Torquay Museum 529 Babbacombe Road Torquay TQ1 1HG Devon England
Items from the collection at Torquay Museum
Collection details
Archaeology, Archives, Coins and Medals, Costume and Textiles, Decorative and Applied Art, Fine Art, Natural Sciences, Personalities, Social History, Weapons and War, World Cultures
Services for visitors with mobility difficulties: All galleries of the museum are accessible for visitors with mobility problems. Access to the ground floor is by ramp, while a lift and stair lift will take you to the galleries. ToiletS for people with disabilities are available on the ground and first floors.
Services for visitors with visual impairment: The Time Ark Gallery of Natural history has many items that can be handled. These include tactile birds, fossils and a lion skin. Certain items in this gallery also have Braille labels. The Archaeology gallery has stone tools from the Palaeolithic for handling. The Old Devon Farmhouse has many items that can be handled, including a human yoke, domestic utensils and cream pan, the rooms also have a soundtrack and smells to create an atmosphere of farm life, and at times this gallery also has storytellers. The Museum is always trying to add new services for people with visual impairments, contact the museum to find out about special events and new additions.
Parking: The Museum has one parking space that can be reserved, please contact us for details. A large car park can be found on the Terrace which is only fifty yards from the Museum.
Collections description
The registered Museum holds collections of natural history, palaeontology, archaeology, social history, ethnography, Torquay pottery, pictorial records, and archives, relating to the Torbay area, as well as from across the world. The collections are exceptional for a Museum of this size, over 300,000 specimens are held in the stores with about one percent on display.
Key artists and exhibits
The galleries include displays of Local Natural History, South Devon Archaeology and finds from Kents Cavern, Egyptology, the life of Agatha Christie, John Salter’s Topographical watercolours, the old Devon Farmhouse, Victoriana, Torquay pottery and World Adornment. The Museum has regular temporary exhibitions, and programmes of events for all ages.
General Information
Brochure or leaflet available with directions to museum
Pre-booking service for groups
Foreign language leaflet or brochure available
Collections
General guide to collections available
Specialist publications on collections available
Object identification and/or written enquiry service
Object study facilities available (enquire in advance)
Public access available to collections information
Disability Access
Events/teaching/resources for people with disabilities
Induction loops in lecture theatres
Parking for disabled available
Toilets for disabled
Touch exhibits and/or handling sessions
Wheelchair access to all public areas
Children and Families
Events and resources for children and families
General Education
Academic publications and resources available
Adult lectures and courses held
Education facilities available
Loan service
Member of staff available with responsibility for education
Reception and lunch facilities for educational groups
Schools Education
Primary school education service available
Printed/audio-visual information available for schools
Secondary school education service available
Facilities
Auditorium
Cafeteria
Facilities for private functions and events
Library with public access
Meeting room available
Object study facilities available (enquire in advance)
Refreshments
Research facilities for academics
Shop
Study facilities
