When we think about history, we often think about what was written down — records, diaries, official documents. But in Staithes, much of the village’s past was sung . Songs carried stories. Hymns carried grief. Choruses carried community. And for generations, the people of Staithes filled chapels, cottages, pubs, hillsides and even the open seafront with music. Just recently, we shared a Victorian Staithes cricket song on this blog (here) — full of local jokes and reference

Happy New Year! Please find here our January newsletter. It’s been a quiet, rainy start to the year, but there’s still plenty going on behind the scenes at the museum — from poetry exhibitions and folklore in the Yorkshire Post, to planning our new audio guide and preparing for some exciting visits and projects ahead. There are also details of the next volunteers’ meeting and a visit from the High Sheriff on 5th March, which you’re very welcome to come along to. As always, th

This fascinating piece of research was kindly shared with us by cricket historian Roy Hyde, who visited Staithes Museum with his wife Doctor Helen Hyde last year. While exploring the early history of cricket in the village, Roy uncovered a remarkable find: a celebratory cricket song written and performed in Staithes in 1897, along with the rich story of the team, the people involved, and the brief but brilliant heyday of Staithes Cricket Club at the end of the nineteenth cent

Staithes Museum is a small, independent museum rooted in the history of a North Yorkshire fishing village – but what we offer for learning is surprisingly broad. Our collections, archives and stories span hundreds of years and touch on themes that work across history, geography, science, art, literacy and citizenship. This page is designed as a practical guide for teachers and educators. It explains what’s in our collection, what we’ve done before, and – most importantly – ho

Dear all, It was really lovely to see so many of you recently, and to have the chance to say thank you in person for all the time, care and energy you’ve given to the museum this year. It was also a pleasure to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Attached is our final newsletter of 2025, which looks back on the year through data, stories and updates from across the museum. It brings together visitor figures, social media and website insights, highlights from

Hello everyone! Please find here our latest newsletter for November. This month we’ve included a look back at our Remembrance Day exhibition, an update on our alum interpretation project, and a piece from my apprenticeship reflecting on decision-making and the future of our digitised catalogue. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as we enjoyed putting it together. A huge thank you for the donation in response to last month's newsletter “with fond memories of regular holidays

We were delighted to welcome Nicola Chalton and the team from 3-Minute Arts CIC  to Staithes Museum recently, as part of their Moors & Coast  creative writing series. The group spent time exploring our archive collections , gathering inspiration from the photographs, letters, and local histories that bring Staithes’ story to life. Local historian Bill Hinchley also generously offered to provide a walking tour of the village - exploring the atmosphere and history of the villav

Dear all, We’re delighted to share our latest newsletter with you, packed with news of school outreach, new learning materials, exciting acquisitions, and volunteer opportunities. Inside, you’ll also find a feature on my latest apprenticeship challenges, and our spotlight on a beautifully illustrated map of Captain Cook’s voyages. You can find it here. If you enjoy reading about our activities and the museum’s work, please consider supporting us with a donation. Every contri

As you enter the Staithes Museum, the first exhibit shows the tools of the fisherman’s trade - labelled, not in English, but in Staithes Dialect. It’s your opportunity to take a dip into the rich linguistic tapestry of our village, a local speech often considered more than just a dialect - a living language that has survived with "great tenacity". The isolation of Staithes before the arrival of the railway in 1885 allowed many ancient characteristics of its speech to persist.

It’s a chilly winter morning in Staithes, the kind where the sea mist hangs low over the rooftops and there are more cats than seagulls on the streets - all the birds are tucked up in the cliff, out of the wind's reach. I come in through the museum door and say good morning to Rosie, who has already got the kettle on. It’s quiet — winter is always a gentler season here — but that’s part of the charm. The first job of the day is to make sure the shop is ready. A few postcards

A painting of Grief Among the paintings that capture the soul of Staithes, few convey its emotional depth as powerfully as Harold...

Dear all, Please find at this link the latest Staithes Museum newsletter. It’s been a packed few weeks — from our record-breaking...

Dear All, Sorry it's late, but we've been suffering from success at the museum - with record visitor numbers, and an exciting pile of...

The Staithes Festival of Arts and Heritage is famous for filling our little village with music, colour, and plenty of Yorkshire charm....

Dear all, I’m pleased to share the July edition of the Staithes Museum newsletter here ! This month’s issue is full of updates from...

At Staithes Museum, our volunteers are at the heart of everything we do — whether they’re welcoming visitors, caring for artefacts, or...

Hello everyone!I’m thrilled to announce that I’ve just begun a Level 7 Curator Apprenticeship  through Teesside University. This is a...

Welcome to the Staithes Museum blog! As you stand within our walls, you're not just in a building, but within a cornerstone of Staithes'...

Dear all, I’m delighted to share with you this month’s Staithes Museum Newsletter — follow this link to read! Inside, you’ll find: A big...

We’ve been hard at work at Staithes Museum on a big, behind-the-scenes project: cataloguing and photographing our collection. It’s not...