Research Projects

Torquay Marble Industry

Research is ongoing into the origins of Torquay’s Marble Industry, and one that has been much overlooked. There are little or no publications regarding this area of Torquay’s history, and industry that played an important part in the life of Torquay with more than 6-7 companies operating and one which employed a significant number of people locally.

Fijian Collection

Torquay Museum holds a small, but varied and important collection of Fijian artefacts from 19th century Fiji. Various collectors has important positions on Fiji during the time of it being a British colony. Museum has published one article about this collection in the Journal of Museum Ethnography. and is currently working with Cambridge University, the University of East Anglia and Sainsbury Centre on the Fijian Art Research Project, sponsored by the AHRC to research Fijian collections in UK regional museums.

Kent’s Cavern

The museum is involved in and actively encourages research into all aspects of research at Kent’s Cavern. This includes: research into the documentary history of the cave (with Paul Petit and Mark White); research into the excavation process of the cave (Joyce Lundberg and Don McFarlane); re-dating of the homotherium teeth from the cave (Joyne Lundberg and Don McFarlane); and on-going research into the dating and analysis of KC4, the UKs oldest modern human specimen.

Local Roman Sites

Ongoing research into local Roman Sites including the Hook Hill Roman Burial site, Rocombe Farm occupation site (supported by Devon Archeological Society); and potential research regarding a late Roman coin hoard found on the border of Torbay Unitary Authority.