Newhaven & Seaford Historical Society was formed in 1969 by a group of local heritage enthusiasts, Peter Bailey, Ron Britchfield, George Jakens and Tony Payne. In 2008, at the age of 91, Peter Bailey was made an MBE for his services to local history.
The first museum opened in 1971 in a small room in the Old Pilot House on Newhaven Foreshore. The original society separated into the Newhaven Historical Society and the Seaford Museum and Heritage Society the following year. We continue to have a reciprocal arrangement, whereby membership of either society includes free entry to both museums.
Launch of the Newhaven & Seaford Historical Society 29th April 1969 George Jakens, Tony Payne, Ron Britchfield & Peter Bailey.
The aim of Newhaven Historical Society continues to be educating people in the history of Newhaven and its environs.
In 1974, the collection moved into a prefabricated building, still on Newhaven Foreshore, where it remained for over 20 years. During this time the collection comprised mainly of photographs, books and documents about Newhaven, together with some small objects relating to the town’s maritime history.
In 1989, the museum was offered accommodation next to Tate’s Paradise Park garden centre and visitor attraction by the Tate family. The museum finally opened in its new accommodation in the 1990s. The museum would not be able to open were it not for the generosity of Tates.
Following a grant of more space by Tates, we were able to build on our collection of artefacts, ephemera, and artworks relating to the town’s social, industrial, creative, military and maritime heritage.
In the last few years, we completed renovations to extend the store room and create a Reading and Research Room (The Peter Bailey Room).
In 2017 we installed a touch screen, allowing visitors to easily search through our 20,000+ digitised photographs and videos. More recently, we created a new, more accessible, reception area.
