Isle of Wight Museums

Isle of Wight museums are an outstandingDimbola Lodge was the home of pioneering
assortment of wide-ranging historic collectionsVictorian female photographer, Julia Margaret
located around the Island. They are so diverseCameron. Dimbola Lodge served as both her
that everyone, regardless of age will enjoy a visithome and, more importantly, her studio. It was
to at least one of these excellent museums.here that the greatest of the Cameron
Below is a selection of the main Isle of Wightphotographs were made. From Dimbola Lodge
museums, listed by location.Cameron photographed the cream of Victorian
Arretonsociety. Tennyson, Darwin, Watts and Thackeray
The National Wireless Museum (also at Seaview)lived locally, and guests often included Lewis
Arreton ManorCarroll, Robert Browning, Holman Hunt, Palgrave,
ArretonEdward Lear and the actress Ellen Terry. Dimbola
Newportis now owned and managed by The Julia Margaret
PO30 3AACameron Trust and has a permanent exhibition of
The museum houses a good collection of vintageher work.Dimbola Lodge is also home to a
wirelesses and radios.permanent display celebrating the 1970 Isle of
BembridgeWight Pop Festival, as well as showcasing
Bembridge Maritime Museum and Shipwreckexhibitions from both local, national and
Centreinternational photographers throughout the year.
Sherbourne StreetGodshill
Bembridge PO35 5SBNostalgia Toy Museum
Tel: 01983 872223High Street
A museum devoted to displaying nautical heritage.Godshill
Displays of shipwrecks, salvage, pirate treasure,PO38 3HZ
early and modern diving equipment.Tel: 01983 840181
BradingThe Nostalgia Toy Museum features a large
Wax Works Museumcollection of toy cars and lorries by Dinky, Corgi,
Brading: The ExperienceMatchbox, Triang and Hornby, as well as other
46-48 High Streetpopular toys from days gone by. A lovely trip
Bradingdown memory lane.
PO36 0DQShell Museum
Tel: 01983 407286The Natural History Centre
The original Isle of Wight Wax Works MuseumHigh Street
and Animal World was founded by GrahamGodshill
Osborne-Smith and opened in 1965. Today it is stillPO38 3HZ
owned by an Islander who has developed thisTel: 01983 840333
historical and wonderfully interesting attraction intoThe Shell Museum houses a large collection of
more than just a Wax Works. It now has manyshells from local and tropical shores. Also on
exciting ongoing developments, and in particulardisplay are precious and semi precious stones and
the huge new extension - World of Wheels whichminerals from around the world, local fossils,
opened in 2005. The site also boasts a unique anddinosaur bones and crown jewel replicas. There is
beautifully themed café serving homemadealso an extensive gift shop featuring exciting
delights, a discount factory outlet store and a giftjewellery, shells and minerals.
shop. This is one of the most popular of the IsleNewport
of Wight museums.Guildhall Museum
The Lilliput Museum of Antique Dolls and ToysHigh Street
High StreetNewport
BradingPO30 1TY
PO36 0DJTel: 01983 823366
Tel: 01983 407231Designed by John Nash and built in 1816, the
This cottage museum was established in Bradinghistoric Guildhall is home to the Museum of Island
in 1974, and was formed from the private dollHistory and Newport's Tourist Information Centre.
collection started by the Munday family in 1960.Discover the Island from pre-historic past to the
It is acknowledged as being one of the finest andpresent day.
most important collections in Great Britain withClassic Boat Museum
over 2000 exhibits on display dating circa 2000 BCSeaclose Wharf
to approximately 1945 AD. There are examplesNewport Harbour
of almost every seriously collectable doll togetherNewport
with a number of dolls houses, rocking horses, tinPO30 2EF
plate toys, trains, bears, soft toys, and manyTel: 01983 53349
other unusual play things.The Classic Boat Museum opened in 1996, and
Brading Roman Villahouses an exciting collection of sailing and power
Morton Old Roadboats. The collection contains not only classic
Bradingboats, but also tools, artefacts, books,
PO36 0ENphotographs, film and archival items that relate to
Tel. 01983 406223much of the history of boat building, sailing,
Brading Roman Villa is one of the finestyachting, cruising and racing over the last century,
Romano-British archaeological sites in the UK. Thein the Solent and beyond.
award-winning Exhibition and Visitor Centre offersIsle of Wight Bus and Coach Museum
a unique insight into Roman life in Britain, from theTown Quay
beautifully preserved mosaic floors to theNewport
extensive collection of Roman archaeology,PO30 2EF
including coins, pottery and tools.Tel: 01983 533352
CarisbrookeThe museum is situated on Newport Quay,
Carisbrooke Castle Museumformerly used as a grain storage warehouse, but
Carisbrooke Castlesince 1997 has been the home to the Isle of
Castle HillWight Bus & Coach Museum. An impressive
Newportcollection of Island buses and coaches can be
PO30 1XYviewed here. There is also a Ryde Pier tram car
Tel: 01983 523112dating back to the beginning of the last century.
The wide range of items on display includeNewport Roman Villa
archaeological material excavated from the castle,Cypress Road
Tudor furniture, objects and documentsNewport
associated with King Charles I´s imprisonmentPO3O 1HE
and material illustrating aspects of Island life suchTel: 01983 529720
as farming, smuggling, tourism and domestic life.The Villa was discovered in 1926 when an owner
The exhibitions are housed in the great hall and inof a nearby house sank foundations for a garage.
other rooms, including one used by King CharlesSubsequent excavations revealed extensive
as a bedroom.remains of a late Romano-British farmhouse built
Cowesaround 280 AD.
Cowes Maritime MuseumSandown
Beckford RoadIsle Of Wight Geological Museum
CowesHigh Street
PO31 7SGSandown
Tel: 01983 293394PO36 8AF
Cowes Maritime Museum contains boats, paintings,Tel: 01983 404344
and models depicting the maritime history ofFossils, dinosaurs, turtles, mammals, shellfish and
Cowes and the Isle of Wight.even insects are displayed here to illustrate
Isle of Wight Military History Museumancient life. Their fossils have been painstakingly
Northwood Campextracted from local rocks to provide clues to
490 Newport Roadtheir original environments.
CowesSeaview
PO31 8QUThe National Wireless Museum (also at Arreton
Tel: 01983 527411Manor)
Originally a World-War II military barracks, the IslePuckpool Park
of Wight Military History Museum stands in a 15Seaview
acre setting and houses tanks, guns, andPO34 5AR
post-war vehicles.Tel: 01983 567665
Sir Max Aitken MuseumThe largest collection of old wireless sets in the
The Prospectcountry. From pre world war and Edwardian days
83 High Streetcontaining old valve sets and early crystal sets.
CowesFree parking and playground for children.
PO31 7AJVentnor
Tel: 01983 295144Ventnor Heritage Museum
The Prospect was the Cowes home of Sir Max11 Spring Hill
Aitken Bt DSO, DFC, a man well known in CowesVentnor
but with many other claims to fame. Born inPO38 1PE
Canada in 1910, Sir Max has been acknowledgedTel: 01983 855407
by his achievements as the newspaper magnate,Ventnor Heritage Museum has fascinating displays
a fighter pilot in WWII, a Conservative MP, aof old photographs, prints, documents, and
racing yachtsman, a powerboat pioneer and theartefacts relating to Ventnor and district. There
London Boat Show founder. The Prospectare also exhibits about the local railway with
became well known as the place where heworking models.
entertained many friends and in 1979 he createdThe Smuggling Museum
the Prospect Museum Trust with its uniqueVentnor Botanic Gardens
collection of marine artefacts. He died in 1985 butThe Undercliff Drive
this very personal museum is a lasting reminderVentnor
of a very remarkable man.PO38 1UL
FreshwaterTel: 01983 853677
Dimbola Lodge Photographic MuseumThis unique attraction was opened in 1973 and
Terrace Lanefeatures over 700 years of smuggling practices.
Freshwater BayThe museum has over 300 exhibits housed in 3
PO40 9QElarge underground galleries.
Tel: 01983 756814