TWO new exhibitions at Newton Abbot Museum throw fresh light on the area’s commercial past and they are free to visit throughout August. 

Take a step back in time to explore the high street over the last century at High Street 100 and learn about the incredible history and restoration of the Stover Canal at The Stover Canal Trust exhibition.

To celebrate 25 years since restoration of the Stover Canal began, The Stover Canal Trust has partnered with Newton Abbot Museum to display models, photographs and artefacts to illustrate some of the structure’s 236-year history.

It began life in 1792 as a means of transporting ball clay from the Kingsteignton quarries to Teignmouth and the wider world.

It was later pressed into action to also carry rock from Haytor Quarry following construction of the granite railroad in 1820.

The Templer family was behind both ventures and the canal continued to be worked by other owners until the mid 20th century when its banks burst, flooding the adjacent clay pits.

It has never been fully re-watered since.

‘It was pioneering early canal building, 1792 is very early for canals, certainly in the west country,’ said Stover Canal Trust Member Graham Walker.

Although volunteers maintain the locks, basin and other infrastructure, hopes of one day seeing water filling the canal’s entire length are slim.

‘The Environment Agency look upon the canal as a secondary drain to the River Teign so when it floods and can’t go through Teign Bridge it comes across the meadows and down the canal,’ said Society Chairman Paul Taper.

‘The canal is part of Kingsteignton’s history, the clay works have been a major employer for the village for hundreds of years.

‘What we’re trying to create today is a linear country park between Stover and Newton Abbot and hopefully people will come and see the exhibition then join us in the Society as we always need more volunteers.’

Upstairs in the community rooms the other exhibition takes a look at 100 years of the High Street and its changing retail scene.

‘This was all inspired by the centenary anniversary of the Austins Department Store in March,’ said Curator Dr Charlotte Dixon.

‘A lot of the artefacts were in our stores and had never been on display before, other objects have come in as loans such as an amazing recipe board which was rescued from Madge Mellor’s café when the building was being renovated.

‘I love all of the exhibits but in particular the glass eyes from optician Eubulus Williams. We also have an evening suit from Pethybridge’s department stores on display, and objects from other big names such as Ridgways, Rockheys, Badcocks, Bibbings Pharmacy and a Mid Devon Advertiser newspaper from 1926.

‘We’ve got 17,000 objects but not enough space to display them, let’s be able to more with them,’ said Dr Dixon.

The exhibitions run until August 31.

The museum is open Tuesday - Friday 9:30am-4:30pm and Saturday 9:30am -1:30pm, entry is free.