The Burton at Bideford celebrated its 70th birthday in 2021. With its friendly team of staff and volunteers, find out how it has been celebrating, exhibiting and nurturing all kinds of artists since being established on 31 October 1951 by local businessman Thomas Burton, and Hubert Coop, a successful artist.
“The Burton at Bideford is a gallery and museum of international note, in a unique setting of a historic port on the north coast of Devon.”
The Burton at Bideford a community venue
The Burton at Bideford is a community venue for everyone to love and access freely (free admission). It has art galleries, a shop, a French bistro café, museum, workshop rooms for hir. It is Bideford’s tourist information centre.
The building itself was opened to commemorate the sad and untimely death of Burton’s daughter, Mary. She died of cancer in 1949 at the age of just 44. She was a talented artist in her own right and her father wanted the gallery to be a lasting memorial to her.
In a letter to the Bideford Gazette in October 1949, Burton’s friend Coop wrote:
‘It’s a happy chance that two old townsmen have come together to make a last effort to leave the town richer than they found it. The gallery should be a peaceful haven where one may take a quiet look at beautiful things; a gallery for the enjoyment, education and good of all, old and young, inhabitants and visitors – everyone and, as far as one can tell, of lasting credit to the living and those to come…’
The Coop collection
Throughout Coop’s life, he amassed a fine collection of paintings, porcelain and antiques. Because he felt that there was a special appreciation of the arts in Bideford, he left his collection to the town. Provided that it would be ‘properly housed’. The Coop collection now forms the basis of The Permanent Collection.
Coop was instrumental in assisting Thomas Burton (Mayor, Alderman, Freeman of the Borough, and philanthropist) to build the Burton Art Gallery. The architect was Frank Whiting, who also designed Coop’s home on Goats Hill, Northam, overlooking the river. Hubert Coop died in 1953 aged 80. In his obituary in the Bideford Gazette, January 1953, it said:
‘His generosity in connection with the starting of the Burton Gallery will be a lasting reminder..
To find out more about The Burton at Bideford you can visit them online here.
Location:
We’re on Kingsley Road, Bideford, adjacent to Victoria Park.
Our full address is: Burton Art Gallery and Museum, Kingsley Road, Bideford, Devon. EX39 2QQ
Opening times:
Monday – Saturday 10am – 4pm
Sunday 11am – 4pm
Car parking:
Plenty of parking is available opposite the gallery (short stay) and 100 yards away in Riverbank car park (long stay).
