Dover Museum Information

Dover Museum

The Bronze Age Boat was discovered in September 1992 during major road works in the centre of Dover, when archaeologists discovered the remains of a large wooden prehistoric boat. Radio carbon dating has shown the boat to be about 3,550 years old. It was a find of international significance that has helped shed new light on early seafaring and woodworking skills in Northern Europe. About two thirds of the boat has been recovered - about 9.5m by 2.4m. A boat this size would have been capable of crossing the channel, carrying a large cargo of supplies, livestock and passengers. It was probably propelled by at least 18 paddlers. 

The Dover Bronze Age Boat is the world's oldest known seagoing boat.

The Dover Bronze Age Boat Gallery is now open to residents and visitors to the Dover Deal and Sandwich area at Dover Museum.

Truely an article of world wide interest is Dovers bronze age boat at Dover Museum, The museum is in the heart of Dover and is an educational and historic adventure!

The Dover Bronze Age Boat is an award-winning project. In December 2000, it was awarded the British Archaeological Awards ICI Award 2000, for its contribution to archaeological knowledge.

The Dover Bronze Age Boat Trust

The Bronze Age Boat project was achieved by the Dover Bronze Age Boat Trust, a charitable organisation set up to manage the conservation and exhibition of the boat. Due to the work of this organisation, the boat is to stay in Dover and be displayed in Dover Museum.

The daily running costs of the gallery are being met by Dover District Council, which owns and operates the Museum Service. In six years (1993-1999) the Dover Bronze Age Boat Trust raised £1.6million to fund the preservation and display of the boat. The principal donors were :

The Heritage Lottery Fund
English Heritage
The European Regional Development Fund (KONVER Programme)
and The Wolfson Foundation

Please mention

the Best Of Dover Deal and Sandwich

when contacting Dover Museum