Plan Your Visit to Our Maritime Archive
Our doors in Deal, Kent are open to researchers, educators, and maritime enthusiasts. Find our location, opening hours, and how to contact us for research help or feedback on our educational programmes.
Contact Details
Contact our team directly for research help, to book an educational programme, or for general questions about British maritime history.
- Telephone: +44 20 839 659 65 (Mon-Fri, 09:00-17:00)
- Email: support@BritishMaritimeHistory.com
- Postal Address: British Maritime History, 42 Beach Street, Deal, Kent CT14 6JT
- Research Enquiries: research@BritishMaritimeHistory.com
We aim to answer urgent research requests within 48 hours, but complex questions may take up to 5 working days.
Our archive building in Deal is a former 19th-century naval college.
Location & How to Find Us
Our archive is in the heart of Deal, Kent, a town with a rich maritime history. It's just a 10-minute walk from Deal Pier and the seafront.
By Car
From the M20, take exit 12 onto the A260 towards Deal. Follow signs for the town centre. You can park at Deal Pier car park (CT14 6HJ), which is a 5-minute walk away.
Disabled parking: Two spaces available directly outside our entrance on Beach Street.
By Train
Deal railway station is a 15-minute walk from our archive. Direct trains run from London St Pancras (1h 45m), Canterbury (30m), and Dover (20m).
There's a taxi rank outside the station; the ride takes about 5 minutes.
Visiting Hours
Our archive is open to the public for research visits, educational programmes, and general questions. We recommend booking research visits ahead of time to make sure the materials you need are available.
We're closed on Sundays and Bank Holidays. Last entry is 30 minutes before closing. Research visits must be booked in advance. book your visit.
Our reading room — where researchers access our collection of maritime documents
Research Enquiries
Our specialist team helps researchers, academics, and family historians explore our maritime archives. Whether you're tracing a naval ancestor or studying trade routes, we're here to help.
What We Offer
- Access to 12,478 digitised ship logs from 1750-1950
- Personal research assistance from our archivists
- High-resolution scans of original documents (fees apply)
- Remote research services for international enquiries
- Educational workshops for schools and universities
Research Fees
We charge fees for research services to recover costs. These fees help preserve our collection and allow us to offer free public access to the archives.
- Day pass: £15 (includes access to reading room)
- Document scanning: £5 per scan (up to A3 size)
- Archivist research time: £30/hour (minimum 1 hour)
- Educational groups: £5 per student (minimum 10 students)
- Remote research: £45/hour (includes email delivery of findings)
Book Your Visit
Research visits must be booked at least 48 hours in advance. Use our online form or contact our research team directly.
Email Research TeamNot sure what you're looking for? Our archivists can help identify relevant materials for your research topic — just ask.
Your feedback helps us improve our educational programmes and research services.
We're committed to improving our services. Your feedback helps shape the future of how we teach British maritime history.
"The archive's digitisation project has transformed my research on 18th-century naval logistics. The team's expertise saved me months of work."
— Dr Eleanor Whitmore, University of Greenwich
"Our Year 9 students were captivated by the original ship logs. The workshop brought history to life in a way no textbook could."
— Mr James Carter, Dover Grammar School
Ready to explore Britain's maritime past?
Whether you're planning a research visit, booking a workshop, or just want to learn more, we're here to help.