Sidmouth phone boxes become ‘micro museums’

Two red telephone boxes in Sidmouth's Market Square have become "micro museums".

Sidmouth School of Art, working with Sidmouth Town Council, has refurbished them to create two new art spaces.

Restored, sanded and repainted with lighting and new signage, one has been named "The Museum of Antiquities" with the other called "The Museum of Contemporary Art".

Each will house exhibitions that change several times a year through a variety of collaborations.

The first exhibition in The Museum of Antiquities phone box is a collaboration with Sidmouth Toy and Model Museum.

Children enjoying the puppets (Sarah Hall)

Dubbed "From Wonky Donkeys to Pelham Puppets", it features a range of original handmade and hand painted Pelham Puppets which are part of the Sidmouth Toy and Model Museum collection.

Originally created by Bob Pelham, known as the "Wonky Donkey Officer" for the toys he made during the Second World War, the puppets were made in Marlborough, Wiltshire where Bob first operated as Wonky Toys before establishing Pelham Puppets in 1947. 

Made through the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, the puppets became world renowned with many popular children's TV characters having their own licensed Pelham Puppet version.

Sidmouth School of Art has been in contact with David Leech, the official biographer of Bob Pelham.

David, who has provided images to help create the backdrop for the puppets said: "Although Pelham Puppets are no longer produced, Bob Pelham's legacy lives on through the lives and work of many professional puppeteers today."

Ian Gregory of Sidmouth Toy and Model Museum added: "It is perfect timing for this new exhibition of traditional toys that evoke so many memories, to open at the start of Sidmouth Folk Festival as we are simultaneously partnering with the festival, Little Seeds Music and Sidmouth CofE Primary School to create a series of new songs inspired by toys of the past."

Meanwhile, The Museum of Contemporary Art phone box's first exhibition is a collection of plasticine head sculptures named Holiday Makers of Sidmouth made by artist-sculptor Wilfrid Wood.



Wilfrid Wood with his Holiday Makers of Sidmouth piece in Market Square phone box (Sidmouth School of Art)

A photograph of the new artwork is also on display at Sidmouth Wallspace, the outdoor gallery above the Ham East car park. 

Based in London, Wilfrid Wood is well known for his satirical sculptures in papier-mache, polymer clay or plasticine which are commissioned and exhibited around the world. Wilfrid trained in graphics before working building latex heads for the satirical TV show Spitting Image in the 1980s.

Coco Hodgkinson, Sidmouth School of Art's Artistic Director said: "Working on the telephone boxes in the market square has generated a lot of interest with people wondering what they will be used for and expressing their delight that they are being cared for, smartened up and used in a creative way. 

"People have shared their memories of making calls from them, meeting people at them and yes seeing how many people can fit in them!"

Designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, Sidmouth's telephone boxes are the K6 model, constructed in cast iron with a concrete base, and were commissioned by the General Post Office in 1935 to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of the coronation of King George.