Kingsbridge Cookworthy Museum
Kingsbridge Cookworthy Museum
Kingsbridge Cookworthy Museum
4.5
10:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
10:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:30 AM - 5:00 PM
About
A fun and interesting local history museum on the main street in Kingsbridge where you can discover the history of Kingsbridge and the South Hams. The museum is based in the old grammar school and you can still see the marks the pupils left. The museum has a large social history collection including our farm gallery, showing the importance of agriculture to the area as well as changing displays and exhibitions focusing on a variety of aspects of local life. The museum also has quizzes, trails and an activity table for children all year round, plus events throughout the year. Check out our Facebook page for more details about events.
Suggested duration
1-2 hours
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4.5
21 reviews
Excellent
15
Very good
5
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
1
LesleyandClive
Maidenhead, UK390 contributions
Apr 2023 • Couples
A really interesting local history museum. Lots of information, loads of exhibits inside and out.
The building was previously a school and this adds even more the the experience.
The man on reception was well informed and helpful with our questions.
Really worth a visit.
The building was previously a school and this adds even more the the experience.
The man on reception was well informed and helpful with our questions.
Really worth a visit.
Written 4 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Eddie730
County Durham, UK156 contributions
Sep 2021 • Couples
We really enjoyed our visit to this fascinating museum today, it was a treasure trove of the past!
The Covid security and one way system were excellent, and a lot of thought had gone into the many sanitising stations around the museum.
Full of interesting rural objects, the museum was packed with fascinating artefacts which were from, and about the area.
Originally, the museum building was a Grammar School and we loved looking at the carved graffiti on the wooden panels!
Some of the interpretation boards were not only a little dated, but quite 'out of focus' in the farming implement area; but overall the interpretation of the social history of Kingsbridge was brilliant.
Our welcome and subsequent chat with the steward on duty was lovely and it was great fun to find the knitted artefacts around the rooms for younger visitors - or for those young at heart!
The Covid security and one way system were excellent, and a lot of thought had gone into the many sanitising stations around the museum.
Full of interesting rural objects, the museum was packed with fascinating artefacts which were from, and about the area.
Originally, the museum building was a Grammar School and we loved looking at the carved graffiti on the wooden panels!
Some of the interpretation boards were not only a little dated, but quite 'out of focus' in the farming implement area; but overall the interpretation of the social history of Kingsbridge was brilliant.
Our welcome and subsequent chat with the steward on duty was lovely and it was great fun to find the knitted artefacts around the rooms for younger visitors - or for those young at heart!
Written 15 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David G
Greater Manchester, UK84 contributions
Aug 2021
Really interesting museum that we visited while on holiday. We arrived late and the lady at the desk was about to go home, but as we were leaving the day after she let us have a look around which was very kind. Recommend you visit if in the area!
Written 11 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Fiona W
2 contributions
Sep 2020 • Friends
We came upon this lovely museum by chance and are very glad we did. We found it well laid out and informative and the covid safeguards were carefully thought out and as clearly marked. The ladies on duty were very friendly and helpful. We didn't know much about the area beforehand and found it all really interesting. I would thoroughly recommend a visit.
Written 25 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
michael s
Salcombe, UK38 contributions
Dec 2018 • Friends
I wondered when I would be able to view my opinion about this place. Some of the building is an architects office (s) with modern computers;etc. They have farm machinery including old hay-ricks (100 years old wooden horse carts). On Kingsbridge quay, there is a 100 year old horse cart rotting in all weathers, but that does not come in to it - let that rot! Why not preserve that one? Surely that is the idea of museums? As for the school side of things, its a bit of everything and not class rooms set-up. I also did not know that as an old grammar school they kept farm machinery, unless it was agricultural school, which in this instance is not/ was not. The ceilings in the building look false ceilings. The only good thing about it is the oak panels with past pupils names carved out on them.
Written 2 November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your review and we are very sorry you did not enjoy your visit to our museum. The majority of our customer feedback is very positive and we, too, are pleased to have this forum to address your comments.
