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Grace Darling Museum

Grace Darling Museum front. Photo: Jon Stokes

The Grace Darling Museum in Bamburgh, Northumberland, UK, commemorates the life of Victorian Britain's greatest heroine and the story of the wreck of the SS Forfarshire in 1838.

The museum features the famous rescue coble, Grace's dresses, letters and family belongings, and a cornucopia of commemorative ware

How to find us

Map of location View full map

The Grace Darling Museum
Radcliffe Road
Bamburgh
Northumberland
NE69 7AE

Telephone: 01668 214 910

Nearest rail station: Berwick–upon Tweed

In Bamburgh village, opposite St Aidan’s church and a short walk from the castle. Parking is at the opposite end of the village and public toilets are very near the museum.

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Originally opened on this site in 1938, today’s museum boasts a stylish and environmentally friendly building that does justice to the displays, events and research that takes place here.

The museum illustrates Grace’s upbringing and life on the lighthouse, the events of the rescue that propelled her into the limelight and the nature of that subsequent fame. Her story is told through personal items, including letters, family portraits and the famous coble. Atmospheric audio-visual interpretation and a stunning model of the Longstone lighthouse are also on offer.

Opening times 

October–Easter ​

Easter–September ​

Tuesday–Sunday and Bank Holidays

10am–4pm
(Last admission 3.30pm)​

Monday–Sunday

10am–5pm
(Last admission 4.15pm)​

 

Admission

Free

Painting entitled Grace Darling by Thomas Brooks, c.1866

​Grace Darling was 22 years old when she risked her life in an open boat to help the survivors of the wrecked SS Forfarshire on 7 September 1838. With her father, she rowed for over a mile through raging seas to reach them. The courage that Grace and her family showed on that day is now legendary.

Grace was the media celebrity of her day. She was celebrated internationally and was showered with honours, including the RNLI's Silver Medal for Gallantry. A museum was established in 1938 to commemorate her life.

Spring/Summer 2013

26 May-2 June: Inspired by Grace

An exhibition of artefacts inspired by Grace's famous rescue, to mark its 175th anniversary.

19 July-1 September: Inspired by Grace

An exhibition from the museum's stored collections.

7 September: Row to the Farnes

Event to mark the 175th anniversary of Grace's famous rescue.

Find more upcoming events in the Bamburgh area here.

Children enjoy a Grace Darling Museum Friday Family Fun session. Photo: RNLI

The RNLI Grace Darling Museum offers a fun learning environment for all ages, with a dedicated Learning Officer and an exciting programme of workshops. Schools and groups can come for a general visit or book a workshop/talk with the Learning Officer. View the full list of our workshops.

Outreach

The museum also offers outreach sessions which bring Grace Darling or the RNLI into the classroom with costumes and objects (donations welcomed). Outreach talks to adult groups are also available.

Booking

The museum gets very busy so booking is essential, even for general visits. Please email or call the museum on 01668 214910.

Admission

We don't charge for admission, but ask for a suggested donation of £1 a head per workshop.

Inspection visits

Inspection visits are welcomed for teachers to view the museum beforehand. Information to help with risk assessment is available in our downloadable teacher’s pack. If you need assistance or for a hard copy of the teacher’s pack please email the museum.

 

We run activity workshops for school groups - come along to the museum for a fun day out that covers important lessons aligned with the national curriculum. Call us on 01668 214 910 to book.​

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You to the rescue

PSHE, History and Drama

Bringing the story of the rescue to life through costume and drama, pupils become the main characters in the famous story, explore the emotions involved and gain an understanding of help and rescue.

  • PSHE KS1 & 2: Knowledge, skills and understanding

  • Citizenship KS1 & 2 Unit 1: Taking Part

  • History KS1 Unit 4: Why do we remember Grace Darling?

  • Drama

Meet the family

Object handling

Find out about Grace Darling, her family and life in a lighthouse by exploring objects that tell us about their lives. Designed to inspire speaking, listening and responding.

  • Literacy: speaking, listening and responding, group discussion and interaction

  • History KS1 Units 1 & 4

  • History KS2 Units 12 & 18

Meet Grace Darling

Character in role

Pupils will meet ‘Grace Darling' to hear the story in her words and get a chance to hot seat questions.

  • Literacy: speaking, listening and responding and drama

  • History KS1 Unit 4

  • Drama

Art attack

Art appreciation and Drama

Find out about the dramatic rescue through paintings from the time. Pupils explore emotions, visualise the rescue and use drama to recreate the famous scenes.

  • Art

  • Art and Design KS2 Unit 9: gen

  • Literacy: speaking, listening and responding and drama

Puppet power

Shadow puppets

Recreate the story of Grace Darling with a Victorian shadow puppet show. Pupils make their own puppets and then act out the story.

  • Art

  • Art and Design KS2 Unit 9: gen

  • Literacy: speaking, listening and responding, drama

  • Design and Technology KS1 Unit 2b: Puppets

  • History KS1 Unit 4: Why do we remember Grace Darling?​

What's your story

Literacy and Drama

Find out how to create a story and then use the museum displays to retell the famous story of Grace Darling. Re-enact the story with costume and drama using our replica coble.

  • Literacy: speaking, listening and responding, group discussion and interaction, drama and understanding and interpreting texts.

  • History KS1 Unit 4: Why do we remember Grace darling?

  • Drama

Victorian values

Research

Understand Victorian values by exploring public reaction and media response to Grace Darling's rescue. Using evidence such as newspaper accounts and paintings, pupils will explore the story as they know it and question its accuracy. Concludes with lively debate!

  • Citizenship KS2 Unit 11: In the media - what's the news?

  • Citizenship KS3 Unit 9: The significance of the media in society

  • History KS1 Unit 4: Why do we remember Grace Darling?

  • History KS2 Units 12 and 18: Victorians

  • History KS3 Unit 22: The role of the individual for good or ill?

  • Literacy: Understanding and interpreting texts, engaging with and responding to texts.

What is history - Grace Darling

Research

Aimed to develop research skills by introducing concepts of reliability and usefulness, and considering what types of evidence researchers and historians need in order to find out information. Pupils are also asked to consider the types of questions required when evaluating evidence.

  • History KS3 Y7 Units 1: Introductory Unit: What's it all about

  • History: Knowledge, Skills and Understanding

  • Literacy: Understanding and interpreting texts, engaging with and responding to texts, text structure and organisation.

RNLI recruits

PSHE and Drama

Pupils re-enact a modern day scenario where they are a lifeboat crew and have to understand emotions, make choices, agree and follow rules, work co-operatively and realise they have responsibilities. They must learn from their experiences and reward each other for good work. Problem-solving.

  • PSHE KS 1 & 2: Knowledge, skills and understanding

  • Citizenship KS 1 & 2 Unit 1: Taking Part

  • Citizenship KS 1 & 2 Unit 2: Choices

  • Citizenship KS 1 & 2 Unit 4: People who help us

Out on a shout

Our lifeboat crews launch 24 times a day on average. Find out which station has launched near you around the UK and Republic of Ireland. View shouts.

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Fund Raising Standards Board Logo The Royal National Lifeboat Institution is a charity registered in England and Wales (209603) and Scotland (SC037736). Charity number CHY 2678 in the Republic of Ireland | RNLI (Trading) Ltd - 01073377, RNLI (Sales) Ltd - 2202240, RNLI (Enterprises) Ltd - 1784500 and RNLI College Ltd - 7705470 are all companies registered at West Quay Road, Poole BH15 1HZ. Images & copyright © RNLI 2012.