Salcombe Maritime Museum

Salcombe Maritime Museum

A treasure trove of models, paintings, photographs and artefacts which tell the story of Salcombe's links with ships and the sea from ancient times to the Second World War. There is plenty to amuse and engage younger visitors including tales of local smugglers and pirates as well as dressing-up box in the 'young sailors corner'.

The museum has a unique gallery of paintings depicting the famed racing fruit schooners built in Salcombe during the 19th century. Finally don't miss the sea-bed treasures recovered by divers from the hundreds of shipwrecks that line our coast.

Visit website

  • The Ship Portraits

    In the Ship Room is our unique collection of over thirty paintings of sailing ships built in Salcombe during the 19th century. This was a time when Salcombe was famous for its fast clipper-like schooners - the Salcombe 'fruiters'.

  • Maritime Trades

    Today Salcombe has found a new role as a fashionable yachting centre but traditional boatbuilding crafts still carry on in the town and the museum houses an impressive collection of tools that tell the story of these maritime trades.

  • Young Sailors Corner

    New for 2012 is the Pirate's Treasure Chest full of pieces of eight, cutlasses, pistols, and pirate's costumes for the kids to dress up in. There is also a collection of interactive models - children love lighting the Armada beacons or sending messages in morse code and semaphor!

  • Shipwreck

    Many hundreds of ships have come to grief along the South Devon coast over the centuries. Their wreck sites provide a rich harvest for local diving teams and many of the latter's finds can be seen on display in the Wreck Room.

  • Local Photographs

    A display of photographic equipment accompanies the story of A.E. Fairweather (1876-1959) and his family. Many of the photographs of Salcombe and its people shown in this room were taken by this well-known Salcombe photographer.

Admission & prices

We are open every day between April 1st and October 31st between 10.30 -12.30 in the morning and 2.30 to 4.30 in the afternoon. Entry is free but donations are always welcome!

Find us

There is parking available in the town or in the summer months why not use the Park and Ride? The bus from Kingsbridge stops right outside the Museum, or make a day of it and visit after a trip to the beach and catch the ferry from South Sands...

Museum news

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Information

  • Childrens activities
  • Gift Shop

There are many ways that you can join in and support the Salcombe Maritime Museum from volunteering as a steward in the Museum to assisting the Archivist in the Archive Room or completing conservation works in the Gallery.

You can also join the Friends of Salcombe Maritime Museum for just £10 a year. By joining you will receive free admission to the Museum, a membership card, a copy of our quarterly newsletter, and priority invitations to our regular talks and annual AGM.

Salcombe Maritime Museum
The Old Council Hall
Market Street
Salcombe
TQ8 8DE

T: 01548 843 080
E: info@salcombemuseum.org.uk

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Salcombe Maritime Museum

Salcombe Maritime Museum
The Old Council Hall
Market Street
Salcombe, DEVON TQ8 8DE