Barmouth Sailors' Institute

About the museum

Barmouth Sailors' Institute was founded in 1890 by Canon Edward Hughes, the Rector of Barmouth, as a meeting place for seafarers and their families. Institutes of this kind were common in coastal communities in the late nineteenth century, when local coastal trade declined with the arrival of the railways and many sailors took berths on deep-sea ships from large ports. Families used the institute to follow the long voyages of their relatives in publications such as Lloyd's List.

The timber building has a reading room, where daily newspapers and magazines can be read, and a billiard room, where team snooker competitions were held. A set of sea charts dating from 1823, some with voyages marked on them, is kept in a wall cabinet. Photographs and artefacts on display show Barmouth's maritime heritage.

Because of its timber construction the building fell into disrepair, and volunteers rescued it in 1982 with funding from the Prince's Trust. A full restoration followed in 2005, returning it as close as possible to its appearance in 1890. The institute is a registered charity with full accreditation as a museum. Its volunteers also look after Tŷ Gwyn, a medieval building near the quay that houses the small Bronze Bell Museum about a ship wrecked off the coast in 1709, and Tŷ Crwn, a round lock-up built in 1833.

Highlights

• Restored 1890 timber sailors' institute on The Quay
• Reading room with daily newspapers and magazines
• Photographs and artefacts on Barmouth maritime history
• Sea charts from 1823 in a wall cabinet
• Free entry; Tŷ Gwyn and Tŷ Crwn nearby

Permanent exhibitions

• Maritime heritage displays – Photographs and artefacts on Barmouth's maritime heritage in the reading room, together with sea charts from 1823 and material about the history of the institute.
• Bronze Bell Museum at Tŷ Gwyn – A volunteer-run display above Davy Jones Locker in Tŷ Gwyn with artefacts from the 1709 wreck of a Genoese ship, the history of the building and historic photographs of Barmouth.

Founded

1890

Operated by

Barmouth Sailors' Institute (registered charity)

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission is free. Anyone can join the institute as a member for £10 a year to help preserve the building.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The building is described as disabled friendly, but the front door has a step and is not suitable for wheelchairs. The rear fire access can be used when the gate at the bottom is unlocked.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The institute is on The Quay in Barmouth.

Amenities & dining

The reading room has daily newspapers and magazines for visitors to read.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit