National Museum of the Royal Navy, Hartlepool

The National Museum of the Royal Navy is a maritime museum in Hartlepool featuring a recreation of an 18th-century seaport with historically accurate buildings, streets, and vessels. The site includes traditional shops, workshops, and exhibition spaces that reveal aspects of naval history and everyday life at sea.

The museum was founded to preserve the history of the British Royal Navy and was built around the ship HMS Trincomalee. This warship was constructed in 1817 and remains the oldest still-floating British warship in existence.

The museum's name honors the British Royal Navy, and visitors see how sailors lived and worked during Georgian times. The site displays crafts, everyday objects, and personal stories of people who spent their lives at sea.

The site can be explored on foot, with clear paths between buildings and good accessibility for different abilities. Visitors should wear comfortable shoes and allow several hours to see the entire site and vessels.

One distinctive element is the story of Jim Henshaw, a young powder monkey whose perspective helps visitors understand life aboard ship. This character serves as a guide through the exhibitions, connecting personal experiences with historical details.

Location: Hartlepool

Inception: 1994

Accessibility: Wheelchair limited access

Part of: National Museum of the Royal Navy

Address: Jackson Dock, Hartlepool TS24 0SQ

Website: https://nmrn.org.uk/our-museum/hartlepool

GPS coordinates: 54.69030,-1.20778

Latest update: December 8, 2025 21:02