It is important to point out that the aim of Kingsbridge Cookworthy Museum is to collect, preserve and share the history of Kingsbridge and the South Hams. It is indeed hosted in the old Kingsbridge Grammar School but, although it does have a display dedicated to the history of the building as a school, including a school desk, school registers, photographs and more information, our displays and collections reach further than just telling the story of our building. We believe it is important to showcase the whole history of the South Hams, a major part of which is, of course, farming and so, in the 1970’s, we added a purpose-built Farm Gallery in our pretty walled garden. The cart you mention on the Quay is being looked after by award-winning Kingsbridge in Bloom as a display to showcase our important rural history.
The museum is an independent charity and an accredited museum. It is a grade 2* listed building and the care and maintenance of its history is a large part of our responsibility and costs. The building retains a lot of its original features, including the marvellous schoolboy ‘graffiti’ you mention. The ceilings that “look false” are all historic, and restoration work was done to the roof (under the supervision of English Heritage) in the 1990's.
We do host several tenants in separate units in our large building, including an IT company, a solicitors’ office and more. This income helps to ensure we are able to maintain this important historic building and also to provide a space for local small businesses within our wonderful town.
If you have any further questions or queries about the museum, we would urge you to get in touch. Or you might consider volunteering with us if you have a local topic you feel passionately about and would like to create into a display. We would not be able to open without our wonderful team of local volunteers. Further information and contact details are all on our website.
Kind regards,
Holly Trubshawe
Curatorial Assistant
Kingsbridge Cookworthy Museum
Written 4 November 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
properjob929
Kingsbridge, UK161 contributions
Sep 2019
Despite living in the area, we have only visited this museum on a few occasions to do some research. We had no idea before today that there was so much local history in one place. Visual displays covering Kingsbridge and surrounding villages from the mists of time, archives of so much in the way of written and printed documents, outside displays of farming machinery, all backed up with staff on hand to fill in gaps in your knowledge and to direct you to the area of your own specific interest.
The visit today was particularly appropriate as it is the 800th celebration of the granting of a Royal charter to the Abbot of Buckfast to hold a market in the town.
Whether you will be a resident or visitor to the town, do drop in to this museum - it will be really worthwhile. But beware, it closes for the winter at the end of October.
The visit today was particularly appropriate as it is the 800th celebration of the granting of a Royal charter to the Abbot of Buckfast to hold a market in the town.
Whether you will be a resident or visitor to the town, do drop in to this museum - it will be really worthwhile. But beware, it closes for the winter at the end of October.
Written 14 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ArestiFamily
Enfield, UK8 contributions
Aug 2019
The Cookworthy Museum is definitely worth a visit if staying in Kingsbridge or the local area.
It gives a great insight into the local area and has a lovely little activity and dressing up area for the kids.
We spent an hour or so looking around and unlike some attractions is well priced and the gift shop is very reasonable.
Well worth a visit for anyone staying in the locality.
It gives a great insight into the local area and has a lovely little activity and dressing up area for the kids.
We spent an hour or so looking around and unlike some attractions is well priced and the gift shop is very reasonable.
Well worth a visit for anyone staying in the locality.
Written 2 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Parisienne61
Glossop, UK161 contributions
Jun 2019 • Couples
We have meant to visit this museum on many previous holidays In Kingsbridge; finally succeeded but we’d left ourselves insufficient time and now plan to return next year, to do it justice.
A delightful, friendly and knowledgeable lady on reception was a great start and there are numerous interesting exhibits to discover. What a treat to find in our favourite Devon town.
A delightful, friendly and knowledgeable lady on reception was a great start and there are numerous interesting exhibits to discover. What a treat to find in our favourite Devon town.
Written 28 June 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Natalie C
Kent, UK20 contributions
Apr 2019 • Family
What a lovely day out we had today,kids loved it so much,such a little hidden gem,will be going back there on our next holiday xx
Written 13 April 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Shirley C
Torquay, UK305 contributions
Oct 2018 • Friends
Nice little museum with plenty of local history, reasonably priced for the entrance fee, spent 45/,60 mins walking around and looking at the exhibits
Written 1 October 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Claim your listingKINGSBRIDGE COOKWORTHY MUSEUM: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Kingsbridge Cookworthy Museum
- Kingsbridge Cookworthy Museum is open:
- Mon - Sat 10:30 - 17:00
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