The British Tattoo History Museum moved to its present location in August 1983. The collection began in 1975 when museum founder Lionel Titchener opened his first professional tattoo studio. Items bought from an old curiosity shop in Oxford were displayed in a small display case in his new studio.

Two important purchases in the late 70's formed the basis of the museum today. The first purchase was a small box of brass tattoo machines that were acquired from tattoo artist Vic Shipton of Romford when he decided to retire from tattooing. This also included a large colour design sheet signed and dated C.B. Davis, Grays Inn Road, London,1904.

This was an important addition to the collection as Charles Burchett Davis was the brother of famous tattoo artist George Burchett. Soon after another important addition was the purchase of a whole collection of Burchett-Davis designs and photographs from the family of C.B. Davis of Southend on Sea.

Friends of Lionel Titchener started to send in items for the museum collection, one of the first items was a small Japanese bone hand tools donated by Jim Silles of London. We also have a Roman tattooing tool dating from the 4th century. The collection is situated in a small room behind the tattoo studio - and again due to lack of space, an extension is planned for 2000 to extend the museum to allow more items to be displayed.

The most recent addition to the collection is a set of Samoan, bone hand tools, kindly donated by the late Su'a Paulo Sulu ap'e. And a further set of Japanese hand tools donated by Hori Yoshi III.

Early in 2002 part of the British Tattoo History Museum will be on loan to the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich. http://www.nmm.ac.uk Skin Deep Opens 22 March 2002 Beginning with Cook's first encounter with the tattooed people of Tahiti, the exhibition follows the spread of tattooing through Europe and looks at its role in contemporary fashion.