Burton at Bideford facts for kids
The Burton at Bideford is a cool art gallery and museum. You can find it on Kingsley Road, right in Victoria Park, in the town of Bideford, Devon, England. This special place holds many collections that tell stories about Bideford's history and its amazing culture. The art gallery also shows off artworks by artists from the local area, across the country, and even from around the world!
Contents
How The Burton Began
The Burton 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 building to the town. Thomas Burton was a former Mayor of Bideford and a local businessman. They wanted to create "a gallery for the enjoyment, education and good of all."
They did this in memory of Thomas Burton's daughter, Mary. She was a very talented artist who sadly passed away from cancer. So, The Burton is a lasting gift to the town, honoring her memory and providing a place for everyone to enjoy art and learn.
What You Can See: Amazing Collections
Since 1951, The Burton's collections have grown a lot! You can see works 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. Many of these were bought with help from the Art Fund.
Bideford's Past
The museum also has collections from the old Bideford Museum. These displays show the history of Bideford. You can learn about the stories of the Bideford Witches, and famous people like Sir Richard Grenville. There's also information about Edward Capern, who was a postman and a poet. You can even learn about Raleigh, who was the first Native American to set foot in England.
One cool item is a large model made by Frank Whiting in 1945. It shows Bideford's old Long Bridge and how it changed over many years, from 1280 to 1925. The Burton also has Hubert Coop's own collection of watercolours, oil paintings, and ship models of Napoleonic ships.
Special Exhibitions
The Burton at Bideford doesn't just show its own local collection. It also brings in important national and international artworks. These are pieces you might not normally get to see in the South West of England.
For example, in 2017, there was a big exhibition featuring Quentin Blake's original drawings and illustrations for The BFG book. In 2018, the museum held an exhibition about the works of Beatrix Potter. This included her original illustrations, letters, games, and other items. It also showed Eleanor Taylor's drawings for The Further Tale of Peter Rabbit by Emma Thompson.
What's Inside: Facilities
The Burton at Bideford got a big makeover and reopened in May 1994. They added a large new part to the building. Today, the center has three spaces for exhibitions. One of these is a permanent gallery that shows North Devon Pottery, which opened in 2010.
You'll also find a museum, a craft gallery, and a shop where you can buy souvenirs. There's a workshop and lecture area for events and learning. Plus, there's a tourist information desk to help visitors. And if you get hungry, you can grab a bite at The Café du Parc, which is a French-style café.
