The permanent displays concentrate on the important maritime past and the local history of this part of Sussex. The Archaeology Gallery looks at the Shoreham area from early prehistory to medieval times, featuring the exciting new discoveries from Ropetackle and from Marlipins itself. There is also a section of the original 12th century wall and a mysterious pit built into the old masonry, which may have been a strong room but is equally likely to have been a privy! At the bottom of the pit, the archaeologists found a cat skeleton, one of four on site.