199804 museum guide pt1

NAVY NEWS MUSEUMS GUIDE 1998

THE NATIONAL MARITIME MUSEUM AND THE OLD ROYAL OBSERVATORY, GREENWICH

The Tulip Staircase in the Queen's House.Greenwich. It was the first cantilevered staircase- built without a central support - in Britainwhen it was designed by Inigo Jones in 1616.

Personalised ChairsOur Commoidore chairs are versatile, lightweight andeasy to stow, giving comfortable informal occasionalseating on deck or at home. At just £24.95, includingpersonalisation with a name of message of up to tenletters, they make excellent presents. Choose from:Frame flashes Canvas colours8270 Natural 8257 Lemon8274 White 8258 Royal Blue8275 Black 8261 Natural8276 Mahogany stain 8263 Navy blue8277 Teak stool 8264 Black

AuthenticBosun's CallsRegulation British-made Naval calls expertly engraved with Name, Rank and Numberor a message to a girlfriend etc. In presentation box with matching 50" neckchain,historical notes and a guide to piping. Beware non-functional and untuneable imitations.2131 Gold-plated call £27.50 2121 Silver-plated call £24.952111 Brass/Copper call £19.95 2101 Nickel-plated call £19.95

Engraving £2.20 per line (up to 18 letters and spaces - capitals and numbers count astwo). Up to four lines (two each side). We also supply unengraved standard nickel callsat £14.95 (ref 2102).

Top Quality Ship's BellsOur ship's bells are manufactured in the finest tradition - sand-cast

in solid brass and hand-finished to a beautiful sheen. Thespecification and design is tightly-controlled to meet maritime

requirements, the 8" and 12" sizes being DoT approved andcertificated for commercial use.

5081 4" Brass Ship's bell £17.955083 6" Brass Ship's bell £39.955105 8" Brass Ship's bell £1105106 12" Ship's bell (no bracket) £295

Engraving - eg vessel name, port and constructiondate, or achievement accolade. 4" bells: £1.20 per letter6 & 8" bells: £1.65 per letter. Larger hells on request.

Postage and handling on all orders (UK mainland, N. Ireland and Scottish Islands) £2.95TO ORDER call 01932 253333 or fax 01932 241679 with your credit/debit carddetails or post (cheques also welcome) to:

Dept NN,The Ferry Point, Ferry Lane,Shepperton-on-Thames, Middlesex,TW17 9LQ, England.

LOST YOUR MEDALS?WE CAN REPLACE THEM NOW - WW1 TO PRESENT DAY

IN FULL SIZE AND MINIATUREWE MOUNT MEDALS TO WEAR - COURT OR SWING STYLE

PROFESSIONALLY SEWN

DO YOU QUALIFY FOR THE GENERAL SERVICE CROSS,VOLUNTARY SERVICE OR MARITIME SERVICE MEDAL?

SAE FOR DETAILS & REPLACEMENT MEDALS LISTTOAD HALL MEDALS

NEWTON FERRERS. Nr PLYMOUTH. DEVON. PLB1DH.

Tel 01752872672. Fax 01752872723.e-mail [email protected]

Major boatdisplay byyear 2001

THE CONSTRUCTION of aworld-class bui lding to displayCornwall Maritime Museum col-lections and the boat collection ofthe National Maritime Museum isbeginning at Falmouth this year,with the help of Lottery money,and will be open to visitors by theyear 2001.

The Cornwall Museum initiat-ed a partnership with the NationalMaritime Museum to form whatwill become the NationalMaritime Museum Cornwallwhich expects to attract 170,000visitors a year with dynamic dis-plays to rival the best of theLondon museums.

The National Mar i t imeMuseum's boat collection datesfrom the 18th century to the pre-sent, and includes an ornate andgilded Thames rowing barge whichin the 1700s was used to ferry com-missioners of the Navy, and ap u l l i n g barge from the RoyalYacht Victoria and Albert.

£20 millionrevamp atgateway toMillenniumTHE APPROACH of the Millennium has a special significance at Greenwich,

home of the National Maritime Museum and of the associated Old RoyalObservatory. For the museum itself, it means the culmination of a project

costing almost £20 million which will radically revitalise the whole west wing,transforming the museum galleries.

And the Observatory, the tures for children with superb edu-"" ' cational, library and conferencepoint at which time itself is

measured from theGreenwich Meridian - willform the 'gateway' to the newcentury.

