Torquay Museum

OBJECT OF THE WEEK: Human Upper Jaw This is the maxilla (upper jaw) bone of an ancient human that was excavated in 1867, on display in our Ancestors gallery. Radiocarbon dating estimates it to be over 8000 years old. The teeth show the extreme wear and tear.

OBJECT OF THE WEEK: Totokia Club This is a fine example of a Fijian war club, known as a totokia, on display on our Explorers gallery. It was reserved for senior warriors, usually chiefs. It was nicknamed the "pineapple club" because of the spiked ball behind the weapon's beak.

OBJECT OF THE WEEK: Block Bell Signalmen used block bells, like this one on display in our Torbay Tracks exhibition, to communicate between signal boxes by tapping a code. Torquay Railway Station had two signal boxes, one on the Newton Abbot end and another on the Paignton end.

OBJECT OF THE WEEK: Railway Volunteers ERS Corps Shoulder Badge The Engineer and Railway Staff Corps, as it then known, was created in 1865, and was composed of volunteer executives from railway companies and civil engineers focusing on logistic support for military operations.

Ready for a quiz night with a twist? Step into the museum after hours for an evening packed with fun, friendly competition, and a few surprises hidden among the exhibits! Don’t miss out on a night of knowledge, laughter, and discovery!

OBJECT OF THE WEEK: Operator’s Station Panel This station panel, on display in our Torbay Tracks exhibition, was installed during the 2006-2007 modernisation. To start the system, the operator selected the car to ascend by pressing one of the two green buttons.

OBJECT OF THE WEEK: GWR Pay Token Pay tokens like this one, on display in our Torbay Tracks exhibition, were issued to employees with their unique employee number. Workers would hand them over in order to receive their wage, ensuring that they were paid the correct amount.

Join us on Wednesday 8th at 10:45am for a journey into the magic and mechanics of resophonic instruments and their influence on American popular music in the 1920s/1930s and beyond. Tea/coffee from 10am. Free for TMS members / £5 for non-members (pay at the door).

Join us on Tuesday 7th at 10:45am for an insight into forensic entomology, with an outline of the science and cases where this type of evidence has played a vital part. Tea/coffee from 10am. Free for TMS members / £5 for non-members (pay at the door).

OBJECT OF THE WEEK: Length of Tram Track This rail, on display in our Torbay tracks exhibition, was once part of the tram routes in Torbay. Grooved rails, such as this one, would be embedded into the ground, leaving only the top visible.

Join us on Wednesday 1st at 10:45am as as co-Chair of Torbay Civic Society, David Redman tells us about its history and activities, including the locations and background for some Blue Plaques. Tea/coffee from 10am. Free for TMS members / £5 for non-members (pay at the door).

Join us on Tuesday 31st at 10:45am as Brixham-based sculptor Elisabeth Hadley talks to us about her work and the process involved in creating the tribute to the famous crime writer Agatha Christie. Tea/coffee from 10am. Free for TMS members / £5 for non-members (pay at the door).

OBJECT OF THE WEEK: ‘Torquay Manor’ Name Plate On display in our new Torbay Tracks exhibition. ‘Torquay Manor’ was built in the Swindon Works in 1938 and was the first of the ‘Manor’ classes of steam locomotives. ‘Manors’ provided a lighter alternative to the ‘Grange’ class.

Join us on Wednesday 25th at 10:45am as local sacred sites tour guide and author Peter guides us around Dartmoor’s sacred sites and examines their relationship with their landscape. Tea/coffee from 10am. Free for TMS members / £5 for non-members (pay at the door).

Join us on Tuesday 24th at 10:45am as we look at the wildlife highlights of 2025, including the ephemeral hair ice forming, the Golden Horsefly on Dartmoor and Humpback Whale in Cornwall. Tea/coffee from 10am. Free for TMS members / £5 for non-members (pay at the door).

OBJECT OF THE WEEK: Figure of Nandi This is an alabaster figure of Nandi the Bull, the bovine mount of the Hindu god Shiva and guardian of his abode, Kailash. Nandi is meant to represent strength and faith and is sometimes depicted as a human with a bull's head and four arms.

Join us on Wednesday 18th at 10:45am for another opportunity to provide feedback and suggestions for future speakers, groups, etc. Tea/coffee from 10am. Free for TMS members / £5 for non-members (pay at the door).

Join us on Tuesday 17th at 10:45am as Keith Choules and his wife Janet describe their extensive travels, their presentation featuring photographs complemented by carefully selected music. Tea/coffee from 10am. Free for TMS members / £5 for non-members (pay at the door).

Join us on Wednesday 11th at 10:45am as keen amateur astronomer Bud Budzynski looks at the less well known sides of the classic astronomer Galileo, using a ‘contemporary’ reporting style. Tea/coffee from 10am. Free for TMS members / £5 for non-members (pay at the door).

Join us on Tuesday 10th at 10:45am as Jenny Ridd and Peter Marsden talk about owning a house in Hastings with a romantic Pre-Raphaelite history and its famous visitors. Tea/coffee from 10am. Free for TMS members / £5 for non-members (pay at the door).