Foulness Island Heritage Centre

NEXT OPEN DAY 2nd of August 2026

IMPORTANT NOTICE

Registration is OPEN

We regret that our space is LIMITED and registration closes automatically each month once the maximum number has been reached.

Please be careful and accurate in your bookings as we are unable to amend registrations.

From July 2025 a registration fee of £1 per person will apply.

The Heritage Centre is proud to receive a Garden Bench dedicated to Norman "Sam" Self

A garden bench dedicated to Norman “Sam” Self is a welcome addition to the Heritage Centre. Norman Self, known to everybody as “Sam” was a true Foulness man, having lived and worked on the island all his life. He took a keen interest in the countryside and would often be seen on his bike heading towards the seawall to sit quietly for a while and just take in the beauty of Foulness. He also had an interest in local history with a particular expertise in Foulness during the Second World War. This was knowledge he gained from first hand experience. In his later life he was able to guide archaeologists to the exact spot a Hurricane had crashed during the Battle of Britain.

A founder member of the Foulness Conservation and Archaeological Society, Sam was never an idle man. So when the opportunity came for our society to take tenancy of the old school house, Sam was there to lend a hand. The Heritage Centre was the brainchild of our former president Bob Crump BEM and Sam soon became his right hand man. Together, they worked hard at transforming the old school, abandoned for over 15 years into something like you see it today. The Heritage Centre bears witness to the hard work that members of our society have put in over the years. Sam’s contribution was rewarded by being made Honorary Vice President; a fitting tribute.

Sam has a sundial in the garden as a memorial and now a garden bench. If you sit on his bench, remember Sam, a true Foulness man.

The Heritage Centre was opened in 2003. Prior to this the building had been a Church of England school for the children of Foulness Island, closing its doors to pupils in 1988.

Foulness Conservation and Archaeology Society (FCAS) was granted a 15 year lease in 2001. The building was completely renovated and exhibitions were prepared by a group of member volunteers. FCAS has now extended including the old school house. The Museum contains artefacts and documents covering 2,000 years of Foulness history. These artefacts have either been found during archaeological digs, or donated by the residents and friends of Foulness Island. They are a record of everyday life of generations past for the benefit of future generations.

Visitors are welcome on the 1st Sunday of each month from April through to October.
Admission and Parking are Free.
Centre is open from 12.00 (check-in at Landwick available from 11.45am)
Heritage Centre closes at 16.00, you have until 16.30 to get back to Landwick.

How to get here

No public transport is available on Sunday. Foulness Island is owned by the MOD & managed by QinetiQ.

They have allowed the public access on the days and times above. There is no general public access by road as it is a working Firing Range and access is usually only via Security Gate at Landwick by appointment only. The Island is accessible by road via Landwick Security Gate and all visitors have to gain a pass by checking in and providing name, phone number & vehicle registration no. The pass states that you can drive to the Heritage Centre & Church only. You will have to hand back this pass when you leave.

There are Public Footpaths that are only accessible on our Open Days. Please refer to QinetiQ website info here.

Please click here for QinetiQ Public Access & Security leaflet.

Please use SS3 0DH in your Sat Nav, go a couple of hundred yards further and you will see a small roundabout and parking. Please go to reception and follow instructions.

As with all our visitors, you will be assured of a warm welcome when you visit our Heritage Centre. But please remember that the only reason you are able to visit Foulness is because the Foulness Conservation and Archaeological Society (FCAS) has been given permission by the MoD to open the Heritage Centre to the general public. Normally, Foulness is an active military site, closed to the general public. Please do not use the opportunity of visiting the Heritage Centre as an excuse to “Have a look around” the rest of Foulness. Quite simply, it is not allowed. This is for your safety. Most of our visitors abide by our request to stay to footpaths on which motor or bicycle traffic is not allowed and they respect the countryside. Just a few have in the past wandered about on Foulness with no regard to their safety or respect to what the FCAS is trying to achieve. Sadly, if the minority continue to take advantage of the trust which the FCAS places in their visitors, we will have no alternative but to close the Heritage Centre to the general public. That would be a great shame.