Burton at Bideford facts for kids
The Burton at Bideford is a cool art gallery and museum located in Victoria Park in Bideford, Devon, England. It's a place where you can explore amazing art and learn about the history of Bideford. The museum has collections that show off the town's past and its special culture. You can also see art from artists who live nearby, from all over the country, and even from other parts of the world!
Contents
Discovering the Burton: A Look at Its History
The Burton at Bideford first opened its doors in 1951. It was designed by an architect named Frank Whiting. Two important people, Hubert Coop and Alderman Thomas Burton, gave this wonderful place to the town.
Why the Burton Was Created
Hubert Coop was a talented artist, and Alderman Thomas Burton was a local businessman and a former Mayor of Bideford. They wanted to create "a gallery for the enjoyment, education and good of all." They did this to remember Thomas Burton's daughter, Mary, who was a very artistic person but sadly passed away.
Exploring the Collections: Art and History at The Burton
Since 1951, many new and exciting items have been added to The Burton's collections. You can find artworks by local artists like Bertram Prance, Judith Ackland, and Mary Stella Edwards. There's also a huge collection of 535 ceramic pieces put together by artist R.J. Lloyd.
Bideford's Past: Historical Displays
The museum also has collections from the old Bideford Museum. These displays help you learn about the town's history. You can discover stories about the Bideford Witches and famous people like Sir Richard Grenville. There's also information about Edward Capern, who was a postman and a poet, and Raleigh, who was the first Native American person to visit England.
The Long Bridge Model
One cool item is a large model of Bideford's old Long Bridge. This model was made by Frank Whiting in 1945. It shows how the bridge changed over many years, from 1280 all the way to 1925!
Artistic Treasures: Paintings and Models
The Burton also keeps Hubert Coop's own collection. This includes beautiful watercolour and oil paintings, as well as detailed models of Napoleonic ship models.
Special Exhibitions: Famous Artists at The Burton
The Burton at Bideford often brings in amazing national and international artworks that you might not usually see in the South West of England. For example, in 2017, there was a big show featuring Quentin Blake's original drawings for the book The BFG. In the autumn of 2018, the museum had an exhibition about the works of Beatrix Potter. This included her original drawings, letters, and other items. It even featured Eleanor Taylor's drawings for The Further Tale of Peter Rabbit by Emma Thompson.
Visitor Facilities: What You Can Do at The Burton
The Burton at Bideford was updated and reopened in May 1994. A large new part was added to the building. Today, the centre has three different spaces where art and history are shown.
What's Inside The Burton
One of these spaces is a permanent gallery that opened in 2010, showing pottery from North Devon. There's also the main museum, a craft gallery where you can see handmade items, and a shop. If you want to learn something new, there's a workshop and a lecture area. You can also find a tourist information desk to help you explore Bideford. And if you get hungry, there's a French-style café called The Café du Parc!
