SALCOMBE Maritime Museum has been able to ‘stand on their own two feet’ this year after generous grants and donations.

Salcombe Maritime Museum holds a treasure trove of models, painting, photographs and artifacts that tell the story of Salcombe’s links to the sea from ancient times up to the Second World War.

Due to interest in their recent displays ‘Salcombe at War’ and ‘The Salcombe Lifeboat Disaster’, as well as generous donations and grants, the museum have been able to support themselves for the first time in years.

Roger Barrett, chairman of Salcombe Maritime Museum, said: ‘Over the last few years our landlords, Salcombe Town Council, have kindly given us an annual grant to help offset the commercial rent we pay, but this year we can afford to “stand on our own two feet”.

‘We do need to attract more visitors, though, if we are to maintain our healthy financial position and we also need to recruit more volunteers to help keep the museum open every day between 1st April and 31st October each year.’

As most of their visitors are holidaymakers, the museum is hoping to attract more local people to view their collection by offering free entry to local residents in the TQ7 and TQ8 postcodes doing the first week of the open season this year, Saturday, April 1, to Friday, April 7.

‘Our normal charge is £2 for adults, 50p for young people under 18 and children under 12 free’ continued Roger. ‘We are hoping that once local people see what we have to offer, they will help “spread the word”.’

Other special attractions for 2017 will be a new touchscreen kiosk with pictures and videos about Salcombe’s fascinating maritime history and also a special centenary exhibition entitled ‘The U-boat War off the South Hams coast 1915-18’. To find out more, visit the website: www.salcombemuseum.org.uk