Bognor Regis Museum

PO21 1XA Bognor Regis, Great Britain (UK) (West Sussex)

The History of Early Bognor...
Find out more of the history of early Bognor, when Sir Richard Hotham set about transforming a small fishing village into a fashionable seaside resort.

Almost every aspect of Bognor’s history is represented, from rocks and fossils millions of years old, to before the town was founded through to the present day.

With around 10,000 visitors a year, the Museum is a popular attraction. Exhibits include displays of vintage cameras, fossils, Alice's Vintage Kitchen and the story of Bathing Machine Proprietor Mary Wheatland.

The Ron Simpson Wireless Collection is named after a former Curator with a passion for old radios who bequeathed his own extensive collection to the Museum.

Please remember that like many small local museums the people who do most of the hard work are volunteers and donations from the public are an important source of income that helps keep the Museum open.

Sir Richard Hotham
Find out more of the early history of Bognor, when Sir Richard Hotham came here to create a seaside resort. See the model of Hotham Park House, which still stands in Hotham Park. Read how in 1929, after King George V convalesced at Craigweil House, Bognor was bestowed with the royal suffix ‘Regis’.

Mary Wheatland
Come and see Mary Wheatland – Bognor’s Famous Bathing Lady, standing next to an original bathing machine in our new Seaside Room.

Esplanade Theatre
For those who have nostalgic memories of the theatres in Bognor Regis, see the scale model of the Esplanade Theatre, which stood where the skate park now stands just down the road from the Museum.

Famous People of Bognor
Have you found any of the Blue Plaques around the town? Find out about the many famous people that have lived in Bognor.

Art Deco Bus Station
If you're interested in buses and / or Art Deco, you will love our model of the Southdowns Bus Station, which once dominated the High Street.

Ron Simpson Wireless Collection
Do not miss the Ron Simpson Wireless collection and see displays of radios from yesteryear, plus some early TV sets. You can also have a go at sending a Morse Code message. A dressing-up box full of 1920s style clothes allows youngsters to try their Charleston moves in front of the mirror and take a photo or two as a memento of their visit.

Research Room
The Museum boasts it’s very own research room, named after late former Chairman, Kay Fall. Open every Thursday from 10am to 1pm during normal Museum opening hours, it can be accessed at other times by prior arrangement. Researchers can access our fantastic, superbly indexed (thanks to the late Shelia Smith) catalogue of thousands of photographs and documents.  The room is used for temporary exhibitions and can also be hired for small meetings, for which refreshments can be provided.

We welcome families and children!
In addition to the dressing-up box, there are often quizzes to help keep the youngsters busy, a colouring table and a very lazy cat to find.  Plus there are 3 Listen & Learn points where you can listen to a Cobbler, Maid and ex-bus employee. And yes, there a lots of other buttons to press! We also have seasonal events for families at Easter, Halloween and Christmas.

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