Iconic Devon attraction has closed for good

Dingles Fairground Museum has now closed for good after more than 20 years in Devon. In a final farewell to visitors, the attraction said it was "gutted to be closing".

The closure was first announced in March, when the museum's owner, the Fairground Heritage Trust, said it saw "no viable path to continue to operate in Devon". The trustees said that this was down to a limited opening season, its remote location near Lifton and a "scattered" local population, as well as looming cost increases as its lease was about to expire.

At the time, the trust said in a statement on its website: "A large number of factors have combined to force the trustees to take this very difficult decision. Since the pandemic, it is increasingly clear that with a limited season, a remote site and a scattered, rural local population the site is not viable as a stand-alone single-product museum attraction.

"In addition, we have long-benefitted from favourable rents and, as our lease is due to expire shortly, that will inevitably lead to further cost increases. This, taken together with aforementioned reasons, we can see no viable path to continue to operate in Devon."

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Dingles closed for the last time on Saturday, November 2 and issued an emotional farewell on its Facebook page, thanking visitors for their support. The bulk of the fairground collection is now being moved to Statfold Country Park near Tamworth. The remainder of the items will be moved into storage in the hopes that it can be exhibited at museums elsewhere in the future.

It comes after yesterday's announcement that Flambards in Cornwall is also closing permanently.

A post on the Dingles Fairground Museum's Facebook page on Saturday said: "The Fairground Museum (Dingles) has now closed for good. We would like to thank all our visitors and friends for your support over the past years .

"So many people have put their heart and soul into building the place up into what it has become over the past 20 years. We are gutted to be closing .

"We are incredibly proud of what we have achieved. Our wonderful, friendly team have enjoyed entertaining you, celebrating with you and helping you, our visitors of all ages have fun.

"The collection will move to a more central location, Statfold Country Park, Tamworth, Staffs. It will be housed in a purpose-built museum building , in a country park setting with nature trails.

"There is a choice of cafes, narrow gauge railway, soft play barn, retro roller disco, mini golf, free parking and caravan and motorhome facilities . An approx 3hr 15 min drive from Exeter, 3 hrs by Rail from Exeter direct to Tamworth. Statfold is 3 miles by bus."

In a further post on Sunday (November 3), the museum wrote: "The Dingles team had an amazing last day yesterday and would like to say thank you to all our visitors, many of you we have come to know so well, for all your support over the last few years. We will miss seeing you smile, hearing you laugh (and scream) and being part of making your happy memories.

"Our part in caring for and sharing our vintage fairground now ends, but we wish the Fairground Heritage Trust and Statfold Country Park very success ensuring this wonderful part of our cultural heritage survives for future generations. Hold on tight, lean to the right and no bumping."