About the Lowestoft and East Suffolk Maritime Museum

The Museum, parts of which are housed in a Grade 2 listed building with a fine view of Lowestoft lighthouse, is set in the grounds of Sparrows Nest Park and is a cornucopia of Lowestoft’s maritime heritage. The collection includes models of fishing trawlers, drifters and vessels from the now long gone fishing industry of the port. The famous herring trophy, made of Purbeck marble awarded by Madame Prunier, to the boat landing the largest catch of herring in one night, is on display. Many fine art works depicting sailing, steam and diesel vessels by local and national artists are on display. Shipwright's tools used by the craftsmen in the Lowestoft Ship and boat building industry, including many builders' half models fill the museum. Sea rescue, including models and artefacts relating to the evolution of the lifeboat are among the collection. There is a full scale replica of the aft cabin of a herring drifter, showing the cramped conditions experienced by the fishermen of a bygone age. There is an area showing the wartime association with the Royal Navy which includes many photographs and medals. Also on display is a recreation of the workshop used by Sir Christopher Cockerell, the inventor of the famous ‘Hovercraft’.