On New Year's Eve 1999,Greenwich will host one of theworld's biggest celebrations, com-prising live music, pageant andspectacular displays - with livebroadcasts beamed around theworld.

By that time, the Museum's £20million redesign - the NeptuneCourt project - will be complete.Effectively it will create a newmuseum for the 21st century, with16 new galleries displaying more ofthe Museum's collection than everbefore, as well as better facilitiesand easier access for the half a mil-lion people who visit the museumeach year.

Over half the cost has been metby the National Heritage LotteryFund and is scheduled to be opento the public in just over a year.

Meanwhile there is plenty to seenow at the museum, which holds acollection of maritime paintings,ship models, wooden sailing boats,royal barges and historic pho-tographs which is unr ival led any-where in the world.

The galleries and collections tel lthe stow of Bri tain and the sea,from prehistoric, Roman andmedieval times through to the pre-sent, combining in te rac t ive tea-

The homeof time

THE OLD Royal Observatoryat Greenwich is sited in the200 acres of Royal GreenwichPark. It is the home ofGreenwich Mean Time and thePrime Meridian Line.

Designed by Sir Christ-opher Wren in 1675, theObservatory is, by internation-al decree, the official startingpoint for the new Millennium.Visitors can stand in both theeastern and the western hemi-spheres simultaneously byplacing their feet either side ofthe Prime Meridian Line.

The Observatory galleriesunravel the extraordinary phe-nomena of time, space andastronomy; the building hasLondon's only camera obscu-ra, and the Planetarium allowsvisitors to explore the won-ders of the heavens.

• Data file as National Mari-time Museum.

facilities.To celebrate the 'Nelson

Decade' - the ten years culminat-ing in 2005 with the bicentenary ofthe Battle of Trafalgar - the muse-um in 1995 opened a major exhibi-tion charting the course ofNelson's life through over 600 arte-facts, audio-visual displays, sculp-tures, paintings and ship models.

A computer-animated version ofthe Battle of Trafalgar has beenproduced by Jim Henson'sCreature Shop, of Muppets fame.And the uniform jacket worn byNelson at Trafalgar is also on show,with the hole in the left shoulderwhere he received the fatal shot.

Even more gruesome a relic is a

DATA FILEOPENING TIMES: 10am-5pm (all sites)

seven days a week except Dec. 24-26.Parts of the museum will be subject toclosure during the current Neptune Courtdevelopment work. Telephone to confirmgallery availability.

ADMISSION: Adults £5 (concessions£4), children £2.50, family (two adults andup to three children) £15. Each ticket alsogives admission to the Old RoyalObservatory and Queen's House. Ticketsare also valid for a second visit within 12months of the first.

DISABLED ACCESS: The Friends ofthe Museum will provide talks and tours,handling sessions and general assis-tance for visitors with special needs,although the Friends cannot undertakecarer roles. The service must be bookedin advance on 0181 312 6608.

INFORMATION: 0181 858 4422 or (24-hour line) 0181 3126565.

tourniquet used to stem his bleed-ing during the amputation of thehero's right arm.

In 1992 a ground floor gallerywas devoted to 20th centuryseapower where the grandest ofmany models is a 17ft long exampleof the World War II battleshipHMS King George V.

Among other attractions whichform part of the musuem is theQueen's House, in RoyalGreenwich Park, begun in 1616 byInigo Jones, Surveyor of the King'sWorks, for Anne of Denmark, KingJames I's queen. However, by thetime it was completed in 1638,Britain's queen was Henriet taMaria, the French wife of CharlesI. The building will house theMillennium exhibtion T/ic Story ofTime throughout the year 2000.

The museum also includes theclipper ship Cutty Sark which since1954 has been preserved in dry-dock at Greenwich as a monumentto the British merchant seamen ofthe age of sail. Nearby, and alsoopen to visitors is the ketch GipsyMoth IV in which Sir FrancisChichester completed his epic,round-the-world voyage in 1967, atthe age of 65.

Newest of the Museum's exhibi-tions was opening on April 2 thisyear and commemorates the fourmonths that Russian Tsar Peter theGreat spent in England from thebeginning of 1698 to learn aboutshipbuilding in the RoyalDockyards and navigat ionastronomy at the RoyalObservatory. The exhibition con-t inues at the Queen's House un t i lSeptember 27 this year.

FRONT COVERFrom the specially commis-sioned cartoon by RalphSteadman complements thecollection of Nelsonian car-toons which form part of theNational Maritime Museum'sNelson Decade exhibition.

