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About the National Museum of the Royal Navy

Our story

On 28th June 1911, The Dockyard Museum opened in Portsmouth, growing and evolving into the Royal Naval Museum, which then became a part of the newly formed National Museum of the Royal Navy in September 2009.

The Museum changed its name to The National Museum of the Royal Navy, as the overall organisation grew to also encompass The Royal Marines Museum, The Royal Navy Submarine Museum, the Fleet Air Arm Museum and Explosion! Museum of Naval Firepower.

In 2015, we opened First World War Monitor HMS M.33 to the public, and in 2016 we added HMS Caroline in Belfast, and the Hartlepool Maritime Experience and HMS Trincomalee to the National Museum of the Royal Navy family.

To be the world’s most inspiring Naval Museum, Linking Navy to Nation.

To be the world’s most inspiring Naval Museum, Linking Navy to Nation.

Inspiring enjoyment and engagement with the continuing history and modern role of the Royal Navy and the Royal Navy’s impact on shaping both our nation and the modern world.

The National Museum of the Royal Navy (“the National Museum”) was established in 2008 and is the holding company of the National Museum of the Royal Navy Group. The Group includes the Royal Naval Museum, the Fleet Air Arm Museum, the Royal Navy Submarine Museum with HMS Alliance, Explosion! The Museum of Naval Firepower, the Royal Marines Museum, HMS Victory, HMS Caroline, HMS M33, HMS Warrior and NMRN Hartlepool (including HMS Trincomalee). In August 2020, its subsidiary company, NMRN Operations, created an equally owned joint venture company with the Mary Rose Trust, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard Operations Ltd, to act as agent for the sale of tickets to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard attractions, with the distribution of sales revenue and share of costs on an agreed split.

The National Museum’s day-to-day operation is overseen by the Executive Directors within the context of an overarching strategy framework, and underpinned by a suite of Group policies, procedures and operating models. Operational activity has been consolidated into NMRN Operations, a wholly owned charitable subsidiary of the National Museum, simplifying the governance structure and allowing the benefits of operation of the museums through a single large organisation to be realised, improving visitor experience, enhancing access to and care of the collections and demonstrating greater cohesion in the delivery of the charitable objectives.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) concluded its review of its Services Museums in July 2016 and confirmed that the functions of the National Museum of the Royal Navy continued to support MOD objectives. It recommended that the National Museum should remain as a Non-Departmental Public Body sponsored by the MOD.

Legal status

Please refer to the below pages for further information:

Accessibility statement

Freedom of information

Website Terms and Conditions

Privacy policy

Who we are

Sir Philip Jones

Chair of the NMRN Main Board


Alison Start

Trustee of the NMRN Main Board and member of the Audit and Governance Committee and Fundraising Committee


Jeff Mason

Trustee of the NMRN Main Board


Andrew Burnett

Trustee of the NMRN Main Board and the Chair of the Collections, Research, Learning and Access (CRLA) Committee and a member of the Audit and Governance Committee


Gavin Whitter 

Trustee of the NMRN Main Board and also the Chair of the Audit and Governance Committee


Jon Pentreath

Trustee of the NMRN Main Board representing the Fleet Air Arm and a member of the Nominations and Remunerations Committee. Jon is also a Trustee for the HMS Caroline Preservation Company


Katherine Biggs

Trustee of the NMRN Main Board, Chair of the Digital Committee and a member of the Collections, Research, Learning and Access (CRLA) Committee


Mark Anderson 

Trustee of the NMRN Main Board and committee member of the Audit and Governance Committee and member of the Programme Board. Mark is also a Trustee for NMRN Hartlepool


Mary Montagu-Scott

Trustee of the NMRN Main Board and Chair of the Fundraising Committee. Mary is also Trustee for HMS Victory Preservation Company


Michael Scott

Trustee of the NMRN Main Board and member of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee


Phil Dolling

Trustee of the NMRN Main Board and member of the Fundraising Committee and Digital Committee. Phil is also a Trustee for NMRN Hartlepool


Helen Jackson

Trustee of the NMRN Main Board and member of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee and Fundraising Committee. Helen is also a Trustee for HMS Victory Preservation Company


Tom Wright CBE

Trustee of the NMRN Main Board and member of the Digital Committee


Colin Evans

Trustee of the NMRN Main Board and member of the Audit Committee


Sarah Humphrey

Trustee of the NMRN Main Board


 

Sir Philip Jones

Chair of the NMRN Main Board


Alison Start

Trustee of the NMRN Main Board and member of the Audit and Governance Committee and Fundraising Committee


Jeff Mason

Trustee of the NMRN Main Board


Andrew Burnett

Trustee of the NMRN Main Board and the Chair of the Collections, Research, Learning and Access (CRLA) Committee and a member of the Audit and Governance Committee


Gavin Whitter 

Trustee of the NMRN Main Board and also the Chair of the Audit and Governance Committee


Jon Pentreath

Trustee of the NMRN Main Board representing the Fleet Air Arm and a member of the Nominations and Remunerations Committee. Jon is also a Trustee for the HMS Caroline Preservation Company


Katherine Biggs

Trustee of the NMRN Main Board, Chair of the Digital Committee and a member of the Collections, Research, Learning and Access (CRLA) Committee


Mark Anderson 

Trustee of the NMRN Main Board and committee member of the Audit and Governance Committee and member of the Programme Board. Mark is also a Trustee for NMRN Hartlepool


Mary Montagu-Scott

Trustee of the NMRN Main Board and Chair of the Fundraising Committee. Mary is also Trustee for HMS Victory Preservation Company


Michael Scott

Trustee of the NMRN Main Board and member of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee


Phil Dolling

Trustee of the NMRN Main Board and member of the Fundraising Committee and Digital Committee. Phil is also a Trustee for NMRN Hartlepool


Helen Jackson

Trustee of the NMRN Main Board and member of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee and Fundraising Committee. Helen is also a Trustee for HMS Victory Preservation Company


Tom Wright CBE

Trustee of the NMRN Main Board and member of the Digital Committee


Colin Evans

Trustee of the NMRN Main Board and member of the Audit Committee


Sarah Humphrey

Trustee of the NMRN Main Board


 

Matthew Sheldon

Interim Director General of the National Museum of the Royal Navy


Andrew Baines

Deputy Director of Museum Operations


Sarah Dennis

Executive Director Resources


Victoria Turner

Deputy Executive Director Resources


Our policies and reports

Our services

Gift shop

Browse our online shop for the latest collection of naval themed gifts and souvenirs

Shop online now

Venue hire

Find the perfect venue at one of our six sites across the country

Find your perfect venue

Brand guidelines and logos

The NMRN Brand Guidelines show how the corporate identity of the NMRN and its constituent Museums should be depicted in print

Plan your visit

Plan your visit to the National Museum of the Royal Navy today

Book your tickets

Support us

As a charity we rely on funding from many sources to preserve the rich history of the Royal Navy

See how you can support us

Jobs and volunteering

Look for opportunities at the National Museum of the Royal Navy

See the opportunities now

Explore our collection

Discover our incredible range of items across the key branches of the Royal Navy including personal archives, photographs, figureheads and much more

See the collection