Ilfracombe Museum

Welcome to Ilfracombe Museum, the centre of cultural heritage for this beautiful seaside town. Founded in 1932 by the avid collector and explorer Mervyn Palmer, our museum is eccentric and visceral, with birds and mammals adorning the walls, bats in cupboards and butterflies in drawers.

Our vast collection spans centuries and continents. Discover the maritime history of Ilfracombe via our morse code station and send your own messages, make a brass rubbing, follow a trail or dive into the dressing up box! This museum is for families, history buffs and novices. Follow our social media or look on our website for the latest events and exhibitions. We have been Feeding Curiosity Since 1932.

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Palmer Room

The Palmer Room is dedicated to the museum's founder Mervyn Grove Palmer and contains items from Africa & South America. Including an 12' python, African beadwork and ethnography and South American ceramics. African items were donated by the Victorian collector Mr Charles Pee
Maritime Room

Find paintings and treasures from Ilfracombe's seafaring past, including beautiful model ships. Have a go on our ship to shore radio console, where you can tap out a message in Morse code. Explore the handling drawers.
Social History

Ilfracombe museum has an important and extensive collection of First World War photos and letters of men and women from our town who served their country. Contact us to find out more.
Main gallery

Ilfracombe museum has a fine Victorian museum cabinet as the centrepiece of its main gallery, made in Barnstaple by Shapland and Petter. This gallery is inspired by the Victorian collectors, and has cabinets full of insects, butterflies, dried seaweeds, fossils and wedding cake!
Exotic Butterflies

Ilfracombe museum was founded in 1932 and out first curator, Mervyn Palmer, worked as a private collector in South America as a young man. Many of his specimens form part of our collection, including butterflies which he collected in the field.

Admission & prices

Opening times:
April - End of October
Monday - Saturday 10am- 5pm

November - End of March
Tuesday - Saturday 10am -4pm

See our website and social media for events and special Sunday opening.

Tickets cost £5.00 for adults and £4.00 for concessions. Children 16 and under are free.
Annual membership tickets (Supporters) start at £10 for concessions and £12.50 for adults.
visit here to purchase https://www.ilfracombemuseum.co.uk/visitor-information/supporters/

Ilfracombe Museum Trust CIO is an independent charity (Reg No: 1169969), which is not funded by the Local Authority. We rely on the generosity of our visitors and supporters through admission fees, shop sales and donations.

Your ticket price includes a voluntary donation of 10% to Ilfracombe Museum. If you are a taxpayer, we can claim an extra 25% on top of your admission charge from the Taxman, when you complete a Gift Aid Form.

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Museum news

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A New Museum

The Trustees at Ilfracombe Museum have plans to relocate due to the current building not being fit for purpose, due to constant repairs and damp issues......

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Letters Written By Ilfracombe Men 1914 1918

At Ilfracombe Museum we have transcriptions of letters written by over 270 people who served during WW1......

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Information

Disabled access with exhibits on one level. Parking outside the museum in pay and display car park Toilet ( not disable accessible) Cafe and disabled toilet next door at Landmark Theatre

Disabled access:
We are on one level throughout, and all but one small gallery is wheelchair and mobility scooter accessible. We have free audio guides for those who have difficulty reading text. There is pay and display parking right outside the museum.

Gift Shop, Brass Rubbing ( small charge ). Childrens' school holiday events.

Researchers:
a research ticket gives you access to archives, photographs, town newspapers, parish records. Enquiries are welcome via email or in person, charges apply.

Group visits can be arranged. Booked school parties are free of charge, please contact us for more information.

Runnymede Gardens
Wilder Road
Ilfracombe
EX34 8AF

T: 01271 863541
E: info.ilfracombemuseum@gmail.com