A treasure-trove of Sidmouth artefacts has been saved from 'the bin' to be displayed at Sidmouth Museum.

The Sid Vale Association has received a collection of items from the Knowle building as part of East Devon District Council's move to a new HQ in Honiton.

Very early aquatints, black and white prints, watercolours, two historic fireplaces, hand-drawn maps and building plans were included in the stash of Sidmouth items.

"The collection is a brilliant snapshot of Sidmouth's past," said the SVA's map collection manager Ken Robertson.

"The maps, which date back to 1978, are not just lines on a page they tell a story of expansion. Many of the maps show plans to expand the town and lay out where new buildings would be built.

"The electoral ward maps illustrate how politics and the area's electorate have changed, or have not changed as the case may be."

Included in the haul are aquatints and black white prints, dating from between 1816 and 1826, by Henry Haseler and the original hand-drawn plans used to convert the Knowle building into Knowle Hotel.

SVA chairman Richard Thurlow said: "We're very pleased to receive EDDC's disposals from Knowle House.

"It's all very interesting stuff and we're exceptionally pleased to get the two fireplaces from Knowle Cottage and also the plans for Knowle Hotel as they were created by prominent Sidmouth architect RW Sampson.

"These artefacts would probably have been dumped so we are pleased to have saved them from the bin."

The artefacts will soon be appearing at Sidmouth Museum, for more information on the museum and its exhibits please click the big red button below.

Picture One: (l to r) SVA committee members Ken Robertson, Richard Thurlow, Deborah Robertson and Ann Tanner.

Picture Two: Just some of the artefacts rescued by the SVA.