Find out about: North Devon Maritime Museum

About Us

North Devon Maritime Museum

The North Devon Maritime Museum offers a fascinating insight into the rich shipbuilding and seafaring history of the area. It is housed in a fine, Georgian Grade II listed building which has been the home of several ship owners and master mariners in the past 200 years and is situated in the picturesque village and sea port of Appledore. Our collections and displays include historical exhibits, models, dioramas, photographs and paintings and cover most aspects of our region's maritime trades which have worldwide connections.
There is an extensive library and archive which is accessible to researchers by appointment. The museum and gift shop are manned by volunteers, who will be pleased to share their knowledge.

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Facilities

  • Parking available

    Parking Available

  • Toilets On-Site

    Toilets On-Site

  • Wheelchair access

    Wheelchair Access

  • Childrens activities

    Family friendly

  • Gift Shop

    Gift Shop

Our Next Event

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Our Collections

Our collections cover many themes. A selection is outlined below.

 

Maritime History of North Devon

This covers early history from Hubba the Dane’s Viking raid in 878, medieval trade and shipping, Tudor exploration to find the North East Passage and local Elizabethan ‘merchant adventurers' to 18th century smuggling and 19th century emigration to North America and Australia.

Maritime History of North Devon

Shipbuilding

This ranges from locally built wooden sailing ships to the 19th century steel steam ships and the current vessels still being built in Appledore shipyard. The displays include shipbuilding techniques, tools, half models and dioramas of workshops and shipyard, as well as information and models of traditional North Devon river barges which navigated the Taw and Torridge estuary.

Shipbuilding

Wreck and Rescue

A brief history of the local Royal National Lifeboat Institution stations, RAF Chivenor Air-Sea Rescue service and some of the many local wrecks.

Wreck and Rescue

World War II

Discover the top secret experiments that took place in the estuary and along the North Devon coastline prior to the D Day landings in Northern France - including the Great Panjandrum, Swiss Roll, P.L.U.T.O., amphibious tanks and the first British 'Frogmen'.

World War II

Education

The old Coach House has been converted to house a reconstruction of a typical schoolroom of the type found in our local area from Victorian times (1900) to the end of the Second World War in 1945. School groups are welcome, by appointment, to have an experience of a lesson taught by a costumed, qualified teacher acting as schoolmistress. The children are encouraged to act as children of the period for the duration of the visit.

Education
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