Drunks: Crime and Punishment in the 17th Century

Wednesday November 29th 2023
Torquay Museum Society Lecture by Janet Few

How was crime dealt with in the 17th century? What were the punishments for various crimes and how could you avoid them? It would be unusual for the lives of our Stuart ancestors not to be touched by crime in some way; whether as victims, witnesses, lawbreakers or law enforcers. Learn how they would have been regarded and treated by their contemporaries, in whichever of these roles they found themselves.

Lectures are free of charge to Torquay Museum Society Members but the general public are also welcome to attend - £5 per ticket, payable on the door.
Doors open at 10.30am - with lectures starting at 10.45am, finishing at 12pm.
To find out how to become a member of the society click on the link below
https://torquaymuseum.org/torquay-museum-society

25/11/2023

: Ancient Egyptian Cartonnage Collar

This painted cartonnage collar, on display in our Explorers gallery, is made of linen stiffened with gesso (plaster) and would have formed part of the outer casing for a mummy.

23/11/2023

This Tuesday's Torquay Museum Society Lecture at Torquay Museum

TUESDAY 28th November

FROM SPUTNIK TO SPACEX
Peter Marshal

Satellites and space flight have become one of the biggest industries in the world, at nearly £400-billion annually, in the 66 years since those ‘bleeps’ from Sputnik. This ‘non-technical’ talk by a former journalist, then satellite industry executive, describes how it has developed to influence so many aspects of our lives.

Lectures are free of charge to Torquay Museum Society Members but the general public are also welcome to attend - £5 per ticket, payable on the door.
Doors open at 10.30am - with lectures starting at 10.45am, finishing at 12pm.
To find out how to become a member of the society click on the link below
https://torquaymuseum.org/torquay-museum-society

21/11/2023

This Torquay Times photograph was taken exactly 62 years ago in November 1961 and it shows the Strand in autumn sunshine. How much has changed since then!

20/11/2023

Thank you to everyone who attended Frazoo on Saturday 18th November at Torquay Museum.

Torquay Museum Society are delighted to announce that Frazoo will be doing another run of what was a packed-out event on Saturday, 16th March 2024.

The TMS would like to offer our sincere apologies to those (unfortunately, few) families who could not get seats for the "Frazoo" lecture by Frazie Hulbert on Saturday, 18th November. The March 2024 event will be a ticketed event (via the Museum's ticket system) to ensure nobody is turned away on the day! Details will be announced well in advance.

20/11/2023

This week's Torquay Museum Society lecture series at Torquay Museum

TUESDAY 21st November
SAT NAV AND HOW GPS WORKS
Roger D Cooper

GPS or GNSS is used in almost every industry from ‘Sat Nav’ in cars and navigation at sea to farming and the transmission of television & radio stations. Developed in the early 1980’s, how exactly does the system work to such high accuracies? We hope to give a layman’s understanding of this highly sophisticated space borne technology.

WEDNESDAY 22nd November
MUSIC HALLS AND THEIR INFLUENCE ON SOCIETY AND WORLD WAR ONE
Marilyn Bishop

Join Marilyn in singing along to some of the WWI songs which glamorised fighting on the front line!

Lectures are free of charge to Torquay Museum Society Members but the general public are also welcome to attend - £5 per ticket, payable on the door.
Doors open at 10.30am - with lectures starting at 10.45am, finishing at 12pm.
To find out how to become a member of the society click on the link below
https://torquaymuseum.org/torquay-museum-society

18/11/2023

🎄 Adopt the Twelve Objects of Christmas and support a local charity!️

The Museum really needs your support during the winter months. This year we're giving you an opportunity to adopt 12 of the Museum's greatest treasures with local connections. You can give this to someone special as a unique Christmas gift and support the Museum at the same time!

Your adopted item will come with yearly passes to the Museum, our guidebooks, a Christmas card and a label with your name displayed with the object.

🎁 Our first object is this beautiful late 16th century gold posy ring from Cockington which is believed to have belonged to Wilmotta, the wife of Sir George Cary. This would make the perfect gift for someone special in your life as it's marked: "No treasure to a true friend."

Find all the objects you can adopt at crowdfunder.co.uk/p/adopt-the-twelve-objects-christmas

15/11/2023

This Saturday (18th November) a very exciting Torquay Museum Society event at Torquay Museum .

