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13. Michael Baylis's Escape Kit This peculiar collection of objects is a Second World War Escape kit issued to Lieutenant Michael Baylis of the Royal Devon Yeomanry. During the War, the Yeomanry served as 142nd Field Regiment Royal Artillery.  After some time in home defence they were sent to the Mediterranean to serve in the …

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18. The Evacuee's Doll This doll, dressed in pink, represents the experiences of one war-time child who was evacuated from London to the peace of North Devon. Her name was Janet. Bombed out of their home, Janet, her younger sister, baby brother and their mother were taken to a local Rest Centre, while their father …

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23. The Wellington Bomber Gun Turret This is the rear turret of Vickers Wellington serial number Z.8721, which crashed into the cliffs at Beckland Bay, near Hartland Point, on 13 April 1942. The turret was occupied by 26 year old Sergeant Charles Trevor Daniel, RAFVR. He died instantly in the crash, as did the other …

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28. Prisoner of War Furniture Many children through the years have had clothes and furniture made for their dolls. But this furniture tells a wartime North Devon story. This set of dolls’ furniture was made for 10 year old Gloria Butler and her sister Pamela during the Second World War.  Gloria’s parents ran Butler’s Tobacconist …

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33. The Surf Board This surfboard was made by Chapter Surfboards of Braunton in the 1980s, when surfing in North Devon was really taking off. People were surfing at Woolacombe as early as the 1920s, probably on belly boards. By the mid-60’s the number of surfers had increased, and there was sufficient activity to spread …

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34. The Land Army Embroidery This embroidered tablecloth records the names and celebrates the work of women at the Braunton Bulb Farm during the Second World War. The Braunton Bulb Farm was established by Seymour Cobley Ltd in 1923 on poor, rabbit-infested sandy soil at the edge of the Great Field and Braunton Burrows.  They …

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39. A Painting by Brian Chugg This painting is entitled “Composite of Beach Defences I” and was painted by Brian Chugg from sketches made just after the Second World War. Brian Chugg (1926-2003) was born and lived in Braunton, North Devon. He studied at Bideford School of Art 1946-9 then Camberwell School of Art 1949-50. …

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43. Bertie Burrington's Archive These documents record the life of an ordinary, but remarkable North Devon man, who overcame a difficult start to create a happy family life in Barnstaple. Bertie Burrington (1894-1982) was born in Braunton, where his father was a level crossing keeper.  By the time he was six his father had died …

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44. A Pedigree Perambulator This 1940s black and cream perambulator was rescued from recycling and passed to the museum in 2006. It was originally supplied by “Arch Jones, Barnstaple”, from a shop on the High Street where Boots is now. Prams were first made as special commissions from coachbuilders in the 18th century. In the …

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49. Frank Kidwell's Prang As a boy Frank Kidwell (born 1928) and his friends would camp on the banks of Ashford strand, exploring the riverbanks and coves. Venturing out to the riverbed at low tide they realised they could catch flounder fish simply by stepping on them. Training themselves not to be ticklish and catching …