Lowestoft Maritime Museum
Small museum in Sparrow's Nest Gardens on Lowestoft's fishing, boatbuilding and maritime history, including the Royal Naval Patrol Service.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Lowestoft and East Suffolk Maritime Society was formed on 18 December 1958 by people interested in the sea and ships. In 1968 the borough council leased the society a listed cottage in Sparrow's Nest Park, and this became the first museum. The original rooms covered the local fishing industry, including trawling, drift net fishing, wreck and rescue, boatbuilding tools, and barrel and box making.
A volunteer-built extension in 1978 added the Bill Soloman Room, named after the skipper lieutenant who gathered much of the early collection. A larger extension with Heritage Lottery Fund support was built from 2008 and added a big display room and an education room. The museum reopened in 2010 and the education room was named the Peter Parker Room in 2014. In 2012 the museum won the Suffolk Tourism Award for the best small museum.
The museum is run by volunteers. It also remembers the Royal Naval Patrol Service, known as the Fishermen's Navy, whose headquarters HMS Europa stood in Sparrow's Nest Park in both world wars. Displays include a collection of fishing boat models made by Alan Thurston, and the museum remembers Lowestoft hero Tom Crisp VC DSC.
Highlights
- Fishing industry displays on trawling, drift net fishing, wreck and rescue, and boatbuilding
- Display on the Royal Naval Patrol Service, the Fishermen's Navy
- Collection of fishing boat models made by Alan Thurston
- Story of Lowestoft hero Tom Crisp VC DSC
- Winner of the 2012 Suffolk Tourism Award for best small museum
Permanent exhibition
- Lowestoft fishing and maritime collection – Displays on trawling, drift net fishing, wreck and rescue, boatbuilding, coopering and the Royal Naval Patrol Service, with a collection of fishing boat models.
- Founded
- 1968
Admission & discounts
| Adults | £2 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | £1Seniors |
| Children & teens | £0.50Children aged 5 to 16. |
| Seniors | £1 |
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom
- 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
There is level access throughout the museum. Wheelchair users enter through a side entrance, which staff at reception will open on request. The museum has an accessible toilet.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
- Family tours & workshops
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
- Playground / play area
Children aged 5 to 16 pay a reduced price. A toddler play area is near the museum, and schools can borrow the Ben's Quest loan box and a self-led seafront trail.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Sparrows Nest / Belle Vue Park (bus X1)
Bus X1 from Great Yarmouth stops at Sparrows Nest / Belle Vue Park, a request stop shortly after the lighthouse. Buses 101 and 1A also serve the area. The museum is about 23 minutes' walk from the railway station and about 20 minutes' walk from the bus station.
By car
Free parking
Free parking next to the museum, and the North Denes car park.
The museum is in Sparrow's Nest Gardens close to the North Sea.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café: not available
- Restaurant: not available
There is no café in the museum. Martello's Coffee House and Giardino Italian Restaurant nearby have level access and accessible toilets.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| School programs | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Schools and pre-schools can book visits by phone or email. The education room holds up to 30 people, and the museum offers a key stage 2 programme called Ben's Quest with a loan box, trail and teachers' notes, plus activity bags for pre-school groups. Volunteers can give welcome talks to groups. |