FRAZOO LIVE SHOW: REMARKABLE REPTILES AND COLOSSAL CREEPY-CRAWLIES
with Frazie Hulbert

Meet some beautiful exotic creatures and learn some fascinating facts in this interactive live show, with opportunities to join in or ask questions.
Lectures- Society Events are free of charge to Torquay Museum Society Members but the general public are also welcome to attend - entry pricing payable on the door as below for this event :-
Ages 16+ £5
Ages 11-15 inclusive: £3
Ages under 11: FREE
Doors open at 13.00pm - with the event starting at 13.30pm, finishing at 15.00pm ( including Q & A ).
Download the full programme and find out how to become a member of the society via the link below
https://torquaymuseum.org/torquay-museum-society

14/11/2023

🤞 The Museum would like to say a huge THANK YOU to all the Lottery players who support good causes all over the UK by buying Lottery tickets. and the we have means to improve our small gallery dedicated to the unique local marble industry which will open in the spring 2024. Keep following us to see the progress we're making!

12/11/2023

This Saturday (18th November) a very exciting Torquay Museum Society event at Torquay Museum .

FRAZOO LIVE SHOW: REMARKABLE REPTILES AND COLOSSAL CREEPY-CRAWLIES
with Frazie Hulbert

Meet some beautiful exotic creatures and learn some fascinating facts in this interactive live show, with opportunities to join in or ask questions.

Lectures- Society Events are free of charge to Torquay Museum Society Members but the general public are also welcome to attend - entry pricing payable on the door as below for this event :-

Ages 16+ £5

Ages 11-15 inclusive: £3

Ages under 11: FREE

Doors open at 13.00pm - with the event starting at 13.30pm, finishing at 15.00pm ( including Q & A ).

Download the full programme and find out how to become a member of the society via the link below
https://torquaymuseum.org/torquay-museum-society

11/11/2023

This Tuesday ( 14th November ) at Torquay Museum Society lecture series at Torquay Museum

KIWIS IN TORQUAY
David Hinchliffe

Between 1917 and 1919 between 20,000 and 40,000 New Zealand soldiers passed through Torquay. This is their story - why they were here, where they stayed and what they did during that time.

Lectures are free of charge to Torquay Museum Society Members but the general public are also welcome to attend - £5 per ticket, payable on the door.
Doors open at 10.30am - with lectures starting at 10.45am, finishing at 12pm.
To find out how to become a member of the society click on the link below
https://torquaymuseum.org/torquay-museum-society

08/11/2023

This lecture is postponed until a later dat - instead on the 15th of November will be "Bringing history to life through film" with John Tomkins.

Wednesday 15th of November : Torquay Museum Society Lecture Programme at Torquay Museum

ORANGES AND LEMONS
Roger Hamilton

This tangy tale with a twist takes a look at the biology, history and politics of citrus fruit.

Lectures are free of charge to Torquay Museum Society Members but the general public are also welcome to attend - £5 per ticket, payable on the door.
Doors open at 10.30am - with lectures starting at 10.45am, finishing at 12pm.
To find out how to become a member of the society click on the link below
https://torquaymuseum.org/torquay-museum-society

08/11/2023

A Torquay Times photograph showing Union Street blocked with traffic following a four-car pile-up in the foreground of the image, 14th September 1968.

06/11/2023

This Wednesday (8th)at the Torquay Museum Society Lecture Series at Torquay Museum

“BOUNCER”
Robert Garnham - Poet, Writer, Humorist

A comedy poetry show about NOT becoming famous! Robert Garnham, Professor of Whimsy, takes the audience behind the scenes on a certain TV talent show.

Lectures are free of charge to Torquay Museum Society Members but the general public are also welcome to attend - £5 per ticket, payable on the door.
Doors open at 10.30am - with lectures starting at 10.45am, finishing at 12pm.
To find out how to become a member of the society click on the link below
https://torquaymuseum.org/torquay-museum-society

05/11/2023

This Tuesday ( 7th ) at Torquay Museum Society lecture series Torquay Museum

BIOLOGICAL CLOCKS: HOW ANIMALS AND PLANTS TELL THE TIME
Roger Avery

An examination of the “clocks” which enable animals and plants to do things at the right season or time of day, how they are set... and how they can go wrong.

Lectures are free of charge to Torquay Museum Society Members but the general public are also welcome to attend - £5 per ticket, payable on the door.
Doors open at 10.30am - with lectures starting at 10.45am, finishing at 12pm.
To find out how to become a member of the society click on the link below
https://torquaymuseum.org/torquay-museum-society

03/11/2023

Tomorrow ( Saturday 4th November ) at Torquay Museum
starts at 3pm https://torquaymuseum.org/events/view/gwenevere

Phillip Reeve visiting Torquay Museum

01/11/2023

Awesome to be invited by the Torquay Museum Society to give a lecture this morning. Wonderful setting in the Torquay Museum and fabulous audience, always a joy to speak in my home town🤙 The English Riviera Brendon Prince Above Water

29/10/2023

This Wednesday Torquay Museum Society Lecture series at Torquay Museum

1st November 2023
THE LONG PADDLE
Brendon Prince

The ‘Long Paddle’ was a successful world record attempt to circumnavigate mainland Britain by Stand-up Paddleboard (SUP). After travelling 4000 kilometres over 141 days and 8 million paddle strokes, Brendon tells his story around the factual and often death-defying events of the journey.

