Initially proposed by Sir Stafford Northcote as a practical memorial to Prince Albert, an appeal fund was launched in 1861 and the first phases of the Royal Albert Memorial Museum were completed by 1868. The Devon and Exeter Albert Memorial, as it was originally known, provided an integrated museum, art gallery, library, reading room, school of art and school of science in the manner long advocated by Prince Albert. The Ceramics, Glassware, Silver and Metalwork displays are an amazing collection of objects from around the world, including the Amazon, New Zealand, Tibet and Palestine. There is an Egyptian tomb, a recently commissioned totem pole and items from William Bligh’s second voyage. The Clocks and Watches Gallery features West Country clock makers and charts the development and social history of the English watch. The Archaeology Gallery features local prehistoric finds and tells the story of the Roman conquest of the area.