Business Details
Scarborough Maritime Heritage Centre - Preserving Yorkshire's Seafaring History
Scarborough Maritime Heritage Centre is a registered charity dedicated to preserving and promoting the maritime history of Scarborough and the wider Yorkshire coast. Established through the efforts of local historians and volunteers, we curate extensive collections of photographs, artefacts, and oral histories documenting over two centuries of seafaring traditions. Our team of 22 dedicated volunteers, aged 20-80, maintain archives, develop exhibitions, and deliver educational programmes for schools and community groups. The Centre houses Britain's first seaside resort heritage collections, fishing industry records, and wartime maritime history.We operate from a purpose-renovated building at 45 Eastborough, offering free public access Wednesday-Sunday 11am-4pm. Our digital archives include over 50,000 vessel photographs and 40+ hours of audio interviews with local seafarers. The Centre actively engages in community projects, including the 'History Box' public exhibition - a 24/7 accessible heritage resource on Scarborough seafront. We collaborate with regional maritime museums and maintain partnerships with local schools through outreach programmes.
Services
Maritime Exhibitions
Historical Archives
Educational Programmes
Oral History Recordings
Community Outreach
Highlights and features
- Free public access to maritime heritage collections since 2016
- Over 50,000 digitised historical vessel photographs available
- 40+ hours of oral history recordings with local seafarers
- Community-led exhibitions developed by experienced volunteers
- Partnership programmes with regional maritime museums
What people say
Knowledgeable volunteers
Interesting exhibits
Family-friendly
Historical value
Friendly staff
Services
Maritime Exhibitions
Our exhibitions showcase Scarborough's maritime heritage through curated displays of ship models, fishing gear, and historical photographs. Visitors explore themes from 19th-century whaling to modern fishing traditions. The Centre features interactive exhibits and rotating displays highlighting specific aspects of local seafaring history.
Historical Archives
We maintain extensive archives including over 50,000 vessel photographs, ship records, and personal accounts from local seafarers. The collection spans from early coble boats to modern trawlers, with specialist sections on wartime maritime history and Scarborough's fishing industry.
Educational Programmes
Tailored educational sessions introduce students to Scarborough's maritime history through object handling, archive exploration, and interactive storytelling. Programmes align with national curriculum requirements and include specific modules on coastal geography and historical seafaring techniques.
Oral History Recordings
Our collection features over 40 hours of recorded interviews with local fishermen, sailors, and maritime workers. These first-hand accounts document working practices, industry changes, and personal experiences spanning multiple generations of Scarborough's seafaring community.
Community Outreach
The Centre delivers community programmes including public lectures, heritage walks, and collaborative projects with local schools. Our 'History Box' initiative provides 24/7 public access to maritime heritage materials through a converted red telephone box on Scarborough seafront.
People
Mark Vesey
Chair
Chair of Trustees with 15+ years' experience in maritime heritage preservation. Former director of regional maritime museums and contributor to BBC Radio history programmes.
Lindy Rowley
Vice Chair
MBE recipient with 30+ years' service to local heritage. Leads volunteer coordination and developed the Centre's award-winning oral history programme. Former teacher with specialist knowledge of maritime education.
John Rushton
Founding Member
Late MBE recipient (1929-2003) who established the Centre's original archive collection. Renowned local historian whose personal collection formed the foundation of our maritime records.
Questions
What are your opening hours?
We're open Wednesday to Sunday, 11am to 4pm. Our History Box exhibit operates 24/7 on the seafront.
Is admission free?
Yes, all exhibitions and archive access are completely free of charge.
Can I volunteer at the Centre?
We welcome new volunteers aged 20+. Roles include visitor接待, archive work, and exhibition development.
Do you have local history resources?
Our archives contain over 50,000 vessel photographs and maritime records dating back to the 1800s.
Is the Centre accessible?
Ground floor exhibitions accessible with narrow doorway (70cm). Archive library downstairs with steps.
Reviews (6)
Emma Chance
Jun 10, 2021
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Found this by accident, saw 1 tiny advert on a lamppost went up to have a look,
The lady and man in the museum were so happy and friendly and very informative and great with our small kids kept them engaged and in fun facts and showed them around , real gem of a place, thankyou for such a friendly informative time great memories and great history
The lady and man in the museum were so happy and friendly and very informative and great with our small kids kept them engaged and in fun facts and showed them around , real gem of a place, thankyou for such a friendly informative time great memories and great history
Shawn Halford
Aug 07, 2020
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I think I was expecting a much larger place with exhibits and things and so was taken slightly aback to walk into a smallish shop. However it soon became clear that the true treasures of the centre are the guys, the volunteers. I used to live on an old firefighting boat in the early seventies and always wondered what had happened to her. Obviously thousands of vessels come through Scarborough and so the guys hadn't heard of her. I returned home slightly disappointed but was contacted a few days later with lots of information about the boat, including photos and I was very happy to hear that she
Cmw
Jan 18, 2020
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Scarborough's only real museum unless you are into geology and then there is the Rotunda museum... The art gallery is also 5 star.
Petter Guldner
Nov 08, 2019
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Enjoyed the visit had a very informative visit the "curator" is very knowledgeable and knows Scarborough my opinion don't walk passed
J. C. P.
Sep 06, 2019
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Fabulous volunteers, took the time to answer all my 10 year olds questions & brought the history of Scarborough to life for her.
David Joyce
Jun 11, 2018
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A small though fantastically informative museum of the history of Scarborough which is staffed by wonderfully knowledgeable volunteers.
