Torre Abbey has just launched a virtual tour of the house and gardens thanks to £7,000 funding from South West Museum Development Recovery Grants scheme. The digital tour allows people to fully immerse themselves in the Abbey’s history, discovering its collections and exploring the surrounding grounds.
It is hoped that the tour will give people a taster of what to expect before they visit Torre Abbey, whilst also providing access to those who may not be able to physically come to the museum in person. This might include people in care homes, hospitals, prisons, schools (in particular those with vulnerable pupils) and those with limited mobility.
A virtual tour will also be useful for those with additional needs, for whom seeing the space and what to expect before they arrive can alleviate any anxieties they may have about visiting somewhere new.
Although we conceived this project before the global pandemic, the lockdowns have shown us that it is more vital than ever that people should be able to access art and culture without barriers. In the past, Torre Abbey has won the Accessible Tourist Attraction of the year and we are always striving to find new ways to ensure that what we have to offer can be enjoyed by everyone.
We have worked with local filmmaker, Danny Cooke to create the tour and we encourage people to explore the house and gardens and discover some fun things along the way. Some artefacts can be clicked on to reveal more information, whilst we have also hidden a few films that can be watched as well.
In the future, we will be organising some virtual treasure hunts using the brand-new software, including something very special for the International Agatha Christie Festival in September. Watch this space…