Hastings Fishermen's Museum

About

The museum is housed in a former church (dedicated to St Nicholas) which was built on the beach in 1854 to serve the local fishing community.  It operated as a church until 1939 but was turned into a museum in 1956 by the Old Hastings Preservation Society.

It looks after one of the famous Net Shops (now listed as grade II* (grade two star) by English Heritage), next to the building. Also to see is the "Edward and Mary" which, in 1919, became the first locally-built fishing boat to be installed with an engine, and "Valiant", which was built in Newhaven in 1953 and worked from Hastings until 1999. New addition to the fleet for 2025 is "Roebuck" a fully working boat and it’s hoped will soon be used for demonstrations.

Exhibits in the museum include model ships and boats, fishing gear, historic paintings and photographs illustrating the Hastings fishing industry and its community.  Before you leave, step on board "Enterprise", the last Hastings sailing lugger. Our small gift shop is packed with work from local artists, cards and pocket money gifts for children. Guided walks are offered through the year, all details available on the website.