Families heading to Torquay during the school holidays this summer will find a special treat in store, guaranteed to enthral and entertain. The Torquay Museum has undergone a major £861,000 refurbishment thanks to a Heritage Lottery Fund grant and will be a must-see part of any visit to the popular seaside town.

The museum unveiled the new Devon Farmhouse gallery and cafe at its official opening on 25th May and in August will present the new Time Ark Gallery and Giftshop. Physical access around the museum has been transformed for visitors with mobility problems and pushchairs. The work has also ensured the preservation of the beautiful Victorian building and its Venetian-Gothic style features including the lantern and timber beamed roof

.With its reconstructed Victorian farmhouse kitchen and parlour and farmyard scene, the new Devon Farmhouse gallery will be a sure favourite with the children. The new TimeArk Gallery will house the natural science collections showing the evolution of the environment and habitat of the local area using hands-on interpretative displays. And Agatha Christie fans can use their own investigating skills on the updated displays relating to the world famous crime writer, who was born in Torquay.

The museum was founded in 1844 by Torquay Natural History Society and is Devon's oldest museum. It houses the foremost collection of Kents Cavern artefacts, and papers from the famous archaeological excavation by William Pengelly. Other collections include items relating to ethnography, archaeology, geology and social history. The Museum is teaming up with Kents Cavern in a discounted joint ticket, available in August, offering great value for those visiting the neighbouring two attractions.

The collections will now be more widely accessible through longer opening Hours , a richer programme of events and exhibitions including educational activities during the school holidays, and open access to the library initially two days a week.

The refurbishment has been funded by a Heritage Lottery Fund grant of £639,000 and the Torquay Natural History Society.

Torquay Museum - website can be located at www.torquaymuseum.org

Torquay Museum is owned and run by the Torquay Natural History Society, a Registered Charity (No. 1025390) and a Company Limited by Guarantee (No. 2764633), and is supported by Torbay Council.