Captain Cook Schoolroom Museum


About Captain Cook Schoolroom Museum

The Captain Cook Schoolroom Museum is in the heart of Great Ayton, housed in a building once used as a charity school founded by Michael Postgate, in 1704. It is run by volunteers and entry is free.

It tells the story of Cook's early life from when his father moved to Aireyholme Farm in Great Ayton in 1736 and how his education was sponsored in the village school by Thomas Skottowe, the Lord of the Manor. The museum features a reconstruction of an early eighteenth century schoolroom of the type that Cook would have attended.

His later life in Staithes and then Whitby and his voyages up and down the east coast on the coal ships, before joining the navy and his subsequent famous round the world voyages are covered in an audio/visual presentation.

Besides an informative display about Great Ayton, the museum links out to the wider village where visitors will find a bronze statue of Cook on the High Green and to the commemorative garden at the location where  Cook's father built a family cottage. In 1933 the cottage was sold and shipped to Australia where it was rebuilt in Fitzroy Park in Melbourne.

Visit Captain Cook Schoolroom Museum

Accessibility

External access

Level entry pavement (tarmac) to ground floor entrance.

Internal access

Ground floor is flat – lift to first floor.

For full details and facilities please visit Captain Cook Schoolroom Museum's website

https://captaincookschoolroommuseum.co.uk/

Facilities

Captain Cook Schoolroom Museum provides the following facilities

Car parking

Street parking in the village.

Toilets and baby changing facilities

Village Public Toilets are opposite museum.

Getting here

Contact us

Captain Cook Schoolroom Museum, 101 High Street, Great Ayton, TS9 6NF
Tel 01642 724296

Location

On High Street near to Library and Information Centre.

Public transport

Arriva route 28A and Coatham Coaches route 18 bus services.

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