Museum collections
The Museum Service holds the collection of museum objects for the towns of Grimsby, Cleethorpes, Immingham and the surrounding villages, which make up the area of North East Lincolnshire.
This wide-ranging collection includes artworks, costumes, ship models, books, social history objects, fishing-related objects and much more. It is currently kept in a purpose-built, climate-controlled and secure store.
There are a couple of notable collections:
- The Doughty Collection is one. This collection of maritime art, ship models and chinaware was bequested to the town of Grimsby by Wilfred Vere Doughty on his death in 1941. It had been put together by Wilfred and his father, former Great Grimsby MP Sir George Doughty. Both were prominent and wealthy businessmen and the collection was left to the town to be the foundation of the museum collection. The artworks and ship models are some of the most famous items in the collection and are frequently used by the Museum Service in temporary exhibitions
- The Joan Sleigh Bequest, which is made up of the costumes that were collected by this well-known and respected local costume and textile teacher. Over her lifetime, she built up an extremely large private collection of clothing (which covers hundreds of years) and on her death it was left to the town in the care of the Museum Service
Exhibitions
The Fishing Heritage Centre has three changing exhibition galleries, Muriel Barker Gallery, Doughty Gallery and the Cafe Gallery. The museum hosts temporary exhibitions ranging from a mixture of travelling shows and exhibitions created from the Museum Service’s own collections and works by local artists and organisations.
Last admission into the Galleries is one hour prior to closing time.
The galleries are also available to rent for exhibitions. For more details about exhibitions or collections contact Louise Bowen on 01472 323560 or louise.bowen@nelincs.gov.uk.
Our paintings
You can now view the painting collection online for free at the Art UK website. Art UK is a charity, and their website represents a collaboration between over 3,200 British institutions.
