In 2024, the Earl of Devon was appointed patron of the museum.[4]
In 2025, it was announced the museum would be closed for several months during extensive building repair works.[5] During this time, collections can be viewed online.[6]
Organisation
Formerly governed as the Topsham Museum Society,[7] in 2019 the museum was reconstituted as a charitable incorporated organisation overseen by a board of trustees and supported by a subscription membership model.[8]
The museum maintains a formal link with the Royal Albert Memorial Museum in nearby Exeter,[4] whose assistant curator acts as an advisor to the Topsham Museum's board of trustees.[2]
The museum organises a regular cycle of lectures held at nearby Matthews Hall in Topsham.[5]
The museum holds exhibits on a range of topics, including Exeter's Roman history, Topsham's maritime history (including the local construction of small boats as well as ships such as HMS Terror), and the actress Vivien Leigh.[9][10][11][12][13][14]
Topsham Museum is run by a group of around 200 volunteers.[15]
The museum is housed in a 17th-century building on the Strand, Topsham, which is Grade II Listed.[16] The building was constructed circa 1688 and given a new staircase and heightened upper floors in the 18th century.[17][18] The museum's walls and gates are also separately Grade II Listed.[19] The building is owned by Exeter City Council,[2] to whom the museum's founder, Dorothy Holman, gave the building for use as a museum.[2]
As of February 2025, the building is currently closed for repairs.[5]
