Staithes Museum

About the museum

Staithes Museum was founded in 1993 by the local historian Reg Firth and his wife Anne, who bought the former Primitive Methodist chapel on the High Street and turned it into a museum. Over the years they filled the Grade II listed building with thousands of objects, among them Captain Cook memorabilia, fishing and mining tools, photographs, ship models and local art.

When Reg Firth died in 2018 the future of the collection was uncertain. Local residents formed the Staithes Museum and Heritage Trust to keep it in the village, and with donations, grants and the help of a benefactor who bought the building they raised £110,000 to acquire the collection. The museum is now a registered charity and is run day to day by volunteers.

The displays cover the sea and fishing, including cobles, ganseys and fishermen's tools, as well as alum, ironstone and jet mining, Methodism in the village, and Staithes life in general. A large part of the museum is devoted to Captain Cook, who worked in a shop in Staithes as a young man, with a life-size reconstruction of the street and the shop. Works by artists of the Staithes Group, such as Dame Laura Knight, are also shown. An oral history project continues to record local memories.

Highlights

• Life-size reconstruction of the street and shop where Captain Cook worked
• Fishing tools, cobles, model ships and traditional ganseys
• Works by the Staithes Group of artists, including Dame Laura Knight
• Mining, fossils and jet from the coast
• Methodist chapel displays with stained glass from the old Sunday school
• Free audio guide on your own phone

Permanent exhibitions

• Captain Cook and Staithes – Prints, drawings and objects connected with Captain Cook, a model of HMS Endeavour and a life-size reconstruction of the street and the shop where he worked.
• Fishing, the sea and the coast – Fishermen's tools, cobles, oars, ganseys and ship models, together with material on alum, ironstone and jet mining and fossils from the coast.
• Staithes Group art and village life – Works by artists of the Staithes Group, including Dame Laura Knight, alongside chapel displays and everyday objects from village life.

Founded

1993

Operated by

Staithes Museum and Heritage Trust

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission is free; donations are welcome and help to look after the museum and its collections.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking
• 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 is sloped with a few steps, and the upper gallery is reached by stairs. Visitors who cannot use the stairs can watch a guided film tour of the upstairs gallery on a screen downstairs or online. The exit uses automatic doors. Large print labels can be borrowed from the front desk, and a visual story describes the sounds, objects and layout for visitors who find new places hard. There are designated Blue Badge spaces, including free parking on the High Street. Dogs are welcome.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide

Three themed quizzes for all ages and reading levels are available, and the museum offers learning resources for use at home or at school.

Getting there & parking

Staithes lies on the A174 between Whitby and Saltburn. It is possible to drive down the bank to drop someone off, but this can be tricky at busy times. The walk back up the hill is steep. Coach groups should contact the museum before their visit.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop
• Wi-Fi

Free guest Wi-Fi is available for the audio guide. The museum has a gift shop on the ground floor, and items can also be bought online.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit