A nautical theme can currently be found at an Isle of Wight heritage centre, to tie in with the annual arrival of PS Waverley to the South Coast and Isle of Wight. 

West Wight Heritage Centre in Freshwater is exhibiting a Piers and Steamships display, covering information and images of the piers in the West Wight and the steamships that used (or still use) them.

Four piers are featured - Alum Bay, Totland Bay, Fort Victoria and Yarmouth.

The Paddle Steamer Waverley is the last seagoing passenger-carrying paddle steamer in the world.

Built in 1946, since 1974 she has been owned by the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society and is used for a variety of excursions and cruises.

The heritage centre's most recent display showed the evolution of the Yar Bridge from the use of a small ferry to the current bridge.

The centre was opened on September 1, 2020, and is celebrating its third birthday.

It is the official home of the Freshwater and Totland Archive Group, made up of volunteers, formed in 2010 and originally based at Freshwater Library.

Besides collecting and safely storing local images and documents, it has created many informative displays for visitors to enjoy.

To continue the good work, more volunteers are needed in a variety of roles, particularly to help move into the digital age by developing its web presence and digitising  the 12,000-plus documents and pictures.

Email archiverescue@hotmail.co.uk or drop in to the centre,  which is open Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursday and Fridays from 10am to 12 noon, with additional hours on Wednesdays from 1pm to 3pm.