Allhallows Lace and Pottery Museum Honiton, Devon Web Site.

Honiton Lace Page
Museum Shop
Honiton and how to find us
Acquisitions

Opening Times

From April until
October

Up to September 10am - 5pm,
Monday to Saturday

October only 10am-4pm,
Monday to Saturday

Address
Allhallows Museum, High Street,
Honiton, EX14 8PE

Telephone
01404 44966

The building has a very interesting history. It is the oldest building in Honiton and started its life as part of a chapel and became a school before it became a museum. The building dates to before 1327 and was built when the folk from the 'new town' got tired of climbing the hill to St. Michael's. They got permission for a chapel in the centre of town and called it All Saints or Allhallows. The first gallery is the chancel of the chapel, which was shortened last century to make room for St. Paul's, which is just outside.

About 500 years ago we know that there was a school meeting in the chapel. Allhallows School probably started like many others when the priest wanted choirboys who could sing in Latin. The priest himself would teach them to read and write so that they could sing the hymns and psalms.

In 1836, when the building was shortened, it became the schoolroom and also the dining room until other rooms and buildings were added as the school expanded. The first room was furnished as the school chapel and was in use by Allhallows School until 1938 when the school moved away from the town.

Fifty years ago the chapel was bought by the townspeople and opened as a museum. The museum has three galleries, the Murch Gallery, the Nicoll Gallery and the Norman Gallery.

The Murch Gallery

In this gallery various displays illustrate Honiton in prehistoric times. The bones of the Honiton Hippos, the earliest known dwellers on the site of the town, date back about 100,000 years and were discovered during the building of the bypass. The humans of the stone, bronze and iron ages are represented by models showing them engaged in the dress of their times. There is also a selection of the actual tools which have ben found locally.

Two of the displays are devoted to local industries. Pottery has been made in the town for centuries, particularly by Charles Collard, one of the noted art potters, and there was until recently a working pottery in town. There are displays on two local defunct industries, iron founding and on the extraction and making of whetstone. Other displays deal with such subjects as schools, dress and local affairs.

The Nicoll Gallery

In this gallery you will find displays of the Honiton lace industry, its history and tools of the trade. There is also a display of comparative laces (other than Honiton).

An ever popular feature of this gallery are the demonstrations of Honiton lace-making. These are given each day throughout June, July and August. There are occasional demonstrations during September and October.

The Norman Gallery

Honiton's lace is the towns most famous product. It has been made here since about 1560. This gallery contains a comprehensive exhibition drawn from our collection which contains representative specimens from1630 onwards. Some of the most superb pieces ever made may be seen, as well as other fine examples, and some which illustrate the lowering of standards in the struggle to survive in the years of decline.

Honiton Lace Page Museum Shop Honiton and how to find us
Acquisitions

© Original Web site Design by IN2IT

		Honiton Lace Page Museum Shop Honiton and how to find us Acquisitions
		Opening Times From April until October Up to September 10am - 5pm, Monday to Saturday October only 10am-4pm, Monday to Saturday Address Allhallows Museum, High Street, Honiton, EX14 8PE Telephone 01404 44966

The building has a very interesting history. It is the oldest building in Honiton and started its life as part of a chapel and became a school before it became a museum. The building dates to before 1327 and was built when the folk from the 'new town' got tired of climbing the hill to St. Michael's. They got permission for a chapel in the centre of town and called it All Saints or Allhallows. The first gallery is the chancel of the chapel, which was shortened last century to make room for St. Paul's, which is just outside. About 500 years ago we know that there was a school meeting in the chapel. Allhallows School probably started like many others when the priest wanted choirboys who could sing in Latin. The priest himself would teach them to read and write so that they could sing the hymns and psalms. In 1836, when the building was shortened, it became the schoolroom and also the dining room until other rooms and buildings were added as the school expanded. The first room was furnished as the school chapel and was in use by Allhallows School until 1938 when the school moved away from the town. Fifty years ago the chapel was bought by the townspeople and opened as a museum. The museum has three galleries, the Murch Gallery, the Nicoll Gallery and the Norman Gallery.
The Murch Gallery In this gallery various displays illustrate Honiton in prehistoric times. The bones of the Honiton Hippos, the earliest known dwellers on the site of the town, date back about 100,000 years and were discovered during the building of the bypass. The humans of the stone, bronze and iron ages are represented by models showing them engaged in the dress of their times. There is also a selection of the actual tools which have ben found locally.
Two of the displays are devoted to local industries. Pottery has been made in the town for centuries, particularly by Charles Collard, one of the noted art potters, and there was until recently a working pottery in town. There are displays on two local defunct industries, iron founding and on the extraction and making of whetstone. Other displays deal with such subjects as schools, dress and local affairs.

	The Nicoll Gallery In this gallery you will find displays of the Honiton lace industry, its history and tools of the trade. There is also a display of comparative laces (other than Honiton). An ever popular feature of this gallery are the demonstrations of Honiton lace-making. These are given each day throughout June, July and August. There are occasional demonstrations during September and October.
The Norman Gallery Honiton's lace is the towns most famous product. It has been made here since about 1560. This gallery contains a comprehensive exhibition drawn from our collection which contains representative specimens from1630 onwards. Some of the most superb pieces ever made may be seen, as well as other fine examples, and some which illustrate the lowering of standards in the struggle to survive in the years of decline.