Newbiggin Maritime Centre

About the museum

Newbiggin Maritime Centre grew out of the Newbiggin by the Sea Heritage Partnership, which was formed in 2006 when the local heritage association and another village history group joined together. The partnership raised funds to build a new centre, secured a 99-year lease on the site from Northumberland County Council and worked with the RNLI, English Heritage, Woodhorn Museum and local organisations. The centre opened in 2011.

The single-storey building stands on the promenade beside the Grade I listed St Bartholomew's Church and is designed around the Mary Joicey, the last offshore lifeboat to serve Newbiggin. The centre is open all year and combines a museum, a café, a shop, a function room and a community archive. Its exhibitions explore the three industries that shaped the town: fishing, tourism and coal mining.

The museum is divided into three galleries. The Fishing Gallery holds the coble Girl Anne and fishing equipment, the Community Gallery shows objects from the social history of the village, including its mining community, and the Mary Joicey Hall houses the lifeboat. The centre is run by volunteers and also hosts art exhibitions, events and an annual kite festival.

Highlights

• Mary Joicey, the last offshore lifeboat to serve Newbiggin
• Fishing coble Girl Anne and fishing equipment
• Community Gallery on fishing, mining and village life, with a film on the fishing community in the Second World War
• Breakwater Café with views over the bay
• Children's activity corner

Permanent exhibitions

• Fishing Gallery – The fishing coble Girl Anne and a selection of fishing equipment.
• Community Gallery – Objects from the social history of Newbiggin, including its mining community, and a twenty-minute film on the fishing community in the Second World War.
• Mary Joicey Hall – Newbiggin's last all-weather lifeboat, with information on lifeboats and a film of a rescue.

Founded

2011

Operated by

Newbiggin Heritage Partnership

Admission & discounts

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• 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 main entrance is step-free and the floors are level, reached by a ramp from the car park or along the promenade. There is a lowered section of the welcome desk and a lift to the first-floor viewing platform of the Mary Joicey lifeboat (13 steps are the alternative). The shop and café are level but can be tight for larger wheelchairs. The outside seating area has steps and cannot be used to leave in a wheelchair or pushchair. A unisex accessible toilet is in the middle of the centre and needs no key. There are three Blue Badge parking spaces. Drifting sand after windy weather can occasionally cause obstacles. The Latimer Room has an induction loop. The centre has no audio tours or interactive screens.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Stroller-friendly
• Playground / play area

The centre has a free children's activity table and corner with knot-tying, quoits, dressing up, flags to read and a seagull hunt. A children's play park and a sandy beach with rock pools are next to the centre. Surfaces are suitable for pushchairs.

Getting there & parking

The centre stands on the seafront next to St Bartholomew's Church. Satnav postcode NE64 6DB.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

The Breakwater Café is a 73-seat licensed café overlooking the bay, open during the centre's regular hours, with a small outside seating area. The Seashore Shop sells gifts, souvenirs and local crafts. There are toilets, including an accessible toilet.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

Up to 100 guests.

The Latimer Function Room overlooks the sea and can be hired for gigs, business and training events, parties, christenings, conferences and workshops. It seats up to 100 theatre style or 72 cabaret style, has an induction loop, sound system, projector and screen, and can expand into the courtyard. Catering is prepared on site.

Plan your visit