Isles of Scilly Museum

The Isles of Scilly Museum holds a wide range of objects from the islands’ past. Its collections include wreck finds, wild-flower displays in summer, Romano-British artefacts from Nornour, and local art. Among the most notable items are the Bryher Sword and Bryher Mirror, recovered from an Iron-Age grave on Bryher in 1999. The museum also preserves stuffed birds and other natural-history material gathered over many years. These objects tell the story of Scilly’s archaeology, ecology and island life. The museum began in 1962 after storms revealed Romano-British remains on Nornour. Islanders opened a small seasonal display in the Wesleyan Chapel, then raised funds for a permanent building in Hugh Town. Queen Elizabeth II visited the museum in 1967 during its first season. After decades of service, structural concerns led the council to close the building in 2019. The collections were moved to safe storage while temporary displays toured the islands under the title “Museum on the Move.” Today parts of the museum can be seen in the Town Hall in Hugh Town. The front area serves as a visitor centre where some of the best pieces, including the Bryher Woman’s sword and mirror, are shown. The curator, Kate Hale, has spoken of plans to create a new cultural centre that will house the museum permanently. Work supported by a National Lottery grant aims to open the new facility in the winter of 2025–26. Until then, visitors can still encounter Scilly’s history through the travelling exhibitions and the displays in the Town Hall.