About the Museum

The Schoolroom Museum in Great Ayton is housed in a building once used as a charity school which was founded in 1704 by Michael Postgate, a local landowner. It was here, between 1736 and 1740, that Captain James Cook received his early education.

With the help of a Lottery Grant in 2012 the museum has been entirely refreshed and modernised. It features a reconstruction of a schoolroom of the early eighteenth century, when teaching methods were very different from today. Interactive displays about James Cook’s early life and education, and his later achievements provide enjoyment for the whole family.

As well as exploring the life of the famous seafarer, a Find Out More touchscreen and a new audio trail allow visitors to dig deeper into Great Ayton’s history and explore the surrounding village. Ask in the Museum for headsets.

The refurbished shop sells a wide range of gifts and books and a new staircase and lift provides easy access to the Museum.