Maritime tales
As a seafaring nation, Britain’s coastline is packed with maritime attractions. Brenda Watkinson looks at some of the many options available to groups.
With an important history on the high seas, Britain boasts a whole host of maritime-themed attractions around the UK – all associated with our colourful maritime heritage.
Maritime museums
The largest maritime museum in the country is The National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, housing a varied collection of exhibits relating to Britain’s extensive naval heritage. One of the most popular galleries is entitled ‘Nelson’, displaying many of his personal items. General admission is free, with guided tours available for an additional charge.
Adjoining the museum, The Queens House holds a collection of maritime art. Admission is free but groups of 10+ should pre-book.
Opposite the National Maritime Museum is the Old Royal Naval College, which was originally built as a hospital. Guided tours of these buildings designed by Sir Christopher Wren can be arranged and include areas not usually open to the public. Entry is free.
Nearby is the Thames Barrier Information and Learning Centre, where a multimedia presentation explains the flood control problems faced by London and shows how the Barrier was designed and constructed. Group talks in the Information Centre can be arranged.
Also in London, the Museum in Docklands tells the story of London’s Docklands. The museum is housed in a group of Grade I listed early 19th century sugar warehouses on the dockside of West India Docks..Groups of 10 or more are advised to pre-book to be eligible for a 20% discount.
Another principal maritime collection can be explored at The National Maritime Museum Cornwall in Falmouth. Set on the harbour-side, the museum looks at the world of small boats and Cornish maritime history. There are many galleries and exhibitions to explore including Waterfront, an opportunity for visitors to try their hand at sailing a radio-controlled boat around a pool. Discounts apply to groups of 10 or more.
Nearby in Devon, although not a museum as such, Living Coasts in Torquay gives an insight into marine wildlife ranging from puffins to fur seals, all living in this recreated natural habitat. Pre-booked groups of 15 or more receive discounts and there is a coach drop-off and pick-up point outside the main entrance, although this must be organised in advance.
Further east, the Southampton Maritime Museum charts the city’s marine development from a small coastal town to a major commercial port. Discounts apply to 10 or more.
Also in Hampshire, Buckler’s Hard is an 18th century village on the banks of the River Beaulieu. The original site was used for shipbuilding, constructing some of the vessels which took part in the Battle of Trafalgar. The Buckler’s Hard Story explores the history of the village, the building of ships for Nelson’s Navy, the role of the River in the D-Day landings and Sir Francis Chichester’s epic round the world voyages. Discounts apply to 10 or more.
In Wales, The National Waterfront Museum in Swansea displays thousands of original artefacts illustrating the history of the industrialisation of the Welsh society over the last 300 years. It is divided into 15 themed galleries, which include one dedicated to the sea. Admission is free.
Further north in Liverpool, the free-entry Merseyside Maritime Museum tells the history of this important port and the people who used it. The Transatlantic Slavery gallery at the museum will close in June, being expanded into a new International Slavery Museum, set to open on 23rd August, the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade in Britain.
Further north in Cumbria, the Dock Museum in Barrow-in-Furness is built over an original Victorian dry dock. It explores the fascinating history of Barrow-in-Furness and how it grew into a major shipbuilding force. Admission is free.
Also in Cumbria, The Beacon in Whitehaven is undergoing a total refurbishment and the main museum floors will be closed until August. The Harbour Gallery will be open until the middle of June, showing the exhibition ‘Legacy’, in commemoration of the bicentenary of the Abolition of Slavery Act. The Beacon will then be completely closed until the end of August when it will reopen.
In Scotland, the Aberdeen Maritime Museum tells the story of the city’s long relationship with the sea. General admission is free.
Also in Scotland, the Scottish Fisheries Museum is situated on the harbour front in Anstruther. The museum tells the story of fishing in Scotland with a collection of over 66,000 items and 18 boats. Discounts apply to 12 or more.
The Scottish Maritime Museum has three sites on the Clyde and its estuary. The largest site at Irvine consists of the historic Linthouse Engine Shop with its collection of items such as boat engines and also the Museum Boatshop where you will find maritime artwork, and ship models. Meanwhile, Clydebuilt at Braehead tells the story of the Clyde shipbuilding industry while the Denny Ship Model Experimental Tank at Dumbarton brings to life the world of this Victorian designer. Special group tours can be arranged outside normal hours at all sites.
