CREDITON Museum’s exhibition for 2025 focuses on life in and around the local area during the Second World War, under the title, “The Home Front: Crediton in World War Two”.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the end of the conflict. The exhibition shows how the town and the surrounding rural area experienced the changes brought about by the war. “It’s a fascinating story,” says Tony Gale of Crediton Museum. “We’ve unearthed lots of information revealing how local people were affected by big nationwide developments.

Susan Sparham, left and Rickie Pawsey, with the model of the Auxiliary Fire Service fireman with John Heal, right, at Crediton Museum. AQ 8354
Susan Sparham, left and Rickie Pawsey, with the model of the Auxiliary Fire Service fireman with John Heal, right, at Crediton Museum. AQ 8354 (Alan Quick, Crediton Courier)

The museum exhibition has a lot of information about the evacuees billeted to Crediton. AQ 8359
The museum exhibition has a lot of information about the evacuees billeted to Crediton. AQ 8359 (Alan Quick, Crediton Courier)

“You can see how much effort they put into dealing with massive challenges – the threat of air raids; the possibility of invasion; food shortages; and the arrival of hundreds of evacuees.

“We’ve discovered the names of many of the local people involved in Civil Defence, the Home Guard, the Women’s Land Army and the WVS.

“If you’ve visited our previous exhibitions, you’ll find we’ve moved things around in the museum, giving more space to our ‘Crediton Collection’ – illustrating several aspects of local history over many centuries. So the exhibition is only part of what we can offer our visitors”.

At the Crediton Museum exhibition launch, from left, Keith Mortimer, Jim King, Chris Tucker, Anne Tucker and David Nation. AQ 8374
At the Crediton Museum exhibition launch, from left, Keith Mortimer, Jim King, Chris Tucker, Anne Tucker and David Nation. AQ 8374 (Alan Quick, Crediton Courier)
Looking at some old images in Crediton Museum. AQ 8363
Looking at some old images in Crediton Museum. AQ 8363 (Alan Quick, Crediton Courier)

And that’s not all: there’s also a new book to accompany the exhibition.

Tony Gale has written “Wardens, Gas Masks and Rural Meat Pies”, going further into all these stories and more.

It includes a surprising amount of information about local people and places during the war. “Wardens, Gas Masks and Rural Meat Pies” will be on sale at the museum, priced at £7.50.

Left, ‘Wardens, Gas Masks and Rural Meat Pies’ is on sale at the museum and right, Madge Bloomer, one of many ‘Land Girls’ who worked on local farms.
Left, ‘Wardens, Gas Masks and Rural Meat Pies’ is on sale at the museum and right, Madge Bloomer, one of many ‘Land Girls’ who worked on local farms. (CAHMS)

The exhibition includes several photos of local Home Guard units.
The exhibition includes several photos of local Home Guard units. (CAHMS)

“The Home Front: Crediton in World War Two” opens on Wednesday, April 9 and runs through to the Autumn.

Opening hours are Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 10am to 4pm; and Saturday 11am to 2pm. As in previous years, admission is free but donations are very welcome.