Teignmouth&Shaldon Museum

Development Update

11 December 2009

We have the Builders in at Teignmouth and Shaldon Museum.

Now that the snow and ice have relented, at least for a while, our builders ROK have started work on our long awaited annexe. We are planning to take pictures as the building rises up and put them on our website so that you can see how the work is progressing. We are planning, hopefully, to open the new building and the refurbished Museum in the early months of 2011. We have a lot to do before that though. We will keep you informed! Watch this space as they say.

Development Update

11 December 2009

Teignmouth and Shaldon Museum – Teign Heritage will be closed for the whole of 2009 and 2010 but just think of all the exciting things to come in 2011 after our new annexe is built. We will have much needed facilities:

	A beautiful foyer with a welcome desk and the first chance to see our Victorian bathing machine and Morgan Giles boats – small ones but showing superb craftsmanship
	a community space for meetings
	a lift to enable those with mobility problems and people with small children access to all of the display areas
	a brand new look to our collections which is being undertaken by a professional designer in association with our own archivists
	some easy-to-use interactive elements
	the ability to have touring temporary exhibitions for which we could not, previously, find space.
	three toilets including one suitable for disabled use
	also a roof terrace, which can be used when conditions are right – of course we always have sunshine in Teignmouth, don’t we?

In the meantime we have a temporary, town centre, office - the address is:

Teignmouth & Shaldon Museum - Teign Heritage
8 Teign Street
Teignmouth
Devon
TQ14 8EA

If you want any information we are still contactable by ‘phone on 01626 777041 or visit our websites as often as you like All the Museum volunteers are really looking forward to 2011 and we hope you are too!

Benefit Concert

12November 2009

The world-renowned harpist Florence Sitruk and Christoph Bunzendahl, cellist, are kindly performing a Benefit Concert in aid of Teignmouth & Shaldon Museum - Teign Heritage. This exciting event will take place on Monday 9 November 2009 - 7.30pm at Bitton House, Bitton Park Road, Teignmouth. The programme will include selections from Bach, Boccherini, Mendelssohn and Elias Parish Alvars.

Best bib and tucker please.

There will be a buffet following the performance and the inclusive price is £14.50 per person.

Tickets/programmes can be obtained from Teignmouth & Shaldon Museum - Teign Heritage's temporary offices at 8 Teign Street, Teignmouth or from Teignmouth Tourist Information Office. If you intend to buy your tickets from the Museum it is suggested that you telephone beforehand as the Museum offices are not manned full time - telephone 01626 777041. If you prefer you can telephone the organiser - Beryl King - direct on 01626 862265.

We look forward to seeing you there.

We Are Temporarily Closed!

March 17th 2009

Teignmouth and Shaldon Museum – Teign Heritage - will be closed for the whole of 2009 and 2010 for major renovations but just think of all the exciting things to come after our new annexe is built next to our existing Museum!

We will have much needed facilities:

	A beautiful foyer with a welcome desk and the first chance to see our Victorian bathing machine and Morgan Giles boats – small ones but showing superb craftsmanship
	A community space for meetings
	A lift to enable those with mobility problems and people with small children access to all of the display areas
	A brand new look to our collections which is being undertaken by a professional designer in association with our own archivists
	Some easy-to-use interactive elements
	The ability to having touring temporary exhibitions for which we could not, previously, find space
	Three toilets including one suitable for disabled use
	Also a roof terrace, which can be used when conditions are right – of course we always have sunshine in Teignmouth, don’t we?

In the meantime we will have a temporary, town centre, office - details to follow If you want any information we will still be contactable by ‘phone on 01626 777041 or visit our websites as often as you like.

All the Museum volunteers are really looking forward to 2011 and we hope you are too!

What a coup for Teignmouth

November 27th 2008

TEIGNMOUTH has netted more than £300,000 to breathe new life into its struggling museum.

