- Wikidata identifier:
- Q53544384
- Also known as:
- Brixham Museum
- Instance of:
- local museum; independent museum
- Museum/collection status:
- Accredited museum
- Accreditation number:
- 917
- Persistent shareable link for this record:
- https://museumdata.uk/museums/q53544384/
Collection-level records:
-
Collection overview (Cornucopia)
Maritime Collection
The maritime collection is good, reflecting the importance of Brixham as a fishing port. Fishing, shipbuilding, including sailmaking and rigging, and supplementary trades were Brixham’s principal industries. The history of trawling in the 19th and 20th centuries is represented by tools, models, detailed drawings and explanatory notes; and navigational instruments. There is also material relating to the RNLI and the local lifeboat, smuggling, the great gale of 1866; and the landing of William of Orange at Brixham in 1688. There is the William Tooley-Hawkins collection of shipwrights’ tools. The museum manages the HM Coastguard collection. Other material relates to maritime tragedies and local regattas.
Subjects
Maritime
Medicine Collection
There is material from a local chemist’s shop.
Subjects
Medicine
Decorative and Applied Art Collection
This collection includes local and commemorative ceramics.
Subjects
Decorative and Applied Arts
Fine Art Collection
This is a small collection, including drawings with a maritime theme, and paintings.
Subjects
Fine Art
Photographic Collection
There is an extensive collection of local photographs of events, places and people.
Science and Industry Collection
Local trades, largely associated with maritime activity, are well represented in the collection.
Subjects
Science and Industry
Archaeology Collection
Evidence of mesolithic, neolithic, bronze age and iron age occupation is represented in the collection by stone tools, pottery and human bone. There are photographs of the discovery by William Pengelly in 1858 of Brixham Cavern with its evidence of early man and there are finds from the submerged seashore forest. Excavations of the Napoleonic fort at Berry Head produced a wide range of military and domestic finds.
Subjects
Archaeology
Costume and Textile Collection
The costume collection reflects local material from about 1860 to 1930. There is also material relating to lace-making, including bobbins; dress-making; embroidery; fisherman’s knitting; and hand-shoemaking.
Subjects
Costume and Textile
Social History Collection
The collection comprises material relating to domestic life during the 19th and 20th centuries; civic regalia; the fire and police services; local churches; the theatre; and trade and shops including a shoemaker’s workshop.
Subjects
Social History
Archives Collection
Extensive local archives comprise documents; newspapers; maps; deeds; contracts; records of service (mostly maritime); ships’ plans; greetings cards; and ephemera such as posters. The main newspaper collection comprises bound annual volumes of the Brixham Western Guardian from 1902 to 1968.
Subjects
Archives
Source: Cornucopia
Date: Not known, but before 2015
Licence: CC BY-NC