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The Burton Art Gallery and Museum was re-opened in May 1994, after a major extension and refurbishment. The new building has three exhibition spaces, a museum, craft gallery, shop, workshop and lecture area and Coffee Shop.

The original gallery was opened in 1951. Two men, Thomas Burton, a wealthy local businessman, & Hubert Coop, a successful watercolour painter, combined to commemorate the untimely death of Burton's daughter, Mary. Hubert Coop stated their intentions in a letter to the Bideford Gazette in
October, 1949:-

"It's a happy chance that two old townsmen have come together to make a last effort to leave the town richer than they found it. The Gallery should be a peaceful haven where one may take a quiet look at beautiful things; a gallery for the enjoyment, education and good of all, old and young, inhabitants and visitors, - everyone - and as far as one can tell, of lasting credit to the living and those to come."

The new gallery and museum honours the donors' original intentions, while widening the scope for new activities and providing a better environment for the permanent collection and for visiting exhibitions.

The Gallery hosts the Bideford Museum , illustrating local personalities from Bideford's past such as Sir Richard Grenville , Edward Capern the postman poet , John Strange , who assisted plague victims in 1646 when the others had fled , the last Witches to be executed in England , and the first Red Indian to land on English shores . Artefacts include examples of North Devon slipware , the original Town Charter sealed by Elizabeth 1 in1583 , a scale model of Bideford's ancient , Long Bridge in all its stages from 1280 to the present day , and a touch-green photographic record of the town on ' North Devon on disc'. Local Trades , such as a lime-burning , saddlery , glove and collar making are illustrated , and the Bideford Community Archive provides small displays on a regular basis.

A guided tour of the museum is usually available during opening hours , and school parties are welcome by appointment.

Contact us on 01237 471455 or by web www.burtonartgallery.co.uk