The Timehouse Totnes: Have you visited yet? 

If you’re local to Totnes or a regular visitor to the high street you’ve likely walked past the shop Narnia Totnes many times. Many of you have stepped inside this interesting emporium of vinyl, art, and other film and musically-themed gifts but for whatever crazy reason there are still many of you who haven’t.

Why is that? Don’t you like cool stuff? I’m talking to you, the three librarians from Totnes Library. You know who you are!

If you haven’t stepped foot inside the shop then you most definitely haven’t visited The Timehouse which lies beyond a very normal door (not a wardrobe of any sort), transporting you into the creative mind of artist Julie Lafferty and, in part, into the world of Florence Swift as she travels through space and time.

More on Florence in a bit.

The Timehouse not only transports you through space and time; you’ll also encounter otherworldly characters and locations as you explore this unique and ambitious art installation at your leisure. Allow around 90 minutes to immerse yourself in the experience but more importantly, come with an open mind and you’ll be rewarded with a sensory delight.

Art: It’s alright not to understand something, isn’t it? 

Let me get this bit out of the way. You’ll never hear me say things like, “Conceptualise,” or any other fancy term to describe what I experienced in the Timehouse. One, because I aint that sort of writer and two, I think using arty phrases could create a barrier between you, the slightly above average (is that being generous?) lover of art, music and film who reads the Totnes Pulse, and the installation itself which is very ambitious but not out of reach of anyone with a bit of creative curiosity.

I realised quickly that it was okay not to fully understand what I was experiencing. As a writer, I’m usually on the lookout for threads or clues that help tie everything up nicely so I don’t have to overthink for a decade but I knocked that idea on the head as I made a very conscious decision to enjoy the moment rather than try to figure anything out.

This took a huge weight off my shoulders and meant I could enjoy it more because it stopped being a puzzle I needed to complete.

The exhibition is split into chapters, which are different rooms easily located throughout the building as you follow the signs. The building is much larger than you might expect and about as quirky as they come. But I wouldn’t expect anything less from Totnes.

And wow, creator Julie Lafferty has packed so much detail into this space it’s difficult to know what to look at next. And when I say detail I’m talking about the amount of props (pictures, tea cups, aliens, clocks and a thousand other objects) that bring the various spaces to life. Your visual senses are not the only ones stimulated throughout because the music used is so interesting and really helps to individualise each chapter.

A Chat with Julie Lafferty. 

After exiting Chapter 4 where I was provided with a warm glass of mint tea – I’m not going to lie, it was flipping delicious! – and a small vegan chocolate, I wandered out into a quiet stylised courtyard with comfy seats and a water-feature babbling away in the corner.

I was soon joined by Julie Lafferty who kindly took some time out to sit and discuss the Timehouse Museum and how it all came together. “People call it the Timehouse Museum but that’s not correct,” Julie said. “It’s the Time Traveller’s Museum. The characters created it to keep all their stuff in.”

Remember the name Florence Swift from earlier? She is one of the time travellers and throughout the chapters, you’ll see boards fixed to the wall providing snippets of her adventure which you can follow if, like me, you enjoy a thread of storytelling along the way to keep you grounded.

I asked Julie what the Timehouse needs from the community to thrive and continue because at the end of the day, Julie has self-funded the work and once you see it you’ll appreciate the level of time, thought and commitment that’s gone into creating the experience. “We’d love to have more people coming through the doors on sunny days rather than just when it’s raining. Last week we were averaging 80 visitors a day but once the sun returns it’s significantly less.”

This got us thinking about the number of local people who have not yet visited and what the reasons might be. Could it be a financial issue? Ticket prices: Adult £8.90, Student £6.90, Child £4.90 and Family £24.90. It’s half price on Thursdays and I think it’s important to note there’s been no price increase in the five years it’s been open.

A cinema ticket is a similar price but you don’t get a free choccy and a delicious glass of mint tea.  And the sensory stimulation of course!

As Julie and I discussed the possibilities, two ladies, Sue and Sarah from Newton Abbott who I promised to give a shout-out to, were visiting the Timehouse after a recommendation from a friend and they were having a great day. “It’s really special,” they both said before complimenting Julie on the level of detail that had gone into the rooms.

Do you know what Totnes has to offer?

Could there be another reason why locals haven’t visited yet? I recently spoke to someone who didn’t know St Mary’s church held music events. “How long have you lived here?” I asked. “Over ten years,” they replied. I just shook my head in disbelief. How can that be? I mean, in ten years they haven’t even stumbled across a live gig by mistake!

Maybe it’s our job at the Totnes Pulse to highlight these amazing events and places and it’s all of our responsibility to go and visit them. And talk about it. Sue and Sarah from Newton Abbott proved word of mouth is still vital for small businesses and unique art installations like The Timehouse so, whenever possible, share your experiences with friends and family. Don’t wait for a rainy day – visit today. Take a friend. When did you last say, “I went to a Time Traveller’s Museum today?”

Doesn’t that sound like fun?