Lectures are free of charge to Torquay Museum Society Members but the general public are also welcome to attend - £5 per ticket, payable on the door.
Doors open at 10.30am - with lectures starting at 10.45am, finishing at 12pm.
To find out how to become a member of the society click on the link below
https://torquaymuseum.org/torquay-museum-society

27/10/2023

This Tuesday at Torquay Museum Society Lecture Series
at Torquay Museum

Tuesday 31st October
A year in the life of a Beekeeper
Alan Rowse

An explanation of some of the intriguing husbandry techniques useful in managing a small honeybee apiary located, in this case, on the Rowcroft Hospice estate, Torquay.

Lectures are free of charge to Torquay Museum Society Members but the general public are also welcome to attend - £5 per ticket, payable on the door.
Doors open at 10.30am - with lectures starting at 10.45am, finishing at 12pm.
To find out how to become a member of the society click on the link below
https://torquaymuseum.org/torquay-museum-society

26/10/2023

Thank you to everyone who attended yesterday's lecture and performance at Torquay Museum.

“SOUVENIRS DE TORQUAY” BY FRANCIS EDWARD BACHE
Elizabeth French

Elizabeth is a PhD student at Leeds University. The British composer-pianist F. Edward Bache (1833 - 1858) visited Torquay in the final year of his life, seeking alleviation of the symptoms of the tuberculosis that would kill him. Whilst in the town, he composed a set of piano pieces, which will be explored and performed in today’s presentation

This amazing presentation and performance was filmed for release online on a future date.

20/10/2023

An exciting special Torquay Museum Society lecture is happening this Wednesday at Torquay Museum .

Wednesday 25th October 2023
“SOUVENIRS DE TORQUAY” BY FRANCIS EDWARD BACHE

Elizabeth French

Elizabeth is a PhD student at Leeds University. The British composer-pianist F. Edward Bache (1833 - 1858) visited Torquay in the final year of his life, seeking alleviation of the symptoms of the tuberculosis that would kill him. Whilst in the town, he composed a set of piano pieces, which will be explored and performed in today’s presentation*.

Lectures are free of charge to Torquay Museum Society Members but the general public are also welcome to attend - £5 per ticket, payable on the door.
Doors open at 10.30am - with lectures starting at 10.45am, finishing at 12pm.
To find out how to become a member of the society click on the link below
https://torquaymuseum.org/torquay-museum-society

*Please note that this event is being filmed and to avoid interruption of this historic performance, no admissions will permitted after the event has started at 10.45am.

17/10/2023

The secrets of ancient Egypt are being revealed in Torquay

15/10/2023

This week at Torquay Museum Society Lecture Series
at Torquay Museum

Tuesday 17th October

THE REAL RUGBY STORY BEHIND THE MYTHS AND LEGENDS Angus Hamilton

On the 27th of August 1995, Vernon Pugh declared that rugby union would become “an open game”. With those three words the game of rugby shed its amateur roots and became entirely professional. As we approach the thirtieth anniversary of
professional rugby, this talk explores the myths about the game and examines what shape it is in today.

Wednesday 18th October

WHAT’S A PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER AND WHY HAVE THEY BECOME SO POPULAR?
Susan Wilkins

Susan has been an author of crime fiction (12 novels to date) and a former TV writer (25-year career with over 130 broadcast credits on top-rated shows). Crime fiction is the second most popular genre after romance. But what draws both writers and readers to the dark side?

Lectures are free of charge to Torquay Museum Society Members but the general public are also welcome to attend - £5 per ticket, payable on the door.
Doors open at 10.30am - with lectures starting at 10.45am, finishing at 12pm.
To find out how to become a member of the society click on the link below
https://torquaymuseum.org/torquay-museum-society

11/10/2023

Saturday 14th October at Torquay Museum
Animation in Film-Making - Talk with Mark Wilson

In this event for all ages film animation expert Mark Wilson presents an introduction to the art, from hand drawn to the latest computer animation. Mark is a digital artist who has been lecturing in Film & Video and Animation at Exeter College for nearly 20 years. He was coordinator of Animated Exeter for two years and has been involved in various animation projects, music videos and experimental film work.

