Tiverton Museum of Mid Devon Life

Tiverton Museum of Mid Devon Life Explore the museum's large and outstanding collections relating to the history of Mid Devon. We're very family friendly and offer a warm welcome to everyone.

Online booking available but not essential.

Who better to tell you about volunteering at the museum, than our wonderful volunteers? This Volunteers Week, we want to...
02/06/2026

Who better to tell you about volunteering at the museum, than our wonderful volunteers?

This Volunteers Week, we want to introduce you to some of the brilliant people who help make Tiverton Museum what it is.

Between them they research local history, care for the collection, welcome visitors, lead reminiscence sessions, help with events and so much more... giving their time, knowledge and enthusiasm week in, week out.

We asked them a few questions. Here's what some of them had to say.

Powered by people since 1960.

Volunteers have always been integral to keeping this museum running. In fact, it was a group of enthusiastic local peopl...
01/06/2026

Volunteers have always been integral to keeping this museum running. In fact, it was a group of enthusiastic local people who gave their time to set it up in the first place, because they wanted to preserve the history of the area they loved.

That was in 1960. Since then, countless volunteers have given their time, knowledge, skills and enthusiasm to keep it going and they remain a huge part of what makes this place what it is today.
It's one of the things I love most about working here, getting to work alongside people from all kinds of backgrounds, all here because they actually want to be.

This Volunteers Week, we want to say a proper thank you. We couldn't do it without you.

Powered by people since 1960.

Find out more about the exciting archaeological dig happening near Halberton and Sampford Peverell at the this open day ...
31/05/2026

Find out more about the exciting archaeological dig happening near Halberton and Sampford Peverell at the this open day on Saturday 6th June.

The SHARE team, working with Exeter University, are in the process of uncovering a Roman Villa, and you can discover what they've unearthed so far with site tours and a display of finds, along with family activities and the chance to meet a Roman soldier!

Have you been to the beach lately?I bet you didn't wear your Sunday best like these people on seaside outings in the pas...
31/05/2026

Have you been to the beach lately?
I bet you didn't wear your Sunday best like these people on seaside outings in the past!

You probably know Tiverton has lost a lot of its historic buildings over the years, to demolition, to development, and t...
30/05/2026

You probably know Tiverton has lost a lot of its historic buildings over the years, to demolition, to development, and to fire. Quite a lot of fire.

But knowing something is gone and actually being able to picture it are two different things.

Our Lost Tiverton guided walk uses photographs from our own collection to help you do exactly that, building up a picture of what the town once looked like. Where exactly the railway station stood. What the brewery really looked like at its peak. What the Palmerston (pictured here before its demolition in the 1960s) actually looked like in its heyday. The pubs, mills and merchants' houses that have vanished almost without trace.

Friday 5th June is booking up fast, more availability on Saturday 13th June. Both 1.30–3pm from the museum.
https://museumshops.uk/product/lost-tiverton-guided-walk/

The Culm Valley Railway opened on 29th May 1876. Celebrations were held at Hemyock with a lunch for the railway’s Direct...
29/05/2026

The Culm Valley Railway opened on 29th May 1876. Celebrations were held at Hemyock with a lunch for the railway’s Directors, who arrived on a flag bedecked train. There were speeches, a band playing, more flags and celebratory arches. The lunch was held in a marquee near the station and there were 300 attendees. There were a great number of speeches and toasts. A dinner was provided for 250 ‘working people’ at the Square in Hemyock. In the evening ‘rural sports and pastimes’ were enjoyed in the village, and a ball held in the marquee. Tiverton photographer George Braund captured the Directors in a photograph, which you can see here, and also took other views of Hemyock. We would love to see any other photos taken by Braund on that day.

The railway connected Hemyock, Culmstock and Uffculme to the main Bristol to Exeter line at Tiverton Junction. The line was closed to passengers in 1963, and to freight in 1975. Tiverton Museum holds a full set of station sign boards from the Culm Valley line.

We've been having another look through the collection on the hunt for dog related photos to help you get your eye in bef...
28/05/2026

We've been having another look through the collection on the hunt for dog related photos to help you get your eye in before you come in for a May Half Term visit looking for pictures of Lars!

Can you spot all the dogs in these photos?!

Where's Lars? runs until Saturday 30th May and is included in normal admission.
£1 off adult admission when you book ahead online:
https://museumshops.uk/product/may-half-term/

You might have spotted in our recent reel that museum dog Lars was modelling a rather fetching Tivvy Bumper bandana... W...
27/05/2026

You might have spotted in our recent reel that museum dog Lars was modelling a rather fetching Tivvy Bumper bandana...

Well don't worry, your pooches can be just as stylish as Lars! The Tivvy Bumper dog bandana is on sale in the museum gift shop for just £4.50, pop in and pick one up soon!

Mid Devon District Council 's paddling pools at Newcombe's Meadow in Crediton and West Exe Rec in Tiverton reopened last...
26/05/2026

Mid Devon District Council 's paddling pools at Newcombe's Meadow in Crediton and West Exe Rec in Tiverton reopened last week, I'm sure welcome news with the heatwave!

Here's an old photo of the one in Tiverton, with some children enjoying cooling off....

Address

Beck's Square
Tiverton
EX166PJ

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

+44 (0)1884 256295

Website

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