The Hastings Fishermen’s Museum is a small independent museum dedicated to the fishing industry and maritime history of Hastings in East Sussex.
The Museum opened in 1956 in the former Fishermen’s Church of St Nicholas. This was a mission chapel which served the fishing community from 1854 until the building was requisitioned by the military authorities to become a wartime store. The building is listed Grade II by English Heritage for its architectural and historical importance. The Museum is managed by the Old Hastings Preservation Society who rescued the building and lease it from Hastings Borough Council. In 2001 funding was raised to build an extension which provides visitors with extra exhibition space and an audio visual presentation.
Inside the Museum you can see and visit the deck of the last Hastings’ sailing lugger Enterprise built in 1912; enjoy a large display of photographs and pictures, model boats and many other interesting objects. There is an external display with a variety of boats, you can look inside one of the towns iconic listed [Grade II*] Net Shops, and see how Hastings folk used boats cut in half when they had been caught engaged in smuggling. Our small souvenir shop is packed with a variety of memorabilia, fossils and gemstones, cards and local history books – something to suit every pocket.