Teign Heritage, which runs Teignmouth and Shaldon Museum, has landed £376,676 to create a 21st century heritage centre to showcase its artefacts and material of national significance. The massive cash boost, provided under the Government's three-year Sea Change scheme, has been welcomed by museum trustees and local councillors. It will revamp the aging 18th century building and create a new iconic centre which could become a landmark in the town. Teign Heritage chairman Colin Trigger said:

"With the final funding now confirmed, this project has been an excellent example of volunteer enthusiasm and perseverance. Of course the key funding sources are the Heritage Lottery Fund and the recent Sea Change initiative but a variety of trusts, charities and foundations, individual pledges, donations and local fundraising events not only produced considerable funds but helped to develop awareness and support for the Teign Heritage project.” "Much work lies ahead but we are very grateful to all concerned for getting us to this exciting point."

The money has come from the second wave of funding under the Sea Change programme. Teignmouth is one of 12 local authorities to receive a share of £4.5million to kick start regeneration in hard-pressed coastal communities. The museum houses an important collection of artefacts and archive material including assemblage from the Church Rocks Wreck site, designated under the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973, and Admiral Pellew's flag from the 1816 Battle of Algiers. However, it currently has limited space so many items are not on display, there is no room for visiting collections and it lacks visitor facilities.

The new centre will preserve the area's cultural heritage, create an accessible community venue and provide a learning and research centre for local history. It will also be eco-friendly and have renewable technology features. Teignbridge Council jointly gifted the land for the project with Devon County Council. Already the Heritage Lottery Fund has awarded a grant of £400,000 and more than £132,000 has been raised by the community. English Heritage has also pledged funds. Devon County Council successfully bid for the funding on behalf of Teign Heritage. Teignmouth county councillor Chris Bray said:

"I am delighted the bid has been successful and that it will enable the Heritage Centre to go ahead with the re-development of the museum.” "Teign Heritage is to be congratulated on all the work it has put into this imaginative scheme, which will greatly improve the museum and be yet another attraction and facility for visitors and local residents."

Sea Change is being led by the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE). In August the first large grant awards were confirmed for Torbay, Blackpool and Dover. The latest round of funding is for the smaller open application grants of up to £1million. Government tourism minister Barbara Follett said: "

I'm delighted a further 12 seaside resorts will benefit from the Sea Change scheme.” "The plans put forward are great examples of how investing in our culture and heritage can regenerate our seaside communities." CABE chief executive Richard Simmons said: "What all the projects share is a desire to use the combination of culture and good design as a catalyst for regeneration."

Heritage Open Days

September 9th 2008

Join us at Teignmouth and Shaldon Museum on Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th September 2008 between 10.00am and 4.30pm (last visit 4.00pm) and you can have a look around the three floors of artefacts and collections - Adults as well as accompanied Children - FOR FREE.

We are celebrating Heritage Open Days. This has become an Annual Event, which involves many Museums throughout the Country.

We are right opposite Teignmouth Railway Station so you can't miss us.

Weather permitting we are planning to have two sessions of clay modelling on the Sunday (back by popular demand) between 11am and 12 noon and again between 2.30pm and 3.30pm - and you can take your creation away with you.

There will also be "plasticine" for sale, obtained from the same local company that supplied Wallace and Gromit and Shaun the Sheep. COME AND JOIN US. WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU.

Time to spare in August?

August 11th 2008

The Museum, which is opposite the railway station, will be open during August on Sunday afternoons from 2.00 pm until 4.30 pm. There is so much to see about the history of Teignmouth and Shaldon and the people who make the stories so interesting.Teignmouth & Shaldon Museum is on three floors and each one is packed with artefacts which fascinate people of all ages.

Our Stewards are ready to welcome you from the first Sunday in August.

Of course if you can't join us on a Sunday we are open the rest of the week from 10.00 am until 4.30 pm (last visit 4.00 pm

We do hope you will visit us.

Animated Film Wins Pupils Top Award

9th July 2008

Class Five at Shaldon Primary School has made a short animated film entitled The Mystery of the Church Rock Wreck.

The film was made as stop frame animation and was created using shadow puppets on a light box.

The idea for the film developed after the class visited the museum in Teignmouth to research the 16th century shipwreck which lies off Teignmouth beach. The shipwreck was discovered in the 1970s by Simon Burton when he was only 13 years old.

