Hastings has one of the richest displays of shipwrecks at low tide in Europe. Records show that nearly 1,000 ships have been swallowed by the sands of East Kent alone and many of these are in good condition because the soft sand and silt preserves the wood.
Most of the wrecks are from nineteenth and twentieth centuries but this doesn't mean that they're not historically valuable. For example, the seabed near Bognor is home to all kinds of Second World War vehicles including landing crafts, tanks, submarines, a field gun, a section of a Mulberry Harbour and British and German warships.
These outstanding reminders of crucial stages in human history demand study, protection and preservation which is why the Shipwreck Heritage Center was opened in Hastings in 1986 by the Nautical Museums Trust.
Visitor Information
Address:
Rock a Nore Road
Hastings
East Sussex
TN34 3DW
Telephone: 01424 437452
Opening Times:
Daily Easter to October: 10.30am to 5.00pm
Daily October to Easter: 11.00am to 4.00pm
Closed: 25 and 26 December and 1 January 2009
Prices:
Free entrance but you can make a donation.
Group Information:
Group contact: Centre staff
Group rates: £1 per person donation in the Centre
Guided tours: £3 per person.
Booking essential. Allow one hour for your visit.
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