Continuing southwards down the east coast of England, the Discovery Museum in Newcastle explores the city’s past from the Romans to the present day. One of the highlights is ‘Turbinia’, one of the fastest ships in the world built in 1894. General admission is free and a range of talks, tours, handling activities, study days and classes can be arranged.
A short drive down the coast, Hartlepool Maritime Experience is a recreation of an 18th Century seaport and is a combination of Hartlepool Historic Quay, ‘HMS Trincomalee’ and the Museum of Hartlepool. Quay staff are dressed according to the period and regular musketry, cannon firing and sword fighting displays are staged. Discounts apply to 10 or more.
Grimsby has a long established connection with fishing. The National Fishing Heritage Centre recalls Grimsby’s maritime history, recreating a typical fishing voyage of the 1950s as well as scenes from the street and home life of old Grimsby. An ex-Grimsby trawler, the ‘Ross Tiger’, is berthed next door. Guided tours of the trawler can be arranged.
More maritime history is told at the Hull Maritime Museum. Hull dominated the Arctic whaling trade in the early 19th century and visitors will discover a fine collection of contemporary paintings of the whaling ships and a large collection of scrimshaw (the folk art of the whaler). Admission is free.
Berthed on the River Hull, the Arctic Corsair was the last of the Hull side-fishing trawlers. Groups of eight or more can book a guided tour by arrangement, led in most cases by a former sea trawlerman.
Also in Hull, moored in the Marina, Spurn Lightship can also be visited. This steel-hulled manned lightship was built in 1927 and served as a navigation aid in the Humber estuary until 1975.
On a marine theme, The Deep in Hull is also worth a visit. Home to over 3,500 fish, discounted rates are available to pre-booked groups.
For those looking to extend a visit to Hull, Shop Ahoy! day trip packages are offered that include a guided tour of the Old Town.
On the south coast, the Shipwreck & Coastal Heritage Centre in Hastings encourages visitors to explore the local ‘maritime park’ shore at low tide, with its two historic shipwrecks and remains of a prehistoric forest. Conducted walks can be arranged to coincide with this. The centre contains a varied collection of maritime artefacts and visitors can also see live radar pictures of shipping in the English Channel.
Housed in an old fisherman’s church in Hastings, the Fisherman’s Museum displays many models, photos, paintings, nets and ropes. Admission is free. Also within the museum, one of the town’s last sailing luggers, ‘Enterprise’, is an ideal setting for talks, which can be arranged for a small charge.
Smuggling secrets
Smuggling is an intriguing part of our maritime heritage and there are a number of attractions that tell the story of this illegal trade.
A labyrinth of tunnels, caverns and passages can be explored at Smugglers Adventure in Hastings. Once used to hide goods smuggled across the Channel, this underground world tells the story of smugglers, bootleggers and warring gangs. Discounts apply to pre-booked groups.
More smuggling heritage can be explored at the Saltburn Smugglers Heritage Centre near Middlesborough. Set in ancient fishermen’s cottages, visitors will discover the story of John Andrew, ‘King of the Smugglers’, who found himself at the centre of the illicit trade over 200 years ago. Group discounts apply.
On the west coast in Liverpool, HM Customs and Excise National Museum at the Albert Docks holds one of the most important collections of its type in the world. However, the history gallery is currently closed for refurbishment. The contemporary section of the museum will remain open until October and then the whole museum will relaunch in 2008 as HM Revenue & Customs Museum. Admission will remain free.
In Cumbria, the Rum Story tells the intriguing story of Whitehaven’s rum trade and is housed in the original offices of wine and spirit merchants, the Jeffersons. Group discounts apply.
Historic dockyards
Britain has a number of historic dockyards where you can discover our shipbuilding heritage.
In Kent, The Historic Dockyard Chatham is the world’s most complete dockyard of the ‘Age of Sail’, from the mid 15th century to the early 19th century. New for this year is the ‘Women at War’ guided tour, which gives visitors a chance to reflect on what it was like to work in the Dockyard during WWII and how women supported the war effort. Discounts apply.
At Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, a major exhibition is marking the Navy’s central role in the Falklands War of 1982. ‘Task Force South: The Royal Navy and the Falklands War’ is running until 29th February 2008 with a full programme of events to support it. The Historic Dockyard’s attractions include the Royal Naval Museum and ‘HMS Victory’. Discounts apply.
