MAT is embarking on an exciting project to develop an inspirational new museum and centre for maritime archaeology at the former Yarmouth Primary School on the Isle of Wight. We plan to:  

• Relocate and enhance the significant collection currently at the Shipwreck Centre and Maritime Museum on the island. This includes one of the largest multi-shipwreck collections in the UK, developed by Martin Woodward.  

• Display and interpret the submerged ancient landscapes of the Western Solent, including the unique Stone Age collections from Bouldnor Cliff, which includes worked wood features, preserved ecofacts and a range of flint tools.  

• Ensure the new state-of-the-art museum incorporates a range of displays, activities including immersive AR and VR experiences.  

Our vision is for the Yarmouth Centre to be a must-see visitor attraction, however, it will also host a range of other facilities and features including:  

• Temporary and touring exhibitions to allow a range of changing local, national and international displays. 

• Bespoke education and outreach facilities for all ages to welcome school children through to older ages. This will enable us to expand our award-winning Education & Outreach programme.  

• A maritime archaeology library and research centre which includes the impressive library of our much-missed Trustee and supporter Valerie Fenwick.
• Archive and study facilities to house MAT’s site archive and reserve collection material, and provide facilities for visiting researchers to access and study the collection.  
• A gift shop and café facilities open to all. 

Since taking over the site in the Summer of 2025, a dedicated team of volunteers have been working tirelessly to help transform the site inside and out.

While working with architects, planners and museum designers on future plans to develop the new Centre, we have also been preparing parts of the existing site for public access in the coming months.  This will include temporary exhibitions on wreck, rescue, salvage, smuggling and the ancient sunken landscapes off the Isle of Wight. Watch this space for further information about the public opening during this interim phase of the project.

Ways to support the Yarmouth Centre:  

• Make a donation – we have an ambitious target for fundraising of around £10million. Many grant funders require ‘match funding’, so your contribution can be vital for enabling larger grant funding.  

• Volunteer – at the Yarmouth site, or in other ways. As always MAT relies on our amazing volunteers – check back here soon for a range of volunteer roles that will be available. If you are interested in volunteering, please email Izzy at izzy.turtle@maritimearchaeologytrust.org. 

• Sign up for MAT e-newsletter – we will have a Yarmouth Centre update in each of our monthly Newsletters.  

Yarmouth Centre Supporters 

MAT are extremely grateful to our amazing Trustees and Patrons, the Yarmouth Community Foundation, the Herapath Shenton Trust, Martin Woodward, our dearly missed former Patron Valerie Fenwick and to the dedicated team of volunteers that has been working tirelessly to transform the former school site for interim public access while the future development progresses.

We would also like to thank our kind MAT supporters, whose support has made our work and the new development possible.