What’s the Story Newton Abbot?
This simple question is the impetus for a series of radio programmes and podcasts made by Newton Abbot Museum where we share stories of the town from the past.
Listen anytime using the players below or click on the bakelite radio to be taken to the project website
The shows explore: christmastime in Newton Abbot, industrial waterways, health, parks and green spaces, the Wars, Newton’s Place and conserving the former church, the railways, the market and much more!
Museum volunteers learned new recording and broadcast skills with local community broadcast experts Soundart Radio and our community worker, Kate Green. They took microphones and recorders home to capture stories and walks, and conducting interviews via internet. Oral history recordings from the museum archive were added into the mix too.
“We are finding a different way for stories of the town to be told when people are unable to visit the museum due to Covid-19 pandemic. Although we have had over 700 visitors since we opened in October, there are many people who are not coming out at the moment and this is an ideal way for us to reach them.”
Kate Green, Community Engagement Officer, 2021
Funding for this project came from the South West Museum Development Fund who helped museums reach people who could not visit museums due to Covid-19 restrictions.