While on holiday on our way back to the haven park after visiting Kent’s cavern in Torquay, as it was raining hard we wanted somewhere to go inside we had a leaflet for the house of marbles in Bovey Tracey which is free to visit and also the parking was free. The House of marbles contains three different museums, the games museum, marble museum, and the pottery museum.
Upon entrance you go into the main shop with all different glassware for sale, at the bottom is what is the marble museum, there are four large marble spheres, around the room are three displays of metal marble runs, you just press a button and watch the marbles go around these, they are great to watch and can be mesmerizing. in the displays are also different types of marbles and information about the history of marbles and even some American gob stoppers that are very highly detailed. You then go into the Games museum in which there are lots of display cabinets with all old games from over the years as well as some glass wares and marbles again. on the main wall are loads of pinball machines.
From this end you can goto into Teigh Valley glass works which is just at the end of the shop selling the glass works, from paper weights to vase’s etc. you can go up the stairs and watch glassware being made. there is loads of information on the production of glass blowing and explanations of the workshop which is very informative.
The other end of the main shop is the pottery museum, this has displays of all different types of pottery and information with a main model in the middle of the room of an old pottery work, also in the display cabinet are great models of different parts of the pottery making process. In the shop there are steps going up to the second floor and on that wall is a very large metal marble run, at the top of the stairs on the balcony are seats so you can watch the great marble run, which is very detailed and great to watch but is very noisy. the kids and even myself did enjoy watching this.
The shop does have all different items on sale from marble, glassware, pottery clothes and even furniture, though we didn’t buy anything as some of the glassware was a bit steep for us. It is a great place to visit and being free is a bonus, I would have even paid a few pounds to see the museums are there are loads to look at especially the marble runs. If you are around that area I would recommend a visit as you could spend hours looking at the displays and the metal marble run sculptures. Outside is even a games garden with large games for both adults and children to play though unfortunately the day we went the weather wasnt that good as was at times torrential rain so we didn’t go outside, there is a nice restaurant there as well. for more details see the official website www.houseofmarbles.com
[pe2-gallery album=”aHR0cDovL3BpY2FzYXdlYi5nb29nbGUuY29tL2RhdGEvZmVlZC9iYXNlL3VzZXIvMTA0ODcxNjc4MzIxOTY4NTAxMTY4L2FsYnVtaWQvNTczNzIwODcxNzc5OTQzMTgyNT9hbHQ9cnNzJmFtcDtobD1lbl9VUyZraW5kPXBob3Rv”]