Welcome to Bexhill Museum

Newly refurbished and extended, the displays and exhibitions have something for everyone to enjoy. Main galleries include Costume and Motor Racing heritage as well as local archaeology and history, dinosaurs and fossils, natural history and geology, social history and cultures of other lands, local arts and crafts. Interactive displays and Access Centre for research.

 © image copyright of Peter Cook Photography

Discover the hidden history of Bexhill from earliest days to medieval village, smuggling, Napoleonic barrack town, Victorian/Edwardian resort and the birthplace of British motor racing in 1902.

Key exhibits include the original architect’s model of the De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill built Elva sports racing car, a replica Serpollet steam car of 1902, a giant crab from Japan and an Edwardian Collectors Study room setting.

Many activities and events are held throughout the year for both young and old alike. Please visit the museum calendar for more details.

Our Collections
In 1912 Kate Marsden and the Reverend J.C. Thompson wanted to start a town museum. Kate had a large collection of tropical shells and the Reverend had his collection of geological specimens and their idea was to start a museum for the town using their own collection. The council told Kate and the Reverend that if they wanted a museum they’d have to run it themselves, so Bexhill Museum first opened its doors in 1914 in what was the Egerton Park Shelter Hall. Reverend Thompson was its first curator and has been succeeded by a long line of dedicated curators.

The Museum continues to develop with the support of devoted volunteers and museum professionals. The museum has recently undergone major redevelopment which included a new two-storied wing to house the Costume Museum collection and display the town’s motor heritage, as well as providing a new entrance, shop area, education room and storeroom.