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Welcome to the Newbiggin Rocket House website.

The Rocket House opened to the public on August Bank Holiday Weekend 2017

Opening Times: Saturday and Sunday 11.00am to 4.00pm

Closed for the Winter from November 1st but open by appointment.


Rocket Houses were a vital, but largely unknown, part of our maritime heritage. They once housed rockets and breeches buoys which were used to rescue shipwrecked mariners from vessels that had run aground close to shore. Rockets were second only to lifeboats in saving lives from shipwrecks.

Thanks to the Heritage Lottery Fund and other funders, Newbiggin's Rocket House is being restored to tell the story of the Rocket House, Newbiggin's Volunteer Life Brigade and the lives they have saved.
Rockets and breeches buoys were used for over 100 years. The last time the rocket apparatus was used on the North East coast was in 1963 to rescue the crew of the Adelfotis which had run aground in the mouth of the River Tyne.
Newbiggin's Rocket House closed in 1970.

 

“The Rocket House project has been supported by a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we have been able to restore and make accessible this vital part of our maritime heritage” -

Barry Mead - Project Manager