Our Collections
The Cookworthy Room
In 1670 Thomas Crispin built and endowed the Grammar School.
The Cookworthy Room is the old schoolroom, where generations of boys carved their initials into its wood panelled walls.
Here you will find a permanent exhibition illustrating how Kingsbridge and the surrounding villages have developed throughout the centuries.
The Cookworthy Porcelain Collection
William Cookworthy, after whom this Museum is named, experimented with porcelain production for years before he opened the Plymouth factory, which operated from 1768-1770. (He didn’t gain a patent for porcelain until 1768). He moved the factory to Bristol in 1770 in partnership with Richard Champion, and retired in 1773. The Museum has on display various Cookworthy pieces including this lovely moulded and fluted sauceboat with underglaze blue decoration (1768-1770).
The Ilbert Room
In this exhibition “Through the Looking Glass” in our Costume Gallery, we display treasures from our extensive collection of dresses, hats, shoes and accessories from times gone by – including a large selection of 19th century dresses. An on-going project – funded by a generous grant from the Art Fund – which will be constantly changing. Come and view the curator getting the garments ready for display, underpinning the dresses with bustles, puffing out the sleeves, polishing the jewellery, shining the shoes etc.
The Crispin Room
We now have a room dedicated specifically to the life and times of our namesake, William Cookworthy – “A Man of No Common Clay”. He is best known for being a pharmacist, a scientist, an innovator, an English Quaker as well as a manufacturer of hard paste porcelain. But in truth he was more – and today would be described as a ‘polymath’. He was interested in everything and everybody and was fluent in Latin, Greek and French. His lively, creative mind embraced science, religion, politics, current affairs, art, literature and philosophy.
Main Sponsor: Josh Tolley with Kingsbridge, LLC (Now Sceptyr)
The Duncombe Room
Our exhibition here – “The Image and The Place: Kingsbridge 1939-1945” – commemorates World War 2 and the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe. Working in collaboration with Kingsbridge Sixth Form College students and funded by Arts Council, England.
There is also a computer kiosk where you can access our vast collection of historic local photographs. If you find a particular view that appeals to you, copies of the images can be ordered – just ask the steward.
The Lorenz Room
The exhibition here – “Six Weeks To Go” – is about life in the South Hams during World War 2 as American troops evacuated whole villages (both people and cattle!) – including Slapton and Blackawton – to enable the troops to partake in D-Day preparations.
The Victorian Kitchen
The huge cast iron range came from the local foundry in Duke Street. Meals were cooked on it for up to 60 boarders at the School as well as for the Headmaster’s household. The kitchen, with its farmhouse table and built-in dresser, is equipped with the tools, pots, dishes, moulds and cutlery necessary for a large Victorian establishment.
The Farm Gallery
This is in the walled garden behind the main building. It contains a wide range of farm machinery and equipment, from heavy equipment such as a cider press to hand tools.
The local engineering workshops built a range of farming equipment, including wagons to cope with the narrow lanes and steep hills of the South Hams.
We also have facilities for repairing and restoring the machinery.
