Southampton Maritime Museum

The Wool House is the only medieval warehouse in Southampton still in use today – it houses Southampton Maritime Museum. Built just after 1400 it was used to store wool before it was exported to Flanders and Italy. It was described in 1407 as the largest and strongest of ‘all the merchant houses in the town.”

Since the decline of Southampton’s wool-trade in the early 16th century, the Wool House has had many uses. In the late 16th century it was used to store alum, used to prepare cloth for dyeing. In the early 19th century it was used as a prison. Inside, on the first floor, you can see where French prisoners of war carved their names into the beams and the walls.

In 1961 the Wool House opened as Southampton Maritime Museum and houses one of the finest collections of Maritime History in the world.

Important information: This venue will close to public permanently on Monday 26th September 2011.

Additional info

Access: Wheelchair access to ground floor exhibitions. Stair access to first floor and Titanic exhibition.

Some of Southampton's fine maritime collections are on display in Southampton Maritime Museum. If you are interested in seeing more local history material behind the scenes at our local collections store, you can contact Alastair Arnott, Curator of Local Collections, on +44 (0)23 80 237584. You could join one of the monthly tours of the store or, if you have a specialist interest, undertake some research.

Collection details

Industry, Maritime, Personalities, Science and Technology, Social History

Key artists and exhibits

• Titanic
• Southampton Maritime History
• Southampton Dock History
• Temporary Exhibitions