The Seaside Museum Herne Bay

In 2015, management of the Herne Bay Museum & Gallery was handed over to a charitable trust who renamed the attraction to the Seaside Museum. With this new breath of life the museum has soared to new heights with a creative and topical selection of special exhibitions. The museum is well known for its diverse collection that spans history, science and art and is a must see for anyone interested in learning a little about the British seaside through the ages.

Examples of their collection include a prototype of the famous ‘Dambuster’ bomb used in World War 2. The raid conducted in 1943 is one of the most famous events during the war and spawned a film based on the daring raid. Herne Bay’s special connection to this monumental point in history was that the bomb prototypes were tested just offshore from Reculver. Along with this are information panels regarding Bill Ottley, a young pilot from the town who took part in the raid, sadly losing his life.

The coast east of Herne Bay between Beltinge and Reculver holds significant importance in the Paleocene, the geological period 65 million years ago that followed the extinction of the dinosaurs. The Paleocene rocks made visible at low tide hold all manner of secrets regarding the ancient world and its mighty beasts. At the Seaside Museum visitors can view real specimens of fossils found in the area including mammoth bones and a fossilised sea turtle that’s over 50 million years old.

The museum houses many other treasures that make each visit enjoyable and informative. The ever-changing special exhibitions are something to keep an eye on as well as the broad spectrum of engaging events and talks available to the public.