When the Torquay Natural History Society was founded in 1844 its members almost immediately realised the need for a Museum in which to display their collections.

By the early 1870s a building appeal fund had been started and in 1874 Reverend Stebbing (President of the Society) laid the foundation stone. In the stone below it, a cavity was formed to hold a bottle containing a brief record of the Society, a current issue of Nature magazine (with a portrait of Darwin) and two or three copies of the daily newspaper. The land on which the new building was to be situated had been leased for 1000 years from the Cary family and rent was 1/- per year (which is still paid today).

The building was designed by the architect William Harvey Jnr. in the Venetian – Gothic style. Two of the upper windows have terra-cotta tympana depicting the Arts and Nature, both designed by John Philip (the architect famous for creating the Albert Memorial in London). One of the Museum’s finest features is its glass ‘lantern roof’, which illuminates the Upper Gallery.

Over many years the Museum’s collection has grown and grown thanks to the donations of Society members and the public. The collection includes natural history, archaeology, ancient Egypt, world cultures, palaeontology, social history, ceramics, local records, oral history and archive.

View my website http://www.torquaymuseum.org/

My Location

Torquay Museum

529 Babbacombe Road
Torquay
Devon
TQ1 1HG

Telephone: 01803 293 975
Email: reception@torquaymuseum.org
Website: http://www.torquaymuseum.org/

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My Events

Volunteers Week - Torbay - 1 - 7 June / Thu 01 to Fri 02 Jun 2017 (2 days)

Volunteer Fair - Thursday 1 June Paignton Library 1.00 - 3.00 pm You get three for the price of one! Come visit Brixham Heritage Museum, Torquay Museum and Torre Abbey to find out more about volunteering, events an...

May The Toys Be With You exhibition / Wed 17 May 2017

Saturday 17th June, 10am to 5pm (last entry 4pm) Be one of the first to visit this summer's Star Wars themed exhibition. Meet your favourite Costumed Characters including a Storm trooper, experience a space and sci-fi...

My Opportunities

Museum Volunteers / Mon 31 Dec 2018

Torquay Museum is wanting to increase its volunteers and supporters. It is a great way to support the future of the museum and develop a personal interest. There are lots of different ways you can become involved, here...