Collection details
The Museum's exhibits fall into the following categories Archaeology; Archives; Natural Sciences; Costume and Textiles; Decorative and Applied Art; Medicine; Coins and Medals; Personalities; Science and Technology; Agricultural changes; Social History and Land Transport
Collections are displayed in the four galleries, which are themed to illustrate the history and changes of the town:
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The Webber Gallery
Local Firefighting Services
Merryweather Fire Engine
Elizabethan & Carolinean Town Charters
Mining and archaeology; Agricultural history and Local trades.
Penny Farthing bicycle
The Gingell Gallery
Cider Press c1780
The Saxon Church Font c.700 AD
English coins from the 1500's
Agricultural implements
Pewter items and chinaware
Victorian household items
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The Turner Gallery
The Newsham Pump Engine c1736
Children's Area
Victorian children's toys
Display of textiles and military uniforms
Railways display, featuring a historic film of the Lynton-Barnstaple branch line
Law and order- police trucheons and handcuffs
World War I and II services memorabilia Wartime evacuees' letters
Key exhibits
Some of the major exhibits not to be missed:
Merryweather Fire Engine
This horse drawn fire engine was purchased by the Town in 1886 and was still in use in the early 1930's. Examples of it being used can be seen in photographs in the Museum's North Devon on Disc Collection.
Archaeology & Mining Collection
The Museum's modest collection displays illustrate the finds in the South Molton area. Archaeology display contains clay pipes, spindle worls, pot fragments and flint tools. Amongst the minerals on show are samples of rocks containing gold.
Elizabethan and Carolinean Charters
These have recently been carefully renovated and the contents translated from the original Latin, with new display boards to provide the visitors with an understanding of the purpose and content of the illuminated script.
Cider Press
One of the oldest surviving Cider Press c1780, with a central hand-cut wooden screw, set in a massive headblock. The press is made of oak and elm and weighs over three quarters of a ton.
The Newsham Pump Engine
At the time that the "prosperous borough" of South Molton was considering the purchase of this Pump Engine, New York City was planning the purchase two engines of this design.