Hastings Fishermen's Museum

About the museum

The museum stands on the shingle beach at Rock-a-Nore, in the old fishing quarter of Hastings. The land was created by wooden groynes built in the 1830s and 1840s, and fishermen put up tall, narrow net shops on it to store their gear. About 39 of these Grade II* listed sheds survive and are unlike buildings found in other fishing towns. Part of the site had been used from 1839 by the Customs service to break up boats seized from smugglers.

The building itself went up in 1853 and 1854 as a mission church, because local church leaders worried about the lives of the fishing community and wanted a place of worship close to the beach. It closed in 1939 and was taken over for wartime storage. In 1956 it opened as the Fishermen’s Museum. It is a listed building, and the Old Hastings Preservation Society looks after it under a lease from the borough council. An extension in 2001 added gallery space and an audio-visual presentation.

Inside, the main attraction is the deck of the Enterprise, built in 1912 and the last sailing lugger of Hastings. Around it are photographs, paintings, model boats and tools of the trade, and a new display from the society’s archive follows the history of navigation and fish-finding instruments. Outside, boats stand in the open air, including examples cut in half, and visitors can look into one of the net shops.

Highlights

• Deck of the lugger Enterprise, built in 1912, the last sailing lugger of Hastings
• Photographs, paintings and model boats of the Hastings fishing fleet
• Display of navigation and fish-finding instruments from the Iron Age to modern devices
• Outdoor boat display and a Grade II* listed net shop to look inside
• Young’uns’ area with a film and books for children

Permanent exhibitions

• The lugger Enterprise – The deck of the sailing lugger Enterprise, built in 1912, displayed inside the former Fishermen’s Church.
• Navigation and fish finders through time – A display from the society’s archive showing how navigation and fish-finding equipment developed, from the sounding lead to modern electronic navigators.

Founded

1956

Operated by

Old Hastings Preservation Society

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Entry is free; donations are welcome and help to maintain the museum.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: not available
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The entrance has large double doors that suit wheelchairs, mobility scooters and double buggies, and the galleries are on one level. The ramp over the capstan at the east end is not suitable for all walking aids and chairs, so visitors can follow the route in the opposite direction instead. There are no toilets in the museum, but public toilets with baby changing are a short distance away.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Stroller-friendly
• Baby changing facilities: not available

Families and student groups are welcome. The Young’uns’ area has a film and books for children. The museum has no baby changing room, but public toilets with baby changing are close by.

Getting there & parking

Follow the A259 and the signs for the museum, aquarium and art gallery along Rock-a-Nore Road; the museum is by the black net shops and fishing boats.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

The gift shop sells work by local artists, history and children’s books, cards, gemstones and souvenirs. Food and drink may not be taken into the galleries, but staff will look after them. There is no café; cafés and pubs are nearby on the seafront.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit