The Main Gallery on the ground floor is dedicated to a Time Line recording 's development from the small settlement of Ellenfoot to its founding as a new harbour and town in the mid eighteenth century. Objects on display record the growth of the town to a major port and centre of industry in the nineteenth century to its later decline.
The Virtual Tour was installed to make the first floor gallery accessible to those who cannot use the stairs. The roaming programme displays the four galleries on a large touch screen and provides extra detail through many red information points.
The reference library includes a variety of local resources, many of which are now out of print. There is information compiled by our local historian on shipping, shipbuilding yards, ships, captains and crew. There is a collection of publications relating to and the surrounding area, together with books on general maritime history, including a selection of copies of Lloyd’s Shipping Register.
Born in Donaghadee Co Down in 1823, William Mitchell became a recognised maritime artist. He immigrated to to work on the and Carlisle Railway as a carriage and train painter. Around 1863, he resigned from the engine works at Grasslot to become a full time artist. He remained in , working as an artist until his death in 1900.
The William Mitchell Room includes several of his works, such as “A Breezy Day”, (1863) and also two paintings by his lesser known son, James.
See Visitor Info for travel details
1 Senhouse Street,
CA15 6AB
April to October: Open Friday Saturday and Sunday - 11am - 3.00pm
November to March: Fri, Sat & Sun 11am - 3pm.
Admission:
Adult £3.00
Child £1.00 (Child under 18 must be accompanied by an adult)
Family £7.00
Group visits: Adult £2.50, advance booking required
Harbour tours: By arrangement
School visits: By arrangement.
Free admission to CA15 residents*
*Proof of residence required