East Cowes Heritage Centre 2024

Tells the history of the town with displays, maps, models and photographs. Trace the development of the LIFU steam vehicle factory, as well as shipbuilding. The first all-welded battleship 'HMS Cavalier' was constructed here. England's first seaplane took flight in 1913, from Samuel Saunders' workshops which went on to develop these craft for the military, and the largest metal flying boat in the world, 'The Princess'. East Cowes was the birthplace of the hovercraft in 1959.