South East Devon

The Valiant Soldier

80 Fore St, Buckfastleigh, Devon, TQ11 0BS
Tel: 01364 644522
E-mail: enquiries@valiantsoldier.org.uk

What is the Valiant Soldier? The Valiant Soldier is a former pub that closed in the 1960s. There's nothing unusual about that - except for the fact that after the pub shut, not one thing was packed up or thrown away. The furniture, pub items, paperwork, even the money in the till was left untouched. For over thirty years the pub lay forgotten. Eventually it came on the open market and the local people realised that the Valiant Solider was now a special and important place. It had become a time capsule, a window into the past.
What can we see? Today the Valiant Soldier in an intriguing all weather family attraction. So many pubs of this age have been gutted and modernised. There's probably nothing else quite like in the country. You can see period public and lounge bars and domestic rooms including a kitchen, scullery, parlour and bedrooms. There's an amazing recreation of the attic as it looked when discovered by volunteers. In addition the site contains fascinating displays on the restoration of the Valiant Soldier, an exhibition telling the story of Buckfastleigh, a high tech video plus a few surprises!

House of Marbles

The Old Pottery, Pottery Rd, Bovey Tracey, Newton Abbot, Devon, TQ13 9DS
Tel: 01626 835358    Fax: 01626 835315
E-mail: uk@houseofmarbles.com

In the Marble Museum you can see all sorts of fascinating exhibits, including a lovely antique marble making machine and a huge collection of toys and games dating back as far as the 3rd century B.C. There is a comprehensive collection of marbles that features examples and tells the story of marbles, from Roman times to some very complex hand and machine made marbles made today. Do try pressing the buttons on our Marble Runs and watch the marbles roll! These are designed by a Swiss artist and use incredible precision to keep the marbles on their different tracks - or better still stand and watch out Monster Marble Run ….. no-one can resist this massive structure - it's hypnotic and you won't be able to tear the children away! In the Glass Museum you will find both ancient and modern glassware and discover the ancient methods of glassmaking, which are still used today.

Newton Abbot Town & Great Western Railway Museum

2a St. Pauls Rd, Newton Abbot, Devon, TQ12 2HP
Tel: 01626 201121
E-mail: museum@newtonabbot-tc.gov.uk

The museum has a wealth of artefacts from the era of the GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY, and taking pride of place is a working signal box, giving you the opportunity to experience some of the thrill of the great days of the steam railway. The museum has an interesting collection of recordings, so you can hear the recollections of the real people for whom the railway was a way of life. Another collection worth seeking out , is to be found in a pair of cabinets, within which is the rare entomology collection assembled by DR MAPLETON. To avoid unpleasant shocks you should be reminded before you look that this is a collection of insects, always a favourite with children!!

Torquay Museum

529 Babbacombe Rd, Torquay, Devon, TQ1 1HG
Tel: 01803 293975
E-mail: chandlerb1@ukonline.co.uk

At Torquay Museum you can take a journey into the town's fascinating past. Find out more about local wildlife, famous people and Torquay through the ages and don't miss the unique Agatha Christie Exhibition. The museum was founded in 1844 by Torquay Natural History Society and is Devon's oldest museum. It houses the foremost collection of Kents Cavern artefacts, and papers from the famous archaeological excavation by William Pengelly. Other collections include items relating to ethnography, archaeology, geology and social history. The Museum is teaming up with Kents Cavern in a discounted joint ticket, available in August, offering great value for those visiting the neighbouring two attractions.

Teignmouth Museum

29 French St, Teignmouth, Devon, TQ14 8ST
Tel: 01626 777041
E-mail: teignmouth@devonmuseums.net

Teignmouth Museum, situated opposite the railway station, was first opened in 1976 and is dedicated to the history of Teignmouth and its people. There is a fascinating collection of artefacts from the famous Armada period vessel, wrecked off the Church Rocks. These include two rare bronze cannons, pottery, iron, cannon balls and a cooking pot complete with bones, all on display in a refurbished Maritime Gallery. There are lots of other exhibits too, Teignmouth's Railway history from Brunel's atmospheric railway up to the 1950s; the local lifeboat; the famous sandbar; Morgan Giles boatyard; local lace-making and prints. New to the collection is an oil painting of Teignmouth Beach (1829) by the renowned marine painter Thomas Luny, together with a pen and ink sketch also be him. Our local hero, Admiral Sir Edward Pellew, the first Lord Exmouth will tell you his own exciting story of how he won the battle of Algiers. There is also a video to watch, telling you the story of Teignmouth's own history. You will always have an excuse to re-visit this Museum because some of the exhibition space is used for frequently changing temporary displays.

Century of Playtime

30 Winner St, Paignton, Devon, TQ3 3BJ
Tel: 01803 403017

Come and browse around and step back into your childhood. This is a museum that has gone back in time, and put together a wonderful collection of toys from years gone by. From Dolls to Cars to Teletubbies to Wombles. There's a Punch and Judy shows during the summer season and a 100 year old well, one of many to be found in this part of old Paignton.

Totnes Elizabethan Museum

70 Fore St, Totnes, Devon, TQ9 5RU
Tel: 01803 863821
E-mail: totnessmuseum@btconnect.com

The Museum is housed in an authentic Elizabethan Merchant's house. The house was built around 1575 for the Kelland family. The museum contains diverse collections relating to the Social and cultural history of Totnes with objects ranging from railway memorabilia to toys and dolls and local archaeology collections. The main exhibit is the house itself which is a beautiful Elizabethan house containing architectural features dating back to the construction of the house.

Brixham Heritage Museum

Bolton Cross, New Rd, Brixham, Devon, TQ5 8LZ
Tel: 01803 856267
E-mail: mail@brixhamheritage.org.uk

Step into the past: history of the fishing port of Brixham, 19thC ships' instruments and tools, models, memorabilia, social history, costume and lace, also local regalia, transport room settings and audio displays.