SOME of Stover Country Park’s forgotten history is being explored in a free summer exhibition at Newton Abbot Museum.

Among the artefacts on display are Edwardian ice skates and photos of Queen Elizabeth II at the 1952 Royal Agricultural Show which was held in the grounds.

It was Her Majesty’s first major public engagement following her accession to the throne and the event attracted thousands of visitors.

Stover House was built in the 1780s by businessman James Templer whose family would also develop Haytor Quarry, Stover Canal and the granite railroad that runs between the two sites.

The lake and other features were designed to impress visitors.

Since 1932 the house has been the location for the privately run Stover School, just outside the boundary of the park which was acquired by Devon County Council in 1979.

All the material in the exhibition has been uncovered by museum volunteers whose finds will be included in a new app for Stover visitors.

The subjects covered include the school, war and plants.

Rediscovering Stover Country Park runs until August 30 and has been prompted by the huge Restoring Stover Park project, made possible by a grant of £2,084,600 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and awards from several other organisations.

Stover’s Community Engagement Officer Eve Malster asked Museum Curator Dr Charlotte Dixon to embark on the collaborative project as part of the bigger programme.

‘It’s a great pleasure to be involved in Stover’s evolving story and I must congratulate our volunteers for the brilliant job they have done in discovering so much of its history,’ said Dr Dixon.

‘The exhibition is really worth a visit and is, like almost all our events, free of charge.’

Recent work carried out at Stover includes an extension of the visitor centre, creation of a new community workshop, de-silting of Stover Lake, re-establishment of a section of the Serpentine Lake and conservation of the granite gatehouse.

By the autumn there will be new walking routes open to the public.