Museums are places that look after precious things and this summer the Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon is bringing together some of the most precious objects from North Devon’s past in its major summer exhibition.

Treasures of North Devon will include beautiful objects brought back to North Devon from the collections of prestigious institutions. On display will be treasures from the British Museum and the V&A in London.

In addition to generous loans from internationally recognised institutions, Treasures of North Devon also draws on rarely seen objects housed locally in churches and other buildings as well as the Museum’s own stores. The exhibition will give local residents and visitors alike a rare opportunity to marvel at a variety of objects that were once made and used in North Devon, and in some instances, it will be the first time in many years that these objects will be seen on home soil.

Treasures of North Devon will include some of the best silverware, ceramics, books and archaeological finds - from prehistory, mediaeval times and later. By showcasing objects that have survived through the very fact of having been treasured by their owners, the exhibition will also provide a fascinating insight into the lives of people and communities from times past.

John Stokes, Dorset Foundation Head of National Programmes at the British Museum, said: “We are delighted to lend these remarkable artefacts from the British Museum collection to the Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon. The British Museum is deeply committed to sharing the collection as widely as possible, and we are pleased to support regional colleagues in creating opportunities for visitors to connect to the history of their area first-hand through exceptional objects. This exhibition highlights the importance of national loans, sharing national collections to tell a story which is so wholly of North Devon.”

Alison Mills, Director of the Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon, said: “Bringing these object back to North Devon was one of our ambitions when we extended the museum with high quality galleries in 2019. We hope as many people as possible will grab their chance to see these treasures while they're in North Devon.”

This collaboration with the British Museum and the V&A consolidates the growing reputation of the Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon, which last year curated the exhibition, Turner in Barnstaple. It also places Barnstaple and North Devon on the map in terms of bringing nationally significant exhibitions to local audiences.

The exhibition opens on Saturday 19 July and runs until Saturday 11 October. The Museum is open Monday-Saturday, 10am-4.30pm. There’s no need to book in advance and entrance is free.