current exhibitions  |  2024

A small flock of widgeon photographed in the Otter estuary by David White

BIRDS OF THE LOWER OTTER RESTORATION PROJECT (LORP)

Major landscaping works that began in 2020 in the Lower Otter Valley culminated last November with the breaching of the old embankment, allowing seawater to inundate the floodplain at high tide and creating a new salt-marsh habitat. Local naturalist David White has been observing the birdlife in our valley for many years and this exhibition of his photographs will delight nature lovers and serious birders alike. 

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Dressed to impress

The Queen's funeral and the coronation of King Charles III were recent occasions when we saw our armed forces in their dress uniforms. This exhibition displays men's dress uniforms from 1845-1945 from our collection. Many of the uniforms were made by Gieves and Hawkes, No 1 Savile Row. The uniforms display rank and achievement. To complement the uniforms we have military bi-corn headwear and other accessories. The exhibition is upstairs in the Joy Gawne Room, named for our late founder whose enthusiasm for costume was an inspiration and who died in January. 

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THE JOY GAWNE LACE COLLECTION and MACHINE-made lace

Beautiful examples of the 19th century lacemaker's art, these hand-worked collars are included in our exhibition this year. On the left a Point de Gaze, needle lace from Brussels and on the right a collar of Maltese silk lace. 

Dark Lane by Bernard Covey

Budleigh Salterton ART CLUB
EXHIBITION OF MEMBERs' work 

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Budleigh Salterton Art Club will be exhibiting members’ work in a variety of media, from pencil drawings to paintings in acrylic and oils. All the work will be for sale, so come and pick up a fabulous unique work of art for yourself or a friend!
 
Members of the Art Club all live in the EX9 postcode area or in nearby villages and come from a wide range of backgrounds. There are monthly meetings with demonstrations and workshops to inspire and encourage members to explore their creativity and try out new techniques and two annual selling exhibitions in May and August at the height of the visitor season. Our exhibition will run from Easter until the end of October and showcase the talent of the artists.

John Spede's map of 1611

​OTTERTON
A HISTORY OF THE VILLAGE

A substantial village at the time of the Domesday Book survey of 1085, Otterton has an interesting history and is the subject of our exhibition in the Local History Room this year. We look at the settlement's relationship with the River Otter, the port of Ottermouth and the long tradition of shipbuilding. 

Otterton was administered by French monks known as Black Friars for two hundred years and a Tudor manor house was built on the site of their priory after the Reformation. 

From salt-making to ship-building, religious devotion at the priory to mercantile endeavour in the New World, we have a fascinating story to tell of this quiet and picturesque village three miles upstream of the coast.

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An Early Bronze Age barbed and tanged arrowhead found by a volunteer field-walker

​ARCHAEOLOGICAL FINDS FROM THE  LORP INVESTIGATION

In 2021, archaeologists and local volunteers field-walked some of the areas likely to be impacted by the Lower Otter Restoration Project landscaping works, looking for evidence of people who may have lived and worked here in the past. This year, by kind permission of Clinton Devon Estates and Southwest Archaeology, many of the finds will be on show in the Priscilla Carter Room. 

past exhibitions

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