Museum of… The Abingdon Collection, Omagh

The Abingdon Collection is next to the home of its owner, Philip Faithfull, four miles from Omagh in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland.

The private museum displays Faithfull’s personal collection, which he has built up over 50 years. Its main focus is classic cars and motorcycles, as well as military paraphernalia. “My collecting passion began as a 14-year-old boy, when I was given a bayonet found in a loft,” says Faithfull. He now has 7,500 items on display.

The museum was opened to the public in 2006. “Over the years, extensions have provided additional space, but also an excuse to buy more items for display,” Faithfull says.

“As the collection is open by appointment only, I can take each group through a short journey in time,” Faithfull says. To that end, the museum is divided into four areas: the military museum, separate rooms dedicated to the 1950s and 1970s, and an outdoor display area. As well as cars, the period rooms show early televisions, jukeboxes, clothing and petrol pumps, with a number of US objects. A second world war section contains German military artefacts, including more than 100 uniforms and 300 bayonets. Visitors are encouraged to touch the exhibits.

“The stories generated by items from both world wars provide the most poignant experience for visitors,” Faithfull says. He singles out the uniforms, cap, decorations and letters home of a young German cavalry officer who died in Poland in 1944, and items celebrating the life of a Canadian sergeant born in Ballyclare, Northern Ireland, who died from a wound inflicted in France on one of the last days of the war.

The museum is primarily managed by Faithfull and his wife, but volunteers are on hand for large group visits.

“There is no income available for the collection without giving up ownership,” Faithfull says. He has not received grants or loans, but the local authority has helped with marketing the venue. In lieu of an admission charge, visitors are asked to donate to Cancer Research UK and the collection has raised thousands of pounds for the charity over the years.

Sticky moment

As the display space is virtually at capacity, Faithfull says any additional items he buys can pose problems. Large groups of visitors can also cause issues given the limited space. With regard to the upkeep of the collection, Faithfull says: “Cars need to be cleaned, polished and washed down, which, in freezing conditions, is never pleasant.”

“The age of the private museum may be under threat, but nothing beats the thrill of the chase and capture of a unique item, and the ability to spot a market trend that will reap rewards,” says Faithfull. He encourages people to acquire items that have the potential to become collectable in the future.

Around 1,500 people visit each year.

“The future is difficult to predict, but I can say that new exhibits will come through the door and I will still have no place to put them,” says Faithfull. “An extension to the premises is being talked about, but it is difficult to justify that financially.”