Big Heritage, an award-winning heritage organization, has announced plans to open a new museum dedicated to the Battle of the Atlantic in the summer of 2026. This will be the first museum in the world solely focused on this significant military campaign of the Second World War.
The museum will be located at Woodside Ferry in Birkenhead, on the banks of the River Mersey. It is being supported by major international partners, including the Royal Navy and United States Navy, as well as local partners such as Cammell Laird at Veterans Launchpad. Cammell Laird, a shipyard crucial to the Battle of the Atlantic, is conveniently located next to the museum site.
The museum will showcase the full story of the campaign, including a new presentation of U-534, a German U-boat that played a significant role in the conflict. It will also feature never-before-seen artefacts and documents, shedding new light on this pivotal moment in history.
Dean Paton, Director of Big Heritage and manager of the Western Approaches Museum in Liverpool, where the Battle of the Atlantic was overseen, expressed his excitement about the project. “The Battle of the Atlantic shaped the course of the Second World War, and yet its full story has never been told in one place – until now,” he said. “This new museum will not only honour the courage and sacrifice of those who served, but also connect that legacy to the communities who helped secure victory – including those still working on the banks of the Mersey today.”
Paton also highlighted the involvement of local communities in the project. Cammell Laird apprentices will be involved in preserving U-534, and veterans will contribute to the creation of exhibits and collections. This, according to Paton, will ensure that the museum has a “Merseyside accent.”
Rob Lockyer, Independent Living Coordinator at Veterans Launchpad, expressed gratitude for being a part of this project. “The chance to contribute to the creation of a museum honouring military history – especially one with such deep naval significance – means a great deal to our veterans,” he said. “It’s more than just a job and it’s a meaningful way to reconnect with their identity and continue serving in a new way.”
The museum has received funding from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government. Updates on the project will be provided on the Western Approaches Museum’s social media accounts starting from August. For media enquiries, interviews, or images, please contact Dean Paton at DEAN@BIGHERITAGE.CO.UK. More information about Veterans Launchpad can be found at https://veteranslaunchpad.org.uk/. The news was distributed by https://pressat.co.uk/.