‘Pupils had a chance to think about how the ship might have been wrecked and came up with some really imaginative ideas, including violent storms and pirate attacks,' said a spokesman for the school.

Teignmouth & Shaldon Museum’s Teign Heritage Project

31 August 2007

The Museum is a successful, volunteer-run charitable organisation situated in Teignmouth. It houses an important collection of artefacts and archive material of local and regional significance. The Museum currently offers a wide range of educational activities for schoolchildren and also arranges lectures and visits, responds to research enquiries, mounts exhibitions and carries out an extensive oral history programme. However, the Museum has no modern visitor facilities and very limited space - it occupies a three-storey Georgian building, so upstairs galleries and the archives are not accessible to everyone. We have a small archive store so some of our artefacts are suffering from inadequate storage facilities and many historic items are not on display.

After considerable consultation and preparation, a company was formed, Teign Heritage (Ltd), to draw up plans to completely refurbish and extend the building onto adjacent land. This major redevelopment is being called the Teign Heritage Project. The building work is expected to start in the spring of 2009 and the new Museum to re-open in early 2010.

Not only will the new Museum safeguard the area's important heritage for future generations, but it will be of immense value to the local community and the local economy. The new Museum will provide the community and visitors to the area with a fully accessible building, offering new exhibitions and an exciting programme of events and activities. It will provide Teignmouth, Shaldon and the surrounding area with a landmark building which people will describe as a 'must visit' venue at the heart of the community; a venue that everyone in the area, as well as visitors to the town, will want to use, will be proud of and will want to be part of.

Education groups (which include local schools, pre-schools and nurseries, Special Schools, language students, adult education groups and researchers) are a major audience for the new Museum and 'Heritage Centre' and they will benefit greatly from the new facilities, services and programmes. The 'Heritage Centre' will also offer diverse opportunities for the local community to volunteer and get involved in heritage projects.

The Teign Heritage Project will cost £835,000 - £700,000 of which will need to come from external funding sources. The Heritage Lottery Fund awarded the Project £400,000 in March 2007. The remainder - £300,000 - is being sought from charitable organisations, trusts and foundations, businesses, the local community and other donors during the courrse of 2007-2008.

Teign Heritage (Ltd) has drawn up a comprehensive Fundraising Strategy and has employed experienced, professional fundraisers to help in this crucial task. With your help we are confident that we will be able to raise the remaining funding.

For more information about the 'Teign Heritage Project' and to make a donation, contact Simon Pearson on 01803 290006 or email on simon@pearsonfundraising.co.uk

Heritage Lottery Fund supports Museum extension

22 March 2007

Community groups across Teignmouth and Shaldon have been celebrating at the news that the Heritage Lottery Fund [HLF] has awarded Teign Heritage [TH] a stage one pass* in its application for a building grant to refurbish and extend the current Teignmouth & Shaldon Museum premises. As long as additional development work [stage two] is completed to HLF’s satisfaction their award of £400,000 will be rolled out, comprising a substantial share of the extension and renovation costs.

The extension, built on land gifted by Devon County Council and Teignbridge District Council, already has full planning permission for the modern, iconic concept prepared by local architects, Harrison Sutton Partnership. Not only will it provide much needed display space, excellent visitor facilities – especially for the disabled – and include inter-active elements for the frequent school and youth group visits, but it will also feature a multi-purpose community meeting room, something badly needed in the town.

‘Not only is the stage one pass a great step forward’, commented TH Chairman Colin Trigger, ‘it provides real encouragement for the many volunteers involved in this project. Located opposite Teignmouth railway station, the new Teign Heritage Centre, planned to open in 2009, will be visible to all arriving in the town, and we expect the iconic building to be one which engenders pride, as well as being a major tourist attraction. Not only will it set a standard for small, volunteer run museums in the West Country, it will also serve as an excellent example of how lottery funding is helping communities to protect their heritage. We are delighted to acknowledge the support received from the HLF.

