Burton at Bideford

Since 1951 additions to the collections have included the works of such local artists as Bertram Prance (1889-1958), Judith Ackland (1898–1971) and Mary Stella Edwards (1893–1984), and the 535 piece ceramics collection put together by the artist R.J. Lloyd. Various of these were purchased with the assistance of the Art Fund. There are also collections from the former Bideford Museum representing the history of Bideford; these permanent displays include the Bideford Witches, Sir Richard Grenville; Edward Capern the postman poet; and Raleigh, the first Native American to set foot in England. Artefacts include a large scale model made by Frank Whiting in 1945 of Bideford’s ancient Long Bridge in all its stages from 1280 to 1925. The Burton also houses Coop's collection of watercolours, oil paintings and Napoleonic ship models. The Burton at Bideford presents its own local collection as well as important national and international works which ordinarily would not be accessible to the public in the South West. In 2017 a major exhibition featured Quentin Blake's original designs and illustrations for The BFG, while in Autumn 2018 the centre held an exhibition of the works of Beatrix Potter which included original illustrations, letters, games and artifacts, etc. Also included were Eleanor Taylor's illustrations to The Further Tale of Peter Rabbit by Emma Thompson.