Beck Isle Museum is an independent charity, dedicated to sharing the rich history of Pickering, a bustling market town on the edge of the North York Moors. Discover this fascinating story through historic shops and hands-on exhibits and learn about the lives of the people who helped to shape the town.

We receive no regular funding from local or national bodies, with most of our income generated from museum visitors. Find out more about how you can support our work.

Or explore some of our collection highlights. 

The Museum is housed in a grade II* listed building, the only one of its kind in Pickering and second only in architectural significance to the Church of St Peter and St Paul.

It was inherited by William Marshall, a leading agriculturalist, from his brother John in 1816. William set about converting the building from a watermill. A pioneer of agricultural development and with a history of experimentation, it was William’s intention to create England’s first agricultural college. This never came to fruition as William died in 1818, before its completion. The building passed to his sister Elizabeth Wells, after whom the nearby Wells Walk is named.

For the remainder of the 19th century and 20th, the building became the residence for a number of practising doctors, ending with Dr Murphy MC who lived and worked in the building between 1916 and 1966.