Maritime Museum

Please note:
The museum is now closed to the public in order for artefacts to be moved to the new museum, Sea City, which will open in April 2012.

History of Southampton Maritime Museum

The Wool House was built in 1417 as a warehouse for the medieval wool trade with Flanders and Italy. After the decline of wool exports in the late 16th century, the building became a store for alum, a substance used to prepare cloth for dyeing. During the 18th century it was used as a prison and some French prisoners of war carved their names in beams, which can still be seen on the first floor. In 1966 the Wool House opened as Southampton Maritime Museum and closed in September 2011.

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The Wool House plaque
Follow this link to see a larger image. (Note on some computers this may take a little longer to download depending on the speed of your connection)