HOW the coming of the railway more than 150 years ago influenced work and play in Crediton is part of a fascinating exhibition staged by Crediton Area History and Museum Society and held over both floors of Crediton’s Old Town Hall on the High Street.

The major part of the exhibition at the Museum and Heritage Centre is the ground floor. The Society was delighted to acquire mannequins which meant it could show how a VAD nurse might have looked during World War One.

Militaria enthusiast Peter Reed from Crediton has lent the uniform of a Royal Artillery officer from that era. Mavis Monaghan made the outfits for the nurse and an evacuee boy who would have arrived during the last World War.

She dressed the 1950s holidaymaker, then there is the couple having tea who have given their name to the exhibition and visitors will find out why there is a name plate for your newspaper, the "Crediton Courier" high up on the wall.

Opening the exhibition John Heal, Society chairman, said there were a great many people to thank for lending pieces, making things and staging the exhibition.

He said the "leading lights" were Cheryl Lewis and Helena Sykes plus others who used their skills and knowledge and time to make for and to stage the exhibition. Also Colin Sykes and Mavis Monaghan.

He also thanked the individual and corporate Friends of Crediton Museum. Cheryl added that it had taken months and months to plan, work beginning while last year’s exhibition was up.

She also said if anyone was prepared to act as stewards they would be welcome and should call at the exhibition to chat to someone there.

Someone there pointed out that it would have taken probably at least an hour-and-a-half 150 years ago to get to Exeter from Crediton by horse or coach, the train meant the journey was about 20 minutes and you would arrive to a place that was not muddy and was dry.

John Heal added: ”Some of the Crediton buildings are made from Torbay lime stone, which would have been brought by train. Granite for the doorsteps and walls would have come on a colossal journey by cart from Dartmoor, by train it was relatively easy.

"Casualties during World War One would have come by train so much more comfortable and easy to get them nearer home.

"The coming of the railway would have affected just about every part of life.”

When you go, spend time on the small things as well as the big, there are buttons, a GWR inkwell lent by Tiverton Museum, even the station cat is there and do read the snippets on the Out and About panel and the book of bits.

There are the names of people who had travelled in various ways or worked on the railway and there is a competition for children. You do not have to be a railway buff to be fascinated by this exhibition at Crediton Museum and Heritage Centre.

The exhibition is open 10am to 4pm Wednesday to Friday and 10am to 1pm on Saturdays.

Philip Hawkins who lives in Dawlish reproduced copies of his picture "Crossing at Crediton" especially for the exhibition. He even delivered it to the Museum which has details if anyone wishes to contact him to buy a picture.