Whilst visitors enjoy refreshments in the coffee bar they often muse about how it all began. In the best story telling traditions it began a long time ago with my husband's passion for collecting railwayana - an interest that eventually outgrew the house.

The final straw came in 1986 when he purchased a 27-ton railway engine from Falmouth Docks. Not wishing to put it on a preservation line and having no more room in the garden we began hunting for somewhere suitable to house it. By good fortune an old cinema became available near our post office business in St. Marychurch. We took the plunge, sold the shop and now had enormous premises - so how could we fill it and make it pay for itself? We decided to combine our interests in railways and antiques, and invite the public to come and visit our collections. Bygones was born.

Over the next year or so, with the help of an excellent mason, a skillful carpenter and many patient friends we recreated a Victorian street scene. It took much research and a lot of traveling to secure authentic building materials and genuine exhibits but finally, on 23rd May 1987 our doors were opened by the Mayor of Torbay.

http://www.bygones.co.uk/