Charlestown Shipwreck & Heritage Centre


The Shipwreck and historical artefacts on display in the centre are the largest private collection of this type on public display in Europe. Brought together over the last 45 to 50 years, it forms the basis of one of the most unusual and interesting collections open to the public. This website is just a small insight into this extensive collection.

	There are countless items from a bygone age as well as artefacts from over 150 shipwrecks.

The many and varied exhibitions reflect village life in Charlestown, it's history, shipwrecks and the once thriving China Clay industry. The exhibition shows a tremendous range of maritime history dating back to 1715 and one of the largest underwater diving equipment collections in the country, including various suits used for treasure seeking and naval purposes.

The Customer is ALWAYS right!

(extracts from our comments book)

"The very best 'museum' I've visited in my 76 years" D Wallace, York

"Worth coming 300 miles to see" M Homer, Kent

"Absolutely fantastic, a real gem of a collection" G Briggs, Bucks

"Fantastic fun for the children" S Jackson, Glasgow

"Superb! Will have to come back, so much to see" J Hammersley, Kent

"Very well presented, the best of its kind I have seen" G Cane, Switzerland

"I hope my little girl will be able to bring her children one day" Stafford, Countesthorpe

"Extremely educational and well laid out" P Eddy, Bristol

"Surprised at the diversity and complexity. Well worth the admission fee" E Hough, Fleet

"Second visit and still finding new things of interest" M Banks, Surrey

Words fail me, everything I've seen has been one amazing experience" G Kesby, Australia

The success of The Shipwreck and Heritage Centre along with the need to keep the exhibition up to date with new discoveries and to introduce changes, means we are always ready to acquire new shipwreck and heritage material for public display.

A special thank you to Richard and Bridget Larn and also Roy Davis and Roland Morris.

A list of special acknowledgements can also be found in the centre.

The management reserve the right to alter or omit any display without prior notice.