Come and visit the fascinating Coastal Communities Museum located in the seaside town of North Berwick in Scotland.

Coastal Communities Museum Historical Objects

Welcome to the Coastal Communities Museum

Come and visit our fascinating local museum located in the seaside town of North Berwick. We’re run entirely by enthusiastic volunteers and our aim is to enable locals and visitors to explore the culture and heritage of the coastal communities that make up East Lothian’s North Berwick coastal ward – North Berwick, Dirleton, Gullane, Aberlady and Whitekirk plus the smaller inland hamlets. It’s free to enter (donations appreciated), you’ll get a warm friendly welcome and there’s lots to discover for all ages.

Oil Painting of a young woman baiting nets at North Berwick Harbour by Catherine Watson

Discover Catherine Watson’s remarkable story and her connection to North Berwick. Click on the painting to discover her story of bravery, self sacrifice, a life cut short and our chance sighting of her artistic work on BBC Antiques Roadshow.

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Winter Talks – Bondagers and the Bondage System, Thursday 5 December 2024

Bondagers were the community of mainly women workers who laboured on farms in Northumberland and South East Scotland in the 18th to early 20th centuries.

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Summertime Memories of North Berwick

North Berwick has always been a popular seaside and golfing holiday resort in Scotland. Some things have changed over the years, but others haven’t. Jean Crawford, who was born in 1923, tells us how it was when she was a girl.

FIND THE MUSEUM

Coastal Communities Museum
School Road
North Berwick
EH39 4JU
Scotland
01620 894313

FREE ENTRY
(donations appreciated)

Opening Times

We are now closed until April 2025

Illustration of lighthouse keeper and seagull

OUR INSTAGRAM FEED

Tomorrow, Saturday 26 October is your last chance to visit the museum before we close for the winter. Come in and meet our lovely volunteers and browse the culture and heritage of our local coastal communities here in East Lothian. We’re open f

The Guild from St Andrew Blackadder Church were warmly welcomed when they visited the Museum on Tuesday 1 October. After looking round the exhibits, our lovely volunteers were on hand to serve tea, coffee and biscuits.

Photos and montage by Derek Br

Thank you to everyone who came along to our AGM last night and the excellent performance by North Berwick Drama Circle.
Our next Winter Talk will be on Thursday 5 December. Dinah Iredale presents ‘Bondagers - The Forgotten Workers’.

Although the Coastal Communities Museum will be closing for the winter months at the end of October, we will continue to entertain you during the colder, darker evenings with our new season of Winter Talks. The first Talk kicks off on Tuesday 22 Octo

As the nights draw in and thoughts turn to Hallowe’en, why not come and see our ‘Apology to the Witches’ exhibit at the museum? North Berwick was a significant location in the persecution of ordinary women and men in the late 1500s

Happy holidaymakers at The North Berwick Outdoor Pool!

Many swimming galas and events were held at the pool and it was a wonderful place to visit for families on holiday. Some of the Galas were held in the evening and attracted big crowds. Over the

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Become a Member or Patron

You can join the Coastal Communities Museum Trust by becoming a Member or a Patron, thus helping to sustain and develop the museum and its various events/activities. Your affiliation to the museum then permits you to receive benefits.

We’ve joined The East Lothian Community Lottery

We now have an East Lothian Community Lottery page. Support local causes and win prizes of up to £25,000.

Volunteering Opportunities

CCM Volunteers are a friendly, committed team with a wide range of interests. No historic expertise is necessary, just enthusiasm! Each volunteer is given induction training and then further time to settle in to their particular role. The more volunteers we have, the more we can hope to achieve.

Donate Now

Working in partnership with East Lothian Council means that we are not permitted to charge an entry fee to the Museum, so we rely on other sources of income. Visitor and supporter's donations are critical to our ability to stay open and develop our volunteer run site.

Coastal Communities Museum

Welcome to the Coastal Communities Museum

Discover Catherine Watson’s remarkable story and her connection to North Berwick. Click on the painting to discover her story of bravery, self sacrifice, a life cut short and our chance sighting of her artistic work on BBC Antiques Roadshow.

FIND THE MUSEUM

Opening Times

OUR INSTAGRAM FEED

© Coastal Communities Museum, Scottish Charity Number: SC043666Website Design: Booth Creative.

© Coastal Communities Museum, Scottish Charity Number: SC043666
Website Design: Booth Creative.