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© 2020 Newton Abbot Museum & Town Council

Explore Our Collection

Here you can find some of our favourite objects and past temporary exhibitions

A Few of Our Favourite Things

This letter from 1838 shows the difficult working relationship Brunel had with William Ranger. William was contracted to build sections of the Great Western Railway. Unimpressed with his delays, Brunel dismissed him and kept his tools!

This mosaic model of St Leonard’s Tower was made in the mid-1920s by Harry Hodges of Teigngrace. Harry was a ‘keeper’ at Stover House (now Stover School). He probably saved the pieces of broken pottery from the kitchen of the grand house. Perhaps it was a project for the dark winter evenings?

This beautifully crafted Bronze Age axe head would have been an important status symbol. Where Hand Axes were the multi-tool of their day, this double-ended axe was probably used in important ceremonies.

Bags or pouches were essential items for the well-dressed Victorian lady. They were ideal for carrying small items such as coins, dance cards and cosmetics. Some might have held a solid gold sovereign – a popular gift for 21st birthdays.

Probably the most unusual object in the museum collection. Maud Albrighton lived next to Rope Walk, East Street. She had very long, strong hair. When it was cut, the ropemakers made her hair into a rope – and here she is swinging on it!

A rather wonderful boxed collection of glass eyes came from the premises of ophthalmic optician Mr Eubulus Williams in Queen Street. Why did he stock so many glass eyes (the full collection has many colour and shape options)? Was it because of agricultural accidents, injuries from the First World War, or eye infections that took hold before antibiotics were invented?

Past Exhibitions

2005

“MRS DUCK” My name is “Mrs Duck”. I lived on Mother’s side of the mantelpiece, holding ribbons and hair slides. During an Air Raid I moved during the bombing but did not fall. Over the years since 1928 I moved several times and I am now slightly battered in Devon. (My parents wedding was in 1928) Florrie Watt.

“Vulkan” belonged to my husband’s Uncle, who was a strict teetotaller. He used to take the engine to temperance meetings and fill the boiler with water-having previously filled the spirit burner with methylated spirits. He would then light the wicks, Vulkan would run across the platform and he would say “There now, that can run on water and so can you”! As my husband pointed out this was more than somewhat hypocritical, as it actually ran on the correct mix of spirit and water. Made by E.P.- Ernst Planck (1866-circa 1930) Steam driven dating about 1870. Sheila Hendry.

These Siamese dancers anklets were given to my grandmother Winnie by her first husband Ernest Taylor in 1912. At the age of 18 Winnie travelled (with an escort!) to Malaya to marry Ernie. He met her boat and they were married the same day. Sadly Ernie died of Typhoid after only 13months of marriage. Winnie returned home, pregnant, by ship and made her way through war torn France by train. She re-married 8 years later. The anklets were said to be over a hundred years old and were owned by the King of Siam’s favourite dancer

Visiting HIROSHIMA after the disaster, Chief Mechanician DVG Williams RN picked up from the ground this little bowl with its blue decoration of the sacred Mount FUJI. It’s cracked and chipped and part-filled with a grey lump. That lump is glass, probably from a window, which has liquefied by the heat and run into the bowl where it eventually cooled and set. Marilyn Bishop, daughter of Chief Mechanician DVG Williams RN

This tiny ivory mouse was given to my mother when she was a child living in Amsterdam. The mouse is the symbol of Amsterdam. She treasured this but unfortunately when we were burnt out (1949) it got lost in the chaos of removing as much as possible from the house. A number of years later it was discovered tucked into the wicker of a log basket, which had been used to remove smaller items from a cabinet. Ann Sabel

Regrettably tulip bulbs were part of the diet of many of the Dutch population following the retreat of the Nazi army during the winter of 1944/5 during which they pillaged the land leaving the people to nearly starve. In the spring of 1945 the Dutch Government sent out an appeal to the families of Britain to save the children of Holland. I am proud to say our late parents Tom and Phil Packham were one of those many families who opened their homes and hearts to these children. A ten year old boy appeared at our house called: TJISTE JONGSMA My mother cried when she saw him, he was emaciated and where his stomach was, a hollow existed beneath his rib cage large enough to hold an orange. We had strict instructions not to feed him too much. He lived with us for a few months and then returned to his family. On his return the Dutch Government presented al the British families with this plaque as a token of their thanks. I am proud to say we have remained friends ever since and Tjiste will be visiting us again in June 2005 celebrating our 60 years of friendship.