‘The work associated with stage two is basically further development of the overall project; for example more detailed architect’s plans, expanded interpretation plans for the proposed displays, and also how we intend to evaluate the project after its completion. HLF have awarded us a grant of £10,700 to carry out this development work, and given us 12 months to do it.

‘But our immediate task is to raise £300,000 - the balance of the required funding, and the agreement by well-known actor Robert Lindsay to be the patron for our project is going to be a great help in this respect. The Museum, a registered charity, incorporated last July, and the six trustees are not only aware of the challenges ahead, but are determined to meet them, to finish the job, on time and to budget.’

Nerys Watts, HLF Manager in the South West adds: ‘There is huge local support for this project and it will improve the Museum enormously. The redesign will create much more space for the collections to be displayed, and a whole range of new facilities that will make a visit to the Teign Heritage Centre a fantastic day out for everyone’.

WOW – We’ve Done It!

13 March 2007

After keeping all fingers and toes crossed for Tuesday 13th March 2007, we can now uncross them. The message came through in the early afternoon that Teignmouth and Shaldon Museum have been granted Heritage Lottery Funding.

Now the company formed by the museum - Teign Heritage (limited by guarantee) - can happily proceed with their fundraising efforts to raise the outstanding monies needed to build and furnish our extension. More details will follow - once we come down from Cloud 9.

PRESS RELEASE

Undated

Teignmouth & Shaldon Museum has entered a new era with a new status. Now incorporated as a ‘company with limited guarantee’, and with a new title ‘Teign Heritage’, confirmation as a replacement charity was received last month. Last March Teignbridge District Council granted full planning approval for the innovative designs for the proposed extension, and earlier this month an application was lodged with the Heritage Lottery Fund for a substantial Build Grant, with a provisional decision expected next March. This followed the extensive work paid for with the earlier HLF Planning Grant.

Teign Heritage Chairman Colin Trigger commented that ‘if all went well, construction of the new and renovated museum could start in the autumn of 2008, and take 12 months. However, considerable funds have to be raised over and above the probable HLF grant, and this will take time. Later this year we launch our Heritage Project Appeal and it is hoped to raise support both locally and nationally, and a professional fundraiser is already at work.

The change in status recognises that we need a stronger and more responsible organisation, better able to handle the obligations – both financial and physical – associated with the extension project as well as with the development of additional activities as described in the comprehensive Business Plan prepared for the HLF and other potential funders. A more recent endorsement of the museum’s status has come from the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council SouthWest who have granted it full accreditation. This is a government standard of museum care and services, and the museum is the first of any size to achieve this in Teignbridge, and the first small museum to achieve it in Devon. This has been most encouraging and it should help our HLF application.’

Teign Heritage has to raise around £12,000 to cover further preparation work between now and autumn 2008 whilst the appointed fundraiser has a target of £400,000. As Beryl King, Curator, said ‘local support has always been strong for the museum and now we hope it continues to the extent of raising the £12,000 needed over the next 24 months, but although my recent ‘Wing Walk’ secured over a thousand pounds in donations I have no immediate plans to repeat the experience!’

ENDS contact: C Trigger 01626 774813

News Item in Western Morning News

30 January 2007

In the Western Morning News of Tuesday 30 January 2007 a headline stated "Actor's new role as patron of heritage project".

The news item went on to say "Hornblower star Robert Lindsay has been named as the patron of a major project to completely redevelop a popular West-country museum.

Mr Lindsay, known for playing South Devon hero Admiral Edward Pellew in the ITV dramatisations of CS Forester's Horatio Hornblower novels, said he hoped to visit the Teignmouth and Shaldon Museum when time permits.
The South Devon-based museum, in French Street, Teignmouth, has launched the £830,000 Teign Heritage Project to redevelop the volunteer-run building.

Organisers say Mr Lindsay, whose first job was as a dialect coach with a repertory company in Exeter, will play a key role in the project, raising its profile locally and nationally helping the museum's fundraising campaign.
Mr Lindsay, who filmed the Hornblower series in Plymouth where his father was once based in the Navy, said "I am delighted to become patron of the Teign Heritage Project.

