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Topsham Museum

Museum Opening Delayed Topsham Museum, Tea Room and Garden will be closed for several months while it undergoes large repair works. Work started late last year by Exeter City Council, which revealed further problems with the structure of the building.

The 17th century building is surrounded by scaffolding, with the council anticipating work will take several months to complete. Museum President, Rachel Nichols, said: "We’re extremely grateful to the council for taking such care with the building, which is of huge historic interest. It was built in 1688 and left to the council in 1983 to hold in trust as a museum for the people of Topsham. “We normally have around 10,000 visitors a year and it’s a great pity that it will not be able to open as usual in April. However, we’re seeing this as a golden opportunity to take stock of our collections, refresh the Museum and reopen with an even better story of the town’s history, its maritime traditions and the importance of the Exe Estuary."

Visit website

The Sail Loft

Displays the history of Topsham from Prehistoric times: Shipbuilding, fishing and maritime trade, including ship models, shipwrights' tools, maps, photographs, paintings, documents etc. Other exhibits include a model of Topsham in 1900 and the "Terror", built here.
The River Gallery

The Gallery holds a collection of historic Exe river boats. Four boats were saved by the Museum following the closure of the Exeter Maritime Museum: the famous Cygnet (pictured), the Market Boat, "Ruby" (a salmon boat) and a Skiff.
The House

The merchants house dates from the late 17th century and two rooms on the first floor are furnished in that period. The newly refurbished bedroom has authentic wallpaper produced from wooden tillet blocks. The kitchen of Miss Holman, the founder of the Museum, has been preserved.
The Underloft

The Underloft houses the popular Museum Tearoom, temporary exhibitions and the Museum Shop, which sells unusual and interesting gifts,cards, books on local subjects and items exclusive to Topsham. Teas available either here or in the beautiful garden on fine days.
Front Room

The newly furnished "front room" is dedicated to Dorothy Holman, the Museum’s founder. Furniture from her drawing room reflects the lifestyle of an Edwardian family and includes a portrait of Sophie Holman (her Father was a Mayor of Exeter) as well as other Holman memorabilia.

Admission & prices

We regret that the Museum is currently closed.

The Museum already has an outreach programme of lectures and presentations, which will be extended with a series of pop-up displays and exhibitions in new locations in and close to Topsham. The Museum will also be running craft and children’s events over the next six months. Look on our website, Facebook, Instagram and at posters around the town for more information.

Find us

From Topsham Station, walk down Holman Way to 'Route 2' cafe by mini roundabout, take 2nd exit - Strand. 300 yards along on left you will find the Museum. Buses: 57 & T - walk down Fore Street to 'Route 2' cafe. Parking: Holman Way or the Quay.

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Information

Our beautiful riverside garden is open all year.

There is more to the Museum than the exhibits. The Riverside Garden is always open and its plants include some collected by the Veitch family of nurserymen. The Museum Shop carries a wide range of gifts and publications, and can also be accessed online while the Museum is closed.

The Museum’s activities are not only within the Museum’s grounds. We arrange regular free guided tours around Topsham, and there are also self-guided walks detailed in our Topsham Trails leaflet. You can find copies of our leaflets in several places around the town, including the Museum’s telephone box annexe in front of Saint Margaret’s Church.

25, Strand
Topsham
EX3 0AX

T: 01392 873244
E: info@topshammuseum.org.uk