Holyhead Maritime Museum facts for kids
Holyhead Maritime Museum and harbour
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| Established | 1984 |
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| Location | Newry Beach, Holyhead, North Wales |
| Type | Maritime museum |
| Public transit access | Holyhead  : 1 mile |
The Holyhead Maritime Museum (Welsh: Amgueddfa Forwrol Caergybi) is a cool place to visit in Holyhead, North Wales. It's a museum all about the sea and ships.
This museum is special because it's inside what people say is the oldest lifeboat station in Wales. This building was built around 1858! Inside, you can explore many different collections about the sea.
Contents
Discovering the Museum's Past
The Old Lifeboat Station
The building where the museum is now used to be a busy lifeboat station. It opened way back in 1858. Lifeboats are special boats used to rescue people from the sea.
The very first lifeboat here didn't have a name. It went out 18 times and saved 128 people! Later, a boat called the Prince of Wales took its place. It launched 38 times and rescued another 128 people.
In 1875, a politician named Joshua Fielden and his brothers gave a new lifeboat. They named it the Thomas Fielden after their dad. This new, bigger boat meant the lifeboat station had to be made larger. In 1890, an even bigger boat arrived, and the building was extended again.
How the Museum Started
People in Holyhead held some sea-themed exhibitions in 1982 and 1983. These events were very popular. Because of this, a group of people decided to create a proper museum. They formed a special group on September 24, 1984.
The group first rented an old church building. It was called St Elbods church. The museum officially opened there in March 1986. A famous person, the Duke of Westminster, helped open it.
Later, the museum needed a new home. A ferry company called Stena Line offered them the old lifeboat house at Newry Beach. This was a great spot! The museum got money from the Heritage Lottery Fund to make the building even better. They added new areas for visitors. The museum reopened at its current home in 1998.
What You Can See at the Museum
The museum today tells the amazing story of Holyhead and Anglesey's sea history. You can learn about everything from ancient times to the modern ferries that travel to Ireland.
Inside, you'll find a mix of old objects, detailed models, and interactive displays. These displays use your senses to help you learn. All the people who work at the museum are volunteers. They know a lot about the sea and the local area.
The museum is easy to get around, even if you use a wheelchair. It also has its own cafe called the Harbour Front Bistro. It's a great place to grab a snack.
There's also a special exhibition called Holyhead at War. This part of the museum is inside an old air raid shelter. It's right next to the main museum building.
