- Cygnet - a unique craft with a swan’s neck prow formerly owned by Captain George Peacock, born locally, whose extraordinary life history is a feature of Topsham Museum’s collections.
- Ruby – a unique example of a late 19th century Exe Salmon boat built in Topsham.
- Exe Lugger – sole survivor of a type of boat once used on the Exe for fishing and the occasional carriage of market goods and passengers to and from Exmouth, Topsham and Lympstone. As far as is known this is the only surviving example of a market boat anywhere in the British Isles.
- Skiff – a mahogany skiff used on the River Exe and the Exeter Canal in the early 1900s and is the only example of this type of boat to have survived locally.
Because of their connection with Topsham and the Exe Estuary, the Museum was the ideal place where these boats could be conserved and displayed to the public as an illustration of how such boats were used for recreational and commercial purposes in the past. They also help to illustrate the importance of Topsham and the Exe Estuary as a boat building centre, and as the port for Exeter.
With the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund, Exeter City Council and with funding raised by the Museum Society’s own efforts, the boats have been professionally conserved and housed within an extension to the Museum – the River Gallery. Existing displays have been refreshed and re-presented to complement and integrate with the new Gallery.
The Museum has developed joint educational activities with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds so that those coming to the Exe to observe and learn about its wildlife can also visit the museum and view its Estuary display with its improved interpretation. These include the RSPB’s winter ‘Avocet Cruises’ on the Exe and their organised school group visits to the Estuary.
The involvement of so many volunteers both in the running of the museum and in the project itself has made this whole endeavour a major talking point in the locality and the people of Topsham are now beginning to realise what a significant asset the Museum is to the community. This project has, quite literally, transformed Topsham Museum from a small local museum developed by an individual philanthropist, to a professionally curated and designed collection of regional importance.
Some of your comments:
This week I had the pleasure of opening the New River Gallery. I have known the museum for a number of years and was very impressed with the way the museum has developed the collection, so very important to local history. The standard is very high, a great credit to the trustees and volunteers who give so much to make this museum quite outstanding. It is very worthy of winning the Art Fund prize and I give my wholehearted support.
Lord-Lieutenant of Devon, Totnes
We have watched with delight the development of the museum into a really worthwhile pleasure for visitors and locals alike. It is full of interesting objects of local importance, imaginatively displayed, and paints a splendid picture of Topsham's importance as a trading post to Europe, Africa and the New World during the 19th & 20th centuries. The many school parties which visit the museum are enthralled by the exhibits. One of its greatest virtues is that, with the benefit of reliable advice from experts – which it does not hesitate to engage- it is entirely serviced by devoted volunteers from many strata of Topsham society. The Topsham museum is one of the jewels on the crown of Topsham's rich life.
David Macklin, Exeter
I revisited this museum over the Easter Bank Holiday in the beautiful 17-century house where you get wonderful views over the Exe Estuary. The volunteer people who create the smooth running of your visit are well informed and so and helpful. The memorabilia of Vivien Leigh, the film star, and touch screen video displays all contribute to the most interesting visit. The wonderfully arranged new wing with local boats and history of the Exe Estuary shows that they are not stagnating as a museum. We also had an excellent homemade tea afterwards. It is run like a professional museum. It deserves serious consideration.
Margarete Hartsilver, Oxted
I am a patron of The Art Fund. I have visited Topsham Museum several times and think it and its supporters are worthy of the greatest support.
Peter Jarrold, Norwich
Topsham Museum is a fine example of a small, very focused and imaginatively displayed collection, in a beautiful building of historic importance. It provides an informative and engaging way to understand local history, in a small town, which in its heyday was linked through shipping and trade to a much wider world. The new extension enhances the museum in a contemporary way, while being thoroughly in keeping with the historic house. I knew the house as a child, when Dorothy Holman lived there, and my mother contributed to the early museum collection. Now my granddaughter (aged 3) loves visiting, intrigued by the huge fishermen's boots, fascinated by the cannons and enjoying bird watching from the garden with the RSPB. The museum has developed through the immense commitment of a team of dedicated volunteers, from local historians, to excellent cake-bakers. It is a tremendous achievement, and richly deserves to win the prize.
Mrs Frances Nieduszynska, Exeter
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