HMS Ganges Museum

HMS Ganges Museum Independent, Fully Accredited, Volunteer run Museum of former HMS Ganges, Royal Naval Training Establishment, Shotley Gate, IP9 1QJ. Closes 4pm.

Open Easter W/End: Saturday - 25th Oct. Saturdays & Sundays, 11am-3:30pm. Free Entry
Reg Charity No. 1214711 HOURS:
11.00am to 4.00pm, last entries 3.30pm
OPEN:
Saturdays and Sundays from Easter Saturday to the last Sunday in October each year. Please enquire to book visits at other times. Forward Bookings taken for Private Group or Individual Visits, year round, on Wednesday Mornings By Arrangement Only.

Join us today to help us continue commemoration of the closing of the gates at HMS Ganges. We have lots going on by and ...
06/06/2026

Join us today to help us continue commemoration of the closing of the gates at HMS Ganges. We have lots going on by and in the museum so please pop in the marquee to find out more. Here’s a few photos of yesterday’s Commemoration event.

Wrapping up the day and last guests to leave the museum we had Martin and Val Fox, Steve Whibley and Debbie Kiddier. A p...
05/06/2026

Wrapping up the day and last guests to leave the museum we had Martin and Val Fox, Steve Whibley and Debbie Kiddier. A photo in front of The Indian Prince, HMS Ganges ships' figure head is obligatory and so is Colin, our chairman, being in it too 😁.

They also helped volunteers John, Jon, Michael, Adrian and Colin finish of the rum ration... 🥃🥃🥃⚓️

Today we held our private event for former HMS Ganges Trainees 'Ganges Boys' and later older trainees known as 'Six Week...
05/06/2026

Today we held our private event for former HMS Ganges Trainees 'Ganges Boys' and later older trainees known as 'Six Week Wonders' plus permanent staff to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the final closure of the training establishment by the Royal Navy in 1976. The end of an era and mixed memories for many.

Here's a selection of photos from the day.

Thank you to all you helped make the event an enjoyable success including all our hard working volunteers, Shotley Marina staff and Janey and crew at The Shipwreck who provided much assistance and a fantastic buffet.

Tomorrow, Saturday 6th June, we have our Public Open Day.

PUBLIC OPEN DAY - SATURDAY 6th JUNE 2026Come along to the HMS Ganges Museum Public Open Day this Saturday at Shotley Mar...
02/06/2026

PUBLIC OPEN DAY - SATURDAY 6th JUNE 2026

Come along to the HMS Ganges Museum Public Open Day this Saturday at Shotley Marina.

We have a whole host of attractions for you to enjoy.

💢 The Shipwreck starts their all day BBQ from 10am to Early Evening. From £5 - Card only.

💢 HMS Ganges Museum is Open From 11am-4pm (last entry 3:30pm) with Free Entry. Dogs and Children welcome.

💢 ATTRACTIONS INCLUDE:
🔹Peninsular Crafts Exhibitors with local crafts
🔹 Local Artist, Nick Carter, Displaying his work
🔹 Suffolk Car Enthusiasts Displaying their Cars
🔹 The Shotley Pier Group
🔹 Shotley Vineyard
🔹 Face Painting
🔹 Photo Face Board

💢 LOCATION: HMS Ganges Museum, Shotley Marina, Shotley Gate, IP9 1QJ.

💢 DIRECTIONS: https://hmsgangesmuseum.com/directions

25/05/2026

I was recently contacted by a Hugh Steven Patterson who joined Ganges in 1971. If anyone knows him please ask him to contact me.

Ann and John Blake, from Whiteley, Fareham, made a private visit to us this week. Ann had booked for the auspicious occa...
21/05/2026

Ann and John Blake, from Whiteley, Fareham, made a private visit to us this week. Ann had booked for the auspicious occasion of John's 70th Birthday! 🎉🎂🍻🥃 Doesn't look bad for his age does he?

John joined HMS Ganges in 1971 and was a communicator. He tells us his first ship was HMS Reclaim and his last ship HMS Glasgow.

Well done Ann for getting John up to see us. I'm sure he enjoyed his trip down Memory Lane and we hope you enjoyed the trip too.

📌 If you’d like a private visit on a Wednesday ( 11am-1pm year round by appointment two weeks in advance) please do get in touch with our secretary, June at:
https://hmsgangesmuseum.com/contact/
The museum is run wholly by volunteers with no sponsors. We rely totally on donations, memberships, legacies and the occasional grant. Donations are warmly encouraged to help us keep the HMS Ganges memories alive. Thank you. 🫡⚓️

Yesterday we had a visit by 14 members of Rushden & District branch RNA who in their words 'had fantastic day visiting t...
18/05/2026

Yesterday we had a visit by 14 members of Rushden & District branch RNA who in their words 'had fantastic day visiting the HMS Ganges museum'.
It was great to see them and, that they enjoyed the visit.

This week we had a private visit from Jeff and Marlane Connolly over from the Isle of Wight in their camper. Jeff joined...
14/05/2026

This week we had a private visit from Jeff and Marlane Connolly over from the Isle of Wight in their camper.

Jeff joined HMS Ganges as a JMEM2 on 5th December 1975 and was in Class 858 until early Jan/Feb 1976.

Jeff brought a couple of photos in with him. In the class photo you can find Jeff at the end of the middle row on the left. The only person he can remember was the instructor POMEM Stuart Summerville.

If you’d like a private visit on a Wednesday ( 11am-1pm year round by appointment two weeks in advance) please do get in touch with our secretary, June at:
https://hmsgangesmuseum.com/contact/

The museum is run wholly by volunteers with no sponsors. We rely totally on donations, memberships, legacies and the occasional grant. Donations are warmly encouraged to help us keep the HMS Ganges memories alive. Thank you. 🫡⚓️

If you’re visiting HMS Ganges Museum do make time to stop by at Shotley Church and visit the war graves. Currently the c...
07/05/2026

If you’re visiting HMS Ganges Museum do make time to stop by at Shotley Church and visit the war graves.

Currently the church is inaccessible due to repairs needed to make safe the stone arch over the main door however there’s plenty to see outside.

The cemetery contains not only Royal Naval deceased but also Dutch and German personnel. In the churchyard you’ll find a WWI submariners memorial and over the road you’ll find WWII graves with allied and RN personnel including Ganges boys some of whom succumbed to illness whilst in training (mainly TB and Flu).

The more recent graves include Capt. Murray Dunlop CBE RN who was the final commanding officer of HMS Ganges from 1973 to 1976 when he oversaw the camp closure.

Address

Shotley Marina
Ipswich
IP91QJ

Telephone

+447515469420

Website

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