Ventnor Heritage Centre

"To Collect, Record and preserve the rich heritage and history of Ventnor and surrounding villages, and share it with local and wider communities"

Volunteer Opportunities |

Volunteer Opportunities

Victorian Christmas event in the Museum. Photo: Lori Little

Ventnor Heritage Centre is run by a highly valued team of volunteers who fulfil a wide range of roles including:  Care of our Collection,  Museum Front of House, Exhibitions and Displays,  Fundraising and Events, and Management and Administration of the Society.  These roles need varied skills and input of time and we’d really like to hear from you if you think you might like to join the team. Please contact us if you are interested.

We all share a common interest in local history, and a love for the community we are based in,

Some comments shared by our team:

It’s a pleasure to answer queries about people’s ancestors as I find that I learn more about Ventnor’s history, not only by research in our archives, but from the extra information the enquirers share as I do so.’

‘I really enjoyed our Victorian Family Christmas event – great to work together and see so many visitors to the Heritage Centre having a good time – I hope we can do another one!

We acknowledge that our Volunteers give their time freely and we appreciate any time offered and endeavour to match them not only by the skills they have to offer, but by the time they have to spare.


Exhibitions, stories, images . . .

Olivia: Portrait of a Life

Olivia Parkes (1881-1962) was born in Walsall in the Midlands, but for many years lived a solitary life in a wooden hut in Myrtle Bay in Ventnor, where local people referred to her as ‘Britannia’, and her life has been a constant source of fascination to local people and visitors. This new exhibition for 2024, inspired in part by the ‘Olivia’ art installation by Teresa Grimaldi and Sarah Vardy shown at Ventnor Fringe Festival in 2023, features a model of Olivia’s home (Britannia’s Hut) and is accompanied by an extensive board display. A new book, 'Britannia, The Extraordinary Life of Olivia Parkes' is available to buy in the Ventnor Heritage Centre, or by post from our Online Shop.  

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