Lectures are free of charge to Torquay Museum Society Members but the general public are also welcome to attend - £5 per ticket, payable on the door.
Doors open at 13.00pm - with lectures starting at 13.30pm, finishing at 15.00pm ( including Q & A ).

Download the full programme and find out how to become a member of the society via the link below
https://torquaymuseum.org/torquay-museum-society

08/10/2023

The Torquay Museum Society Lecture Series returns this Tuesday at Torquay Museum

The first two lectures are : -

Tuesday
THE RISE AND FALL OF DEVON’S CLOTH TRADE
Speaker:Todd Gray
The discovery of the only surviving historic cloth sample book for Devon has opened up the history of clothmaking in Exeter and Devon. This lecture brings together research from a dozen specialists and reveals why Devon’s cloth was sold throughout Europe in the 1700s.

Wednesday
RNLI KILIMANJARO
Speaker Ian Barnaby
The Torbay Lifeboat Crew Kilimanjaro Challenge took place in February and March of 2023. Ian Barnaby presents a dramatic account of the events and stunning images around his team’s ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Lectures are free of charge to Torquay Museum Society Members but the general public are also welcome to attend - £5 per ticket, payable on the door.

Doors open at 10.30am - with lectures starting at 10.45am, finishing at 12pm.

To find out how to become a member of the society click on the link below

https://torquaymuseum.org/torquay-museum-society

06/10/2023

Saturday 14th October at Torquay Museum
Animation in Film-Making - Talk with Mark Wilson

In this event for all ages film animation expert Mark Wilson presents an introduction to the art, from hand drawn to the latest computer animation. Mark is a digital artist who has been lecturing in Film & Video and Animation at Exeter College for nearly 20 years. He was coordinator of Animated Exeter for two years and has been involved in various animation projects, music videos and experimental film work.

Lectures are free of charge to Torquay Museum Society Members but the general public are also welcome to attend - £5 per ticket, payable on the door.
Doors open at 13.00pm - with lectures starting at 13.30pm, finishing at 15.00pm ( including Q & A ).

Download the full programme and find out how to become a member of the society via the link below
https://torquaymuseum.org/torquay-museum-society

02/10/2023

The Torquay Museum Society Lecture Series returns next week at Torquay Museum .

Lectures are free of charge to Torquay Museum Society Members but the general public are also welcome to attend - £5 per ticket, payable on the door.
Doors open at 10.30am - with lectures starting at 10.45am, finishing at 12pm.
Selected Saturday events doors open at 13.10pm for a 1.30pm start.

Download the full programme and find out how to become a member of the society via the link below

https://torquaymuseum.org/torquay-museum-society

26/09/2023

The Torquay Museum Society Lecture Series returns on Tuesday
10th of October. The full programme of lectures will be online soon - the first two lectures are : -

Tuesday 10th
THE RISE AND FALL OF DEVON’S CLOTH TRADE
Speaker:Todd Gray

The discovery of the only surviving historic cloth sample book for Devon has opened up the history of clothmaking in Exeter and Devon. This lecture brings together research from a dozen specialists and reveals why Devon’s cloth was sold throughout Europe in the 1700s.

Wednesday 11th
RNLI KILIMANJARO
Speaker Ian Barnaby

The Torbay Lifeboat Crew Kilimanjaro Challenge took place in February and March of 2023. Ian Barnaby presents a dramatic account of the events and stunning images around his team’s ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Lectures are free of charge to Torquay Museum Society Members but the general public are also welcome to attend - £5 per ticket, payable on the door.

Doors open at 10.30am - with lectures starting at 10.45am, finishing at 12pm.

To find out how to become a member of the society click on the link below
https://torquaymuseum.org/events/talks

26/09/2023

FREE with a valid Museum ticket Unlock the mystery of Egyptian hieroglyphs and discover how their decipherment revealed three thousand years o...

25/09/2023

A Western Morning News photograph of a carnival fair on Babbacombe Downs in 1960.

20/09/2023

🥳 We are very excited to announce that we have been awarded a grant from the new Local Heritage Grant scheme! We are very grateful to the Lottery Heritage Fund for choosing to fund our small project 'Artisans of Torquay's Marble Industry'.

With this grant, we will create an improved gallery dedicated to the unique local marble industry.

The scheme is run in partnership with Council, Culture and English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark, thanks to money raised by players.

www.heritagefund.org.uk/projects/first-grants-awarded-support-grassroots-heritage-projects-torbay?fbclid=IwAR1eK5sGcYMUzb-DhV8bDffZgs4of4lJDN2jPuE1gbHVa1WoaPtV1F0amjY