"I remember researching Pellew in great detail before the filming of Hornblower. Teignmouth, and the South Devon coast around the town, featured prominently throughout his amazing career and into his retirement."

"The redevelopment of the museum will see the redisplay of the Pellew collection and this will offer visitors an opportunity to appreciate the contribution of the great man to the Britain's naval heritage."

"I am planning a visit when things calm down a little. In the meantime, I will be keeping up-to-date with progress on the fundraising campaign and will be promoting the project whenever I can."

Sir Edward Pellew, who will form a centrepiece of the redeveloped museum, had strong links to the Westcountry throughout his life. Both Sir Edward and his brother Israel became admirals as they embarked on careers at sea. Sir Edward ...was also awarded the title of Lord Exmouth and later Viscount Exmouth.

Colin Trigger, chairman of the Teign Heritage Project, said he was delighted at Mr. Lindsay's involvement. The museum has applied to the Heritage Lottery Fund and will hear the outcome in March but need to raise £400,000 from other sources over the next year.

The small town museum will become a much larger, exciting and accessible heritage centre with much-needed community space. With Robert Lindsay's patronage over the coming months it will give the museum the profile it deserves.

Visit by Television Team to Teignmouth and Shaldon Museum

28 January 2007

On Wednesday 31 January 2007 the museum had a visit from the ITV West Country News team. Beryl King, Curator and Pat Warner, Archivist spoke to the television presenters about the museum, its artefacts and the plans for expansion, explaining that a lot will depend on the outcome of the application for Heritage Lottery Funding. The HLF will be meeting on 13 March 2007 to make a final decision about funding for the new building. The extension will enlarge the museum's capability for exhibiting the artefacts that it holds - a large number of which are held in storage of one sort or another.

Also planned, of course, is wheelchair access and lift. The museum have many disabled people visiting and at the present time it is almost impossible for them to view the top two floors.

All the volunteers associated with the museum are keeping their fingers crossed for 13 March 2007.

Museum wins lottery money!

7 March 2005

Planning for an extended museum building in French Street, Teignmouth, can now go ahead, following confirmation from the Heritage Lottery Fund of a grant worth £50,000. The grant will be used to fund a Project Officer, draw up detailed architectural drawings, building specifications, etc.

Obviously delighted, the Society’s new Chairman, Colin Trigger, commented:

"that this grant request was successful underlines the considerable amount of dedicated work by the small task force set up last October to make the application to HLF. It also proved the wisdom in emphasising the use of our proposed annexe building as a community benefit, rather than just providing additional museum display space. "

The current thinking is for a two storey building in a style that will harmonise with its surroundings, and be an attractive focal point for the town. Due to its key position, even visitors passing by will then notice it. The annexe will, of course, be connected to the existing building, and embody the latest facilities for the disabled. In addition we are looking at other possible uses: a meeting area for up to 100 people is proposed – something desperately needed and not just for the Society’s own popular lectures - many other local organisations need a suitable location. A large reception area with good retail potential, a café - perhaps even an internet café - are also being considered.

The proposed flat roof also suggests a number of open-air uses: a covered meeting/lecture space [for example ideal for the numerous school visits to the museum], an area for musical performances [folk/jazz etc] during the summer months, or just as a café or community rendez-vous area which could also display some heritage exhibits suitable for all-weather exposure [and not currently displayed].

"It is easy to let the imagination run riot" added Colin, "but we want the town to be proud of this project and for it to be a really useful facility for the community as well as housing the valuable heritage treasures of Teignmouth and Shaldon."

"Originally we wanted a three floor extension but costs were prohibitively expensive. Therefore we came up with a more modest but worthwhile project and this has obviously secured HLF’s support, and indeed positive encouragement."

The task force has an even greater challenge ahead before it can apply again to the HLF: raising financial support to the tune of some £300,000, but at least we have now been given substantial resources to tackle that.

‘Together with the existing support from the town and parish councils, plus valuable assistance from Teignbridge and also Devon County Council, we are confident of success. Exciting times are ahead.’