This lovely building houses the Newton Abbot Town Museum. This is where I went today!
I had read that there was to be an exhibition of photographs, taken by none other than the once owner of Bibbings Chemist Shop..now... The Pharmacy Coffee shop ...the place where local bloggers meet!!
The photographs were fascinating. Mr Bibbings was not only a pharmacist but also a keen photographer.
Indeed any photos of the place where you were born and brought up are fascinating because you find yourself standing and reminiscing...'Ah yes I remember that' and 'Wow look at that, see how it has changed!'
There was also another display of photographs, entitled, 'Newton Abbot Then and Now'.
This was equally brilliant !
I took my Mum with me and we were both enthralled.
Newton Abbot Town Museum has a lovely curator called Felicity Cole.She has been there for some years and she works jolly hard to promote the museum. Luckily, she was there today and she was happy for me to take photos for my blog!!
This gets better!
Newton Abbot Town Museum also houses the GWR museum and Felicity then gave us a quick demonstration of how the old signals worked. Apparently the GWR signals were slightly different to others.
And.. better!
I stopped for coffee and cakes at the next display and a journey back to my younger days..
This'll get your mouth watering!
MADGE MELLORS!
Talk to anyone who has visited Newton Abbot in the past and one of the first things they will mention is Madge Mellors! Here's the potted history:
Madge Mellors was THE place to go for tea,coffee,lunch,you name it! And people came from far and wide to visit this famous cafe -restaurant.
It started off as a smaller shop in Queen Street.You can spot it here..see the cafe sign.
And then it expanded..
Most famous for its cakes...and the waitresses in their black and white uniforms.
And the little pink cake boxes ...
You didn't really need reminding to come again..but the sign was there anyway!
After this fab trip to the Town museum,we hurried off to The Pharmacy for coffee....And the Valentine goodies were too good to ignore. I bought the Valentine fudge tarts ;-)
So,if you are in or near Newton Abbot,do go to the Town Museum! It's well worth a visit!
I hope your day was as good as mine ;-)
Hello! Happy Valentines day to you! Thanks for sharing your trip to the museum, it was very interesting. I love the sound of Madge Mellors too, what a great name!
ReplyDeleteKimx
Ah I remember Madge Mellors... yummy cakes of my early childhood, although it closed when I was 6 or 7 I think. Looks like you had a nice day ;-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment on my blog, the photo is indeed Lila Sara Gahar. See you soon xx
Nich xx http://nichgull.spaces.live.com
Well, I can see that you have certainly mastered the art of putting photos into your blog. I love museums. And those hearty tarties (can I call them that?) look delicious. What a lovely husband you have. Mine is not bad either- he made a yummy tea for me while I was at my cello lesson.
ReplyDeleteHi Sal, what a fascinating day you had, I love looking at those then and now photos, I always think the thens look better than the nows, don't you?
ReplyDeletebest wishes,
Lucy x
Forgot to say, I've added you to my sidebar too, just read the Valentine' poem - love it! Thanks for the tag, I'll have to take a raincheck as I don't think I have posted on all those topics yet!
ReplyDeleteLucy x
Hello Sal
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely tour you have provided and Madge Mellors sounds delightful.
I fond memories of Newton Abbot as a child ..driving through on our holidays to Cornwall in the 1960's.
Maybe my mother bought some of Madge Mellor's cakes for the journey. I like to think so..
Have you ever heard of The Drewe Arms in Drewsteignton Devon? It was run by a Mabel Mudge for over 70 years.. another great Devon character.
Have a lovely weekend.
Michelex
Thanks everyone!
ReplyDeleteMadge Mellors was such a treat, especially if you ordered a selection of cakes on a two tiered cakestand...and then fought over the best ones.
Yes, Michele I have heard of the Drewe Arms..didn't know about 'Mabel Mudge' though!
Sal;-)
Hi, thanks for your comment on my blog!
ReplyDeleteYour blog is lovely. I like the look of those valentine fudge tarts!
My mom is English and when Madge Mellors closed she bought a pewter tea pot that is stamped "Madge Mellors" Newton Abbot and gave it to me. I enjoy using it as it keeps the water very hot.
ReplyDeleteWow I never knew that about Madge Mellors - the owners coming from Southport - amazed me because there was actually a lovely cafe in Southport until the turn of this century called .................. Madge Mellors!!! I used to live up there (my mum was a Devonshire lass who married a Liverpudlian and moved back up there after the 2nd WW. I loved Madge Mellors in Newton Abbot when we came down here for holidays and the highlight of a day trip to Southport was always lunch at Madge Mellors - and now I find there is a connection - WOW!!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment Devon 007!
ReplyDeleteWe used to holiday on a farm in dainton near ipplepen and on market day we would go to the market and then to Madge Mellors for a selection of cakes on a two tier cake stand was always a highlight of the week! Thanks for refreshing the memories! Happy days
ReplyDelete