Archives

Dartmouth is rich in history with much recorded on documents in the Museum and elsewhere. There are also many paintings, prints and supporting photographs; all are held and catalogued and are conserved in carefully controlled environmental conditions in rooms in the Butterwalk premises.

In the Museum reading rooms can be found information on family history and the story of the buildings including family houses in the town. If your interest is in World War II there are many photographs and some film of the era including the part played by the clandestine Royal Navy 15th Motor Gunboat Flotilla that delivered agents to France and rescued airmen from there. Back in the Civil War General Fairfax fighting for Parliament relieved Dartmouth of the King’s soldiers in 1646 and the Museum holds a transcript of his report on the operation. 

The Triangular Trade with Newfoundland and Portugal went on for centuries and in the early 20th Century the Britannia Royal Naval College was built, to become one of the best known locations in the Country. To have been trained at Dartmouth is the proud boast of many Naval Officers from Countries across the world. Dartmouth Museum has archive documents and photographs of the development of Officer training on the River Dart from the arrival of two large sailing warships in 1863. All this and so much more is available for research and browsing by visitors and particularly by Museum members who can learn how to use the digital catalogue and find their own information.