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All the United Kingdom England Deal Deal Maritime and Local History Museum

Deal Maritime and Local History Museum

A jumble of treasures in a small space, this old-fashioned local museum is full of surprises.

Deal, England

Added By
Kathryn Reilly
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The flute-playing rat.   kathrynsavillereilly / Atlas Obscura User
The flute-playing rat.   kathrynsavillereilly / Atlas Obscura User
Ship’s figurehead.   kathrynsavillereilly / Atlas Obscura User
The Museum’s courtyard.   kathrynsavillereilly / Atlas Obscura User
Just off the High Street.   kathrynsavillereilly / Atlas Obscura User
A random Deal dish.   kathrynsavillereilly / Atlas Obscura User
An uncomfortable-looking life “jacket.”   kathrynsavillereilly / Atlas Obscura User
A Hooden Horse in 1909.   H. B. Collis/public domain
  Steve 55 / Atlas Obscura User
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About

This bijoux museum is hidden down a side road and is often overlooked. But as soon as you step over the threshold and breathe in that delightfully musty aroma, history buffs will know they're in for a treat.

Deal's maritime history is explored, including Admiral Horatio Nelson's stay here and his liaisons with Emma Hamilton, alongside the fate-changing dangers of the “ship-swallowing” Goodwin Sands. There are cannonballs, anchors, boats, flags, and figureheads aplenty, plus details of the nefarious pursuits of the local smugglers, including a diagram of a coat made to hide just about any contraband.

Model boats, a replica of a World War I bunker and history of the Royal Marines are housed in an adjacent building. The local history section is a mix of the marvelously mundane—plates and dishes from old Deal establishments—and wonderfully eccentric, including a stuffed rat playing the flute and a shoe large enough to fit a giant.

You’ll also see not one, but two Hooden Horses. Hoodening is an old folk custom found specifically in East Kent, southeast England. A wooden hobby horse on a pole is worked by a man under a sackcloth, its jaws making a distinctive “clack clack” noise that terrifies children. Originally, the horse collected money in its mouth, but now it generally clacks along to accompanying folk music.

Related Tags

Museums Museums And Collections Objects Of Intrigue Maritime History Horses Taxidermy

Know Before You Go

The museum is open 1 p.m.-4 p.m., Thursday to Monday from April through October.

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Added By

kathrynsavillereilly

Edited By

Steve 55

  • Steve 55

Published

April 16, 2019

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Deal Maritime and Local History Museum
24 St George's Rd
Deal, England, CT14 6BA
United Kingdom
51.225342, 1.401123
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Nearby Places

Walmer Castle and Gardens

Walmer, England

miles away

The Ham Sandwich Sign

Finglesham, England

miles away

No Name Street

Sandwich, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of England

England

United Kingdom

Places 2,233
Stories 145

Nearby Places

Walmer Castle and Gardens

Walmer, England

miles away

The Ham Sandwich Sign

Finglesham, England

miles away

No Name Street

Sandwich, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of England

England

United Kingdom

Places 2,233
Stories 145

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