On the opposite side of Portsmouth Harbour in Gosport, Explosion! – The Museum of Naval Firepower is set in a former gunpowder and munitions depot. The museum includes a nationally significant collection of guns and naval ordnance and an original 18th century gunpowder vault. Discounts apply to groups of 10 or more. Guided tours of both the museum and the museum’s reserve collections can be arranged.
Also in Gosport, the Royal Navy Submarine Museum tells the story of submarines and the men who sailed and fought in them. Guided tours of the WWII submarine ‘HMS Alliance’ can be arranged and visitors also have the opportunity to learn about the heroic stories of the X24, the only surviving midget submarine. Discounts apply to 10 or more.
In Dartmouth, the Britannia Naval College welcomes groups to book a guided historical tour. The tour includes time on ‘HMS Britannia’ and ‘Hindostan’ before entering the main building.
Also in Devon is Her Majesty’s Naval Base Devonport where several different tours can be arranged.
In Gloucestershire, the Historic Gloucester Docks makes a popular group destination. They are home to The National Waterways Museum, the Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum, an antiques centre, shops and restaurants. Boat trips along the Gloucester-Sharpness Canal can also be arranged.
Famous ships
As well as famous ships berthed at historic dockyards, there are a number of others around the UK.
In the capital, HMS Belfast served throughout WWII. For 2007, HMS Belfast is promoting three new group packages to celebrate the launch of its new audio guides with options such as refreshments and a Blue Badge guided tour included. All groups will receive free audio guides when pre-booking a visit to the ship.
Also in London at Greenwich, the world’s last remaining tea clipper, the Cutty Sark, is currently closed for restoration. The ship is scheduled to re-open in late 2008. However, visitors can still learn about the ship’s fascinating history and the conservation project in a new visitor centre, housed in a pavilion adjacent to the ship.
Meanwhile, in Bristol, Brunel’s engineering masterpiece, the ss Great Britain was the first ship to be powered by a screw propeller. Groups can choose from four audio tours to guide them around the ship. There are discounts for groups of 20 or more on admission with audio tours included.
Moored alongside the ss Great Britain, visitor can also explore the decks of The Matthew, a replica of the ship in which John Cabot crossed the Atlantic and discovered the New World in 1497.
Berthed on the River Tees at Stockton-on-Tees, the HM Bark Endeavour is a full size replica of the Whitby built collier used by Captain Cook on his journeys of exploration. Guided tours can be arranged.
In Edinburgh, the Royal Yacht Britannia is moored in Leith. Visitors can explore the ship and discover how the Queen and the Royal Family lived on board. Group rates apply to pre-booked parties and include an audio guide.
Also in Scotland, Discovery Point in Dundee is home to the Royal Research Ship Discovery and the Discovery Point Antarctic Museum. The ship was used by Captain Scott on his famous voyages to the Antarctic. Discounts apply to groups of 15 or more.
Lighthouses
Lighthouses have also played a part in our maritime history.
Trinity House operates the working lighthouses of England, Wales, the Channel Islands and Gibraltar. It also operates 11 lighthouse visitor centres around the UK including Portland Bill in Dorset. GTOs should contact individual visitor centres to arrange a visit, with a tour of the lighthouse usually incorporated.
In Sunderland, The National Trust’s Souter Lighthouse was the world’s first electric lighthouse. If you have any members unable to climb, there is a closed-circuit TV showing views from the top.
More fantastic views are on offer from the top of another National Trust property, South Foreland Lighthouse, in Kent. Discounts apply to groups of 10 or more with a guided tour included.
Further west along the south coast, Smeaton’s Tower stands proudly on Plymouth Hoe. It offers fantastic views of Plymouth Sound and the city from its lantern room which, along with the rest of the building, has been fully restored. Discounts apply to 5 or more.
The Northern Lighthouse Board operates the working lighthouses in Scotland and the Isle of Man, three of which are open to the public. These are the Mull of Galloway Lighthouse in Stranraer, the North Ronaldsay Lighthouse on Orkney and the Ardnamurchan Lighthouse on the most western outpost of mainland Scotland. All are open to groups by guided tour only and GTOs should contact individual lighthouses to arrange a visit.
In Fraserburgh, the Museum of Scottish Lighthouses consists of the first lighthouse built on mainland Scotland and a purpose-built museum with a collection including glass lenses and lighting technology. Discounts apply to groups of 10 or more with a guided tour of the lighthouse included.