Discover 7 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Ilfracombe (United Kingdom). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Ilfracombe Museum, Landmark Theatre, and Watermouth Castle. Also, be sure to include Chambercombe Manor in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Ilfracombe (England).
Table of Contents
Ilfracombe Museum
Natural history museum, Children's museum, History museum, Museum
Address: Wilder Rd, EX34 8AF Ilfracombe
Landmark Theatre
Theatre in Ilfracombe, England. The Landmark Theatre is a theatre in the North Devon coastal town of Ilfracombe. Of unusual double conical design, it is locally referred to as Madonna's Bra, a reference to its shape and that of an iconic bra worn by the singer Madonna. It was built to replace The Pavilion Theatre, a Victorian building partly destroyed in a fire during the 1980s and later demolished. This theatre, along with the Queen's Theatre, Barnstaple, is managed by the North Devon Theatres' Trust, a registered charity promoting the arts, including dance, drama, literature, music and song, in North Devon.
On Monday 23 January 2017, it was announced that North Devon Theatres Trust had gone into administration. Parkwood Theatres were appointed as a temporary operator until the end of March 2018.
On Friday 23 November 2018, it was announced that Selladoor Worldwide had been awarded a 10 Year Contract to manage the venue.[1]
Address: The Landmark The Promenade, EX34 9BZ Ilfracombe
Watermouth Castle
Building in Watermouth, England. Watermouth Castle is a building in Watermouth, near Ilfracombe, North Devon, England, designed by George Wightwick as a residence for the Bassett family in the mid-19th century and is not a true castle but a country house built to resemble one. It has been designated as a Grade II* listed building.
Located near the shore of the inlet of Watermouth, near Ilfracombe, Devon, the castle houses a collection of Victorian antiques centred on domestic tools and amusement machines, a family theme park and holiday apartments. The Bassetts left the castle in 1945.[2]
Chambercombe Manor
Tourist attraction in Ilfracombe, England. Chambercombe Manor is a Norman manor house located near Ilfracombe, Devon, which dates back to the 11th century and was recorded in the Domesday Book.[3]
Address: Chambercombe Lane, EX34 9RJ Ilfracombe
Bicclescombe Park
Park, Relax in park
Address: Bicclescombe Park Rd, Ilfracombe
Ilfracombe Cemetery
Ilfracombe Cemetery is the burial ground for the town of Ilfracombe in Devon in the United Kingdom. The cemetery is owned and maintained by North Devon Council.
Located on the town's Marlborough Road, the cemetery is 8.88 acres in size and came into operation in 1926, with the first burial taking place on 22 April 1926. The cemetery features a variety of grave types in a mature landscaped setting, including areas for the burial or scattering of ashes and the burial of children. The cemetery has a small chapel where funeral services can be held. The cemetery has 19 war graves from World War II all of which are maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
The cemetery is not to be confused with the older and now abandoned and overgrown Score Woods Cemetery in Ilfracombe.[4]
Verity
Verity is a 2012 stainless steel and bronze statue created by Damien Hirst. The 20.25-metre tall sculpture stands on the pier at the entrance to the harbour in Ilfracombe, Devon, looking out over the Bristol Channel towards South Wales. It has been loaned to the town for 20 years. The name of the piece refers to "truth" and Hirst describes his work as a "modern allegory of truth and justice".
The statue depicts a pregnant woman holding aloft a sword while carrying the scales of justice and standing on a pile of law books. Half of the sculpture shows the internal anatomy of the pregnant woman, with the foetus clearly visible. The stance has been described as a reference to Little Dancer of Fourteen Years by Edgar Degas, a c. 1880 work that previously inspired Hirst when he created Virgin Mother, another massive sculpture of a pregnant woman with her foetus exposed.
The sculpture was cast in stainless steel and bronze in 40 separate sections by the Pangolin Editions foundry in Stroud. The sword, which gives the statue much of its height, and the upper left arm is one fibreglass piece. Measuring 25cm (10 inches) higher than the Angel of the North, Verity became the tallest statue in the UK when it was put into place, but is now surpassed by The Kelpies, near Falkirk, Scotland, at 30 metres (98 ft).
Members of North Devon Council referred to the controversial nature of the statue as a potential boost to tourism. In August 2013 councillors announced that the statue had a "tremendous effect" with people visiting the town solely to see Hirst's work.
Hirst, who lives in Combe Martin, has loaned the statue to the town for 20 years starting from its erection on 16 October 2012.[5]