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19. Combe Martin Silver Ore This large sample of galena or lead sulphide almost certainly comes from the last successful reworking of the Combe Martin lead mines in 1848.  Combe Martin lead ore has a high silver content, containing up to 168 ounces of silver per ton. Mining at Combe Martin may have started in …

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20. The Landkey Parish Table For 400 years representatives of Landkey parish would have sat and deliberated (uncomfortably) at this long table.  It is one of only two parish room tables from the 16th or 17th century known in Devon and is an exceptional example of the workmanship of West Country craftsmen. The earliest long …

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21. Some Leyden Jars These glass jars, lined inside and out with zinc foil, were found lined up in a large wooden box, connected by metal wires.  We have no record of their provenance, but we believe they once belonged to the Barnstaple Literary and Scientific Institution. The Institution was set up in 1845, thanks …

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22. The Elliott Ralli Car This little cart is a Ralli Car, made by Elliotts of Bideford around the turn of the 20th century.  Carts like this would once have been common in North Devon, used as a general run-around for families. It has back-to-back seating and space under the seats for luggage or shopping …

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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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24. The Buzzard Nine-year old Abbie Hockin visited the museum with her grandfather and was intrigued to see the buzzard frowning on her from its high perch in the birds of prey display. She frequently sees buzzards in the sky above her home at Abbotsham and she knows a few things about them. She has …

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25. Barnstaple's Silver Spoons The first Barnstaple-made silver spoons appeared in the 16th Century. At that time      Barnstaple was a market town, wool centre and port, whose merchants were sending ships to Europe and the New World.  For example, Richard Dodderidge owned a 100-ton prize-ship named Prudence, a privateer effectively engaged in licenced piracy. She had …

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26. The Phrenological Head This ceramic head has been part of our collection for 175 years - longer than almost any other object.  It was given to the Barnstaple Literary and Scientific Institution by Dr.Richard Budd (1809-1896), who was the physician at the North Devon Infirmary for over 40 years. The 19th century pseudoscience of …

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27. The Barnstaple Steam Fire Pump The splendid piece of engineering that is the Barnstaple Steam Fire Pump was a product of the 19th century London engineering company Shand Mason who specialised in the building of superior fire appliances. This example was purchased by the Borough of Barnstaple in 1914 for £320. It was a …

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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 …