Wooden postcard posted from San Francisco, with Many stamps. Dated January 1906. Sheila Hendry

Framed sampler made by Ellen Winsor in the 1880’s while she was a pupil at Lord Churston’s School. Helen looked after Ellen Winsor when she was in her 90’s in 1960’s.The sampler would have been made when she was 11. Ellen had treasured it and kept it in tissue. Ellen lived on the Churston Estate and courted her husband for 20 years. They had to wait for a cottage to become available on the estate before they were allowed to marry. Helen Nelder

PAIR OF CHILDREN’S CLOGS- C.1880 These clogs/pattens belonged to Mr Will’s grandmother who lived in Devonport, Plymouth. His grandmothers elder sisters had use of them first. They might have been made by her father who was a blacksmith in St. Minver in Cornwall. The family moved to Devonport, the father becoming a boiler-maker. Richard Wills.

Town Tales

This sketch makes the head on the previous coin much easier to make out

This ceramic plaque ‘Prepare to meet thy God’ was hung above a little girl’s bed to remind her to be good. Donated by S.Riddle.

Holiday Souvenirs Left side: A small cup and saucer, with a transfer image of St Leonards clock tower both on the cup and the saucer. It would have been purchased as a small souvenir from the town in the late 1890s early 1900s. Donated by Jackie Jenkins. Top right: Bone and Tortoiseshell cigarette holder with carved claw detail around the bowl. It is thought to be a souvenir from Germany or Austria c.1800s. Donated by Mrs B Prowse Bottom right: This clay pipe commemorates Edward VIII’s coronation in 1902. Donated by Mr Cleave.

This military bugle was first owned by Joseph Baker. As a bugle boy, he served in E Company of the 1/5th (Prince of Wales) Territorial Battalion of the Devonshire Regiment. He was killed on the 22nd March 1918 in the German Spring Advance whilst serving with the 2nd Battalion of the Yorkshire Regt. He has no known grave, and is listed on the Pozieres Memorial, Somme, France. The bugle was presented to Eddie Baker by his grandmother when he was 13 and joined the Devonshire 1/5th Territorial Battalion and Territorial Cadet band. He became the bugle boy for Bodmin Barracks at the age of 16.

Newton Abbot. Inscribed ‘His half penny IOHN MANINGE’ It would seem that Mr and Mrs Manning both had tokens made in successive years. Donated by Mrs S Parker. Tokens were used in place of coins and were often issued by a private company, group, association or individual.

A boxed set of draughts which were issued to American troops during the WWII, to help them win ‘hearts and minds’,whilst they were stationed at Heathfield. This draught set, along with a boxed set of dominoes, was given to David Wright as a young boy by U.S. Construction CB’s based at Heathfield, Newton Abbot.

This Cottage tea pot was made by Watcombe Pottery, and is considered to be quite rare It was won by Olwen Baker when she rode her pony in the Newton Abbot Hospital Saturday Parade in 1935. Donated by S Austin.

A 16 / 17th century metal spear head which would have been attached to a long staff. Tom Cadbury of Exeter Museum considered it to be of great interest. Donated by Mrs J Gerry.

This Order of the British Empire Medal was awarded to Dr Richard Henry Grimby, MRCS in January 1918. It was in recognition for his work in the St John Ambulance Brigade and also his work in the VAD Hospital in Newton Abbot. (shown in photo) Donated by Mr J. Ellis

A selection of ancient pottery 1)A Graeco-Roman moulded oil lamp thought to be 3rd century AD. The blackened area around the wick hole, on the right shows, that it has been well used. Donated by Mrs M. Mathews, acquired by her father. 2) Roman lamp which was dug up in the grounds of the former Rectory in Highweek by Rev. Peter Longridge in the 1970s .Donated the PCC of Highweek in 1979. 3) A Terracotta pottery Temple found in the River Teign, possibly a Victorian souvenir from a ‘Grand Tour’. 4) A medieval pottery fragment discovered in the grounds of Forde House during removal of trees. It is part of a rim of a large dish and is thought to date from the 13th or 14th century

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