Tiverton Museum of Mid Devon Life facts for kids
The museum entrance
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| Established | 1960 |
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| Location | Tiverton, Devon |
| Type | Local history |
The Tiverton Museum of Mid Devon Life is a local history museum in the town of Tiverton, England. It's filled with amazing objects that tell the story of how people lived and worked in the Mid Devon area.
One of its most famous attractions is a real steam train called the "Tivvy Bumper." The museum is located in a historic building that used to be a school. This building is so important it's officially protected as a Grade II listed building.
Contents
The Museum's Journey Through Time
The museum first opened in 1960. It started small, with its collection displayed in just two rooms of a local pub! As more items were collected, it needed more space. In 1962, it moved to a building called the Chilcott School.
By 1969, the museum had grown so much that it moved into its current home, a former National School. This move was made possible by a generous man named Lord Amory. Over the years, more galleries were built to show off all the fascinating objects.
In 2001, the museum had a major makeover. After 18 months of work, it reopened with even more space for exhibits. This big project was paid for with help from the National Heritage Lottery Fund and money raised by the local community. In 2012, the museum was recognized for being a great place for families to visit.
What Can You See at the Museum?
The Tiverton Museum has one of the biggest collections in the West of England. It's packed with things that show what life was like in the past.
The Famous 'Tivvy Bumper' Steam Train
The star of the museum is the Tivvy Bumper. This is a Great Western Railway steam locomotive, number 1442. From 1934 to 1965, this train carried passengers between Tiverton and a nearby station. The local people gave it the nickname "Tivvy Bumper."
After it stopped running, the train was saved by Lord Amory. For a while, it stood outside on a local road. But to protect it from the rain and wind, it was moved inside the museum in 1978. A special gallery was even built around it!
Today, you can see the train up close and even stand in the driver's cab. The gallery also has other cool transport items, like old bicycles, a classic Mini car, and railway signals.
Farming, Factories, and More
The museum has several other galleries to explore:
- The Alford Gallery: This section is all about farming. You can see old tools and two very rare farm wagons called Devon spindle-sided ship wagons.
- The Heathcoat Gallery: This gallery is named after John Heathcoat, a famous inventor who owned a lace-making factory in Tiverton. It features one of his amazing lace-making machines.
- The Waterwheel: Just outside the museum entrance, you can see a real, restored waterwheel. Waterwheels were once used to power machines in factories.
The museum also has a space for special, temporary exhibitions. In the past, these have included displays about the history of teddy bears and old photographs of the area.
Explore History Online
The museum helps people learn about history even if they can't visit. It runs a website called Virtual Victorians. This site lets you explore what life was like in the 1800s for a family that lived in Tiverton.
The website is like a digital time capsule. It has old newspapers, records from the Heathcoat lace factory, and more. It was launched in 2000 and quickly became popular with schools across the United Kingdom. It's a fun way for students to learn about the Victorian era.
The museum also has a library where visitors can research their own family history and learn more about the local area.
