Dartmouth Museum occupies a ground floor of the Butterwalk, a remarkable row of four merchant's houses built in the 1630s. The first floor is carried on granite columns and carved wooden beams, creating the covered walk that gives the row its name — a practical shelter from the Devon rain for the merchants who traded here. The museum inside covers the maritime history of the town and the Dart estuary: ship models, charts, navigation instruments, and material from the town's long involvement with exploration and the Royal Navy.
The Butterwalk itself is the most architecturally distinctive building in Dartmouth, and the carvings on the timber framing reward a close look. The row survived a Second World War bombing raid that damaged much of the surrounding street. Take time to look at the carved decoration on the first floor before going in — it is one of the best examples of early 17th century domestic architecture in Devon.