First Glimpse: See Exmouth Museum's new exhibits before it reopens

Exmouth Museum is set to reopen on Monday 4 April - and it has a variety of new exhibits.

It will stay open until the end of October, and entry is free for children and students and £2.50 for adults.

The museum will also be getting a new sign, reading 'Exmouth Museum and Heritage Centre', later this year to encourage people to engage with their local history.

What's on offer?

New displays include a collection of historic photographs and paintings of Exmouth hung on a trellis, and an exhibition detailing the history of Clapp's Cafe.

Speaking about a photo of the Strand from the Edwardian era, Curator John Wakefield said: "...the only thing that's changed is a line going down for cyclists! You recognise that straight away. 

"All the area that we now think of as the beach gardens, the pathway were all very much like the Warren as it is now... tufts of grass and a big sand bank."

Other classic exhibits include a recreation of a 1940s parlour with an original fireplace from an Exmouth house, a Bronze Age sword found on Pole Sands, and an old school desk and collection of vintage toys.

Speaking about the old school desk, Committee Member Mike Menhenitt said: "We've tried to recreate a schoolroom here, this is something children love when they come here.

"We get the quill pens out and the ink - we don't fill [the inkwell] for them, we give them a pen and say 'see if you can write with it' - and they actually can, they're amazing!"

Exmouth Museum needs your support

The museum managed to buy its building in Sheppards Row last year thanks to an £80k council loan, together with local support and other contributions which totalled £70k.

It now has to pay East Devon District Council back over 25 years - costing the museum £4,025.44 each year.

Exmouth Museum is now inviting the public to set up standing orders of £2 per month, which it said if 168 people were to do it would cover a year's repayments.

If you would like to set up a standing order, the details are as follows: The Museum Society of Exmouth, 12052140, 52-10-26. You can also make donations by cheque to Exmouth Museum and posted to Exmouth Museum, Sheppards Row, Exmouth, EX8 1PW.

The museum will also be holding a raffle for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee with first prize being £100. Tickets will go on sale when the museum reopens and the draw will take place at the Exmouth Festival in June.

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