Bridlington Harbour Heritage Museum

About the museum

Bridlington Harbour Heritage Museum is a small museum run by volunteers in a shop unit on the tourist side of Bridlington harbour. Its displays cover more than 1,000 years of the harbour’s history as a significant port.

The collection includes nautical objects, historic photographs, models of harbour boats and information about seafarers and the fishing fleet. Items from shipwrecks off the Yorkshire coast sit beside material on the Great Gale of 1871, which wrecked many ships, and on the Battle of Flamborough Head in 1779. Other displays recall the Second World War minesweeper HMS Bridlington and a brass propeller from the German submarine UC-39, sunk in 1917. Smaller exhibits cover gansey (fisherman’s jersey) making, local links to Lawrence of Arabia, and seamen’s knots that visitors can practise.

The museum also promotes the sailing coble Three Brothers, built in 1912 by Baker and Percy Siddall and restored for sailing, and video presentations show the restoration. The Bridlington Sailing Coble Preservation Society, formed in 1983, looks after Three Brothers and also owns the cobles Gratitude and Gansey Lass, which can be seen moored in the harbour. Entry is free and donations help to maintain the boats.

Highlights

• Video presentations on the restoration of the sailing coble Three Brothers
• Objects from shipwrecks off the Yorkshire coast
• Material on the Great Gale of 1871 and the Battle of Flamborough Head
• Items from the minesweeper HMS Bridlington
• Traditional sailing cobles moored in the harbour outside

Permanent exhibition

• Bridlington harbour and maritime history – Displays on the harbour’s history as a port, fishing, shipwrecks and the sailing coble Three Brothers.

Founded

1986

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Free entry. Donations are welcome and help to maintain the sailing cobles Three Brothers, Gratitude and Gansey Lass.

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 museum can only be reached on foot. The Heritage Open Days listing describes it as wheelchair accessible but also lists partial wheelchair access.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The museum is on Harbour Road on the harbour and can only be reached on foot.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

A few gifts are for sale, and a donation box is available.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit