Ilfracombe Museum

16/10/2026

See you tomorrow!

👗Step back in time at the Ilfracombe History & Fashion Exhibition!

📅 16–18 October 2026
📍 St Philip & St James Community Centre, Ilfracombe

Discover the fascinating history of Ilfracombe and explore mid-century fashion through the ages at this nostalgic three-day event.

And don’t miss the special ticketed afternoon tea and fashion parade on Saturday at 2pm! ☕🍰

Watch the models walk around your tables, giving you the chance to see these beautiful garments up close, before this year’s spectacular finale – wedding dresses from 1961–2002!👰‍♀️💍

A wonderful afternoon of fashion, history, nostalgia and afternoon tea. ❤️

🎟️ Find out more and book your tickets:
https://f.mtr.cool/owyhw2ao3o

07/10/2026

We had a great time last night delving into the museum's photographic archive with the added expertise of Mark Haworth - Booth. Part of Ilfracombe Photography Festival. Join us this Saturday for more events as part of Ilfracombe Photography Festival.

07/10/2026

We're really looking forward to exploring 3D photography with Mark Presland this Saturday at the Museum, we'll also have our collection of Victorian Stereograms out, good old View masters and our sterograms on a VR headset, part of Ilfracombe Photography Festival, book now! https://www.tickettailor.com/events/ilfracombephotographyfestival/2387267

What if a photograph could pull you in, not just show you a scene?

Join Mark Presland for My Journey Into 3D Photography, a free talk at Ilfracombe Museum exploring 40 years of experimenting with photography in three dimensions.

Mark will demonstrate his medium format 3D photography technique and share the unique viewing system that brings his images to life. You’ll also be able to see a collection of Victorian 3D images from Ilfracombe Museum, showing that the fascination with immersive photography is far from new.

It’s part photography, part history, part optical magic, and a brilliant chance to experience image-making in a completely different way.

📅 Saturday 10th October
🕑 2pm
📍 Ilfracombe Museum
🎟️ Free talk, booking required

Book via our website.

Ilfracombe Photography Festival takes place 10th–11th October 2026.

With thanks to In The Pink for supporting our talks programme, and The Terrace Tapas and W**e Bar for supporting Ilfracombe Photography Festival.

02/10/2026

We're excited to be taking part in the first Ilfracombe Photography Festival, we have three events here at the museum, including a talk by our very own Kelvin Farndell. Find more details and book using the following link:
https://www.ilfracombephotofest.org/workshops.html
or pop in and pick up a programme.

📸 Bookings are live, and the programme is packed!

Ready to pick up your camera, try something new, hear brilliant stories, watch inspiring films, or simply enjoy photography in a fresh way?

Bookings are now open for Ilfracombe Photography Festival workshops, talks, films and photo walks, with events taking place across the town before and during the main festival weekend on 10th–11th October 2026.

There’s a huge mix to explore: pop-up darkroom sessions, zine-making, seascape and nature photo walks, cyanotype, pinhole cameras, camera obscura, astrophotography, underwater photography, 3D photography, local history, archive tours, artist talks, panel discussions and film screenings.

And it’s not just for photographers. Some events are perfect for anyone who loves creativity, stories, visual culture, local history, the coast, or seeing the world in a different way.

Many workshops and talks are free, but tickets are required, and places are limited, so don’t leave it too late.

With thanks to The Terrace Tapas and W**e Bar, our festival sponsor, In The Pink for supporting our talks programme, and Classic Cottages for supporting our workshops and photo walks.

Explore the programme and book your place:
https://www.ilfracombephotofest.org/workshops.html

01/10/2026

Step behind the scenes at Ilfracombe Museum.

As part of the build-up to Ilfracombe Photography Festival, this special archive tour is a rare chance to explore some of the hidden treasures in the museum’s photography collection.

Join Mark Haworth-Booth, formerly senior curator of photographs at London’s V&A, and Ilfracombe Museum manager Lindsay Armstrong, to discover Ilfracombe’s history through the people and places preserved in the museum photo archives.
Got an old photograph at home? Bring it along. Mark will be happy to help identify the age of the image and the photographic process used to make it.

📍 Ilfracombe Museum
📅 Tuesday 6th October
🕔 5pm
🎟️ Limited to 10 places
📷 Book via our website

Ilfracombe Photography Festival takes place 10th–11th October 2026.

With thanks to The Terrace Tapas and W**e Bar for supporting Ilfracombe Photography Festival.