We are now taking booking for 2023. Please use our online form button below if you would like to host your own FREE exhibition using our extensive artefacts collection.
Opening times Monday - Wednesday 9.30am to 1pm and 2pm to 4.30pm Entry is free.
Centre Details Built in 1776, the former parish church in Saltcoats, houses our principal museum collection. With an artefact collection of local, regional and national importance, many objects are displayed on a permanent basis along with regularly changing temporary exhibitions. The collection includes:
a stone sarcophagus, thought to be one of the finest examples of Scottish medieval sculpture
archaeology
social, domestic, military and natural history
costume
fine art
the Ardrossan Burgh Fire Engine, built in 1866 and used during the First World War.
Scotland's Year of Stories will spotlight, celebrate and promote the wealth of stories inspired by, written, or created in Scotland.
Join the conversation online using #YS2022 #TalesOfScotland
We are delighted to announce our first exhibition since 2019 and our partner event Year of Stories 2022 with Visit Scotland. Celebrating the stories of lighthouses, light vessels and the famous Stevenson Lighthouse Engineers.
In association with North Ayrshire Heritage and Culture venue the Heritage Centre, Manse Street, Saltcoats. Our exhibition will run for 86 days featuring a unique collection of artefacts telling you the stories of the lighthouses, the staff and the engineers.
Highlights include never before seen colour video footage of Clyde Lighthouse Trust lighthouse keepers and their families at Little Cumbrae Lighthouse, a full 1hr guided tour of the history on board Scotland’s Last Lightship North Carr and signed books, photographs and letters by the famous Stevenson Engineers. Learn stories about Alan Stevenson and what he was doing during his second year as apprentice engineer working in Scotland, learn about the illustrator who created the art for Robert Louis Stevenson, and many other stories.
You will also enjoy the world’s latest Bell Rock Lighthouse construction, an amazing feat of model engineering construction of this famous lighthouse almost 6ft high, created specifically for the exhibition in collaboration with Littledart England to celebrate 211 years of the Bell Rock Lighthouse. We look forward to welcoming you to the exhibition at Saltcoats. The exhibition runs from 04 April 2022 until 28 June 2022. Our launch video can be viewed below: https://bit.ly/YS2022FTL
See our events page at The List Magazine Website below: bit.ly/thelist2022
PAST EXHiBITION NEWS
The Covid 19 pandemic of 2020 has impacted on all museum and arts venues resulting in continued closure of venues. In light of the current situation no date has been fixed for the public display of the artefacts in the Following The Lights collection.
However, work is underway to bring a virtual tour of items online with collaboration with North Ayrshire Heritage and Cultural Service who will host the next exhibition in Saltcoats and Millport Scotland. Please keep a look on social media and the website for updates.