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The new museum opened its doors at Easter and has since enjoyed a steady flow of visitors from all over the country.
On Monday 20th July the Heritage Lottery funded museum celebrates its official opening by Mark Horton from the BBC TV programme  'Coast'. Mark is a reader in Archaeology at the University of Bristol. He has a particular interest in history and maritime archaeology,so it is fitting that he should open the museum during the Festival of British Archaeology.
Celebrations will take place with a week of events for all ages.See the What's on section for more details

FOLLOWING years in the planning, Combe Martin Museum finally opened its doors on Easter weekend - thanks to major funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Devon Renaissance.

The museum also has new interactive displays, a marine laboratory with video microscopes for examining rockpool discoveries, and a community archive area for local and family history studies
A scissor lift has been installed to enable everyone to access all three floors.

The top floor, known as the Sail Loft, will provide space for temporary exhibitions and meetings, and will also be used as an educational resource for schools visiting the local beaches.

Jackie Ward, the learning co-ordinator, has been working with local schools to set up a varied programme of activities for all ages.

Tricia, who has been co-ordinating the renovation of the new site, said: "The old museum lacked many basic amenities such as water, telephone and toilets and was inaccessible for many of our volunteers.

"The new museum has been very much a village effort with a huge amount of fundraising by all sorts of means from book sales at the Farmers' Market to selling roofing slates.

"Combe Martin has a rich history combining unique social customs with silver mining, lime burning, strawberry growing as well as the maritime aspects. The new museum will allow us to display all of the exhibits properly and create a facility for the whole community."

The museum has received £267,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund, £90,000 from Devon Renaissance, £25,000 from North Devon Council, £10,000 from Exmoor Sustainable Development Fund and £12,000 from Devon County Council.

The building works at the new Cross Street premises have been completed and look fantastic. 
A scissor lift is installed and will enable everyone to access this wonderful new village facility.
The shopfitters are installing the new galleries and displays which will show off the unique village collections to their full advantage.
Some fabulous new interactive displays and a seaside laboratory will add the wow factor.
We are on target to open for Easter...Funding from Heritage Lottery, Devon Rennaisense and Exmoor, along with other funding from DCC,NDC, Transform and an emmense amount of local fundraising have enabled this fantastic relocation project to be realised.
Watch this space for further news