• The Prime Meridian Line - one of the most important his-toric scientific sites in the world.

Remember TheGood Old Navy

FREEBROCHURE

Wright & Logan20, Queen Street, Portsmouth. P013HL

TEL: 01705 829555 / FAX: 01705 861694

of mysteryPLYMOUTH NAVAL BASE MUSEUM


LOWESTOFT MARITIMEMUSEUM

ESTABLISHED 30 years ago, LowestoftMaritime Museum standing in the town'sSparrow's Nest Park, specialises in thehistory of the local fishing fleet - but alsodepicted is the town's wartime associa-tion with the Royal Navy.

A replica of the aft cabin of a steam driftershows the crew's quarters. There is also a finecollection of models, a picture gallery and acollection of shipwrights and coopers' tools.

The museum, which attracts 7.500 visitors ayear, is run privately by a registered charity -Lowestoft and East Suffolk Maritime Society.It is self financing and receives no grants.Nevertheless, in 1978 it opened an extension,the ceremony being performed by the Duke ofEdinburgh.

DATA FILEOPENING TIMES: Hay-Sept daily 10am-5pm (last

admissions 4.30).ADMISSION CHARGES: Adults 50p, children and

senior citizens 25p. Organised parties by arrangement(will open for parries of six or more out of season).

FACILITIES: Free car parking opposite, wheelchairaccess, school packs available, speakers available forschools, clubs, etc. Park has restaurant and coffeehouse, licensed bar, picnic areas, toilets.

ACCESS: Under the lighthouse on Whapload Road,Lowestoft.

INFORMATION: 01502 561963.

SUBMARINETELEGRAPH

MUSEUM

AN UNDERGROUND museum atPorthcurno, Cornwall, tells the story ofsubmarine telegraphy - internationalcommunications via cable on the seabed.

On display is an unrivalled collection of his-toric telegraph equipment dating fromVictorian times to World War II.

The museum, housed in wartime tunnels, isrun by the Trevithick Trust and has recentlywon a Heritage Lottery grant. As a resultrefurbishment work means that the museumwill be closed until May 18.

DATA FILEOPENING TIMES: Each Friday 11am-3pm and each

Weds. 11-3pm until end of Oct. Tours (maximum 20)from beach every hour from 11am.

ADMISSION CHARGES: Adult £3, concession(senior citizens and unemployed, etc.) £2.50, children£1.50, family £8. Educational group bookings available.

ACCESS: Follow Land's End road (A30) west fromPenzance, turn left to St Buryan, then follow signpoststo Porthcurno. Park at the Cove.


AUNIQUE collection reflectingPlymouth's Naval past forms thecore of Plymouth Naval Base

Museum, which was opened in 1996.On display there are Victualling Store

items from the old Royal William Yard(closed in 1992), including uniforms,badges, silver, china, kitcheware and per-sonal kit.

They are survivors of fire and war over thepast 150 years, and are complemented by a largecollection of 15,000 books, documents, plansand photographs

Many more artefacts and documents continueto be added, the whole collection being theresponsibility of a Museum Trust which seeks togenerate supporting funds through admissioncharges, grants and sponsorship.

Plymouth Naval Base also boasts the best collec-tion of figureheads, started in the 1930s. On displayoutside and inside the museum are four fine examplesfrom 1816-63.

For years one of the figures outside the muse-um has been referred to as the Duke ofWellington, but recent research has discoveredthat it was from a vessel called Wellington.

The latest arrival of Victoria from HMSCambridge was originally on a vessel calledVictoria (launched 1844), was switched toWindsor Castle in 1855 before ending up in thetraining hulk HMS Cambridge in 1869.

After a period of storage in Devonport, the fig-urehead emerged again in 1930, becomingWindsor Castle again until moved to HMSDrake's grounds in the 1960s, there beingrenamed Royal Adelaide.

She then went to Manadon in 1970 where shereceived am expensive facelift. Ten years later,during a visit by the Prince of Wales, he enquiredafter the figurehead, and an investigation waslaunched which discovered its true identity.

But the greatest mystery at the museum is the KingBitty figurehead. There is evidence that he was intend-ed for the top of the Devonport Column whenPlymouth Dock was changed to Devonport Dockyardin 1824, during a visit by King William IV.

However, King Billy could have been from the120-gun ship of the line HMS Royal William.Despite these (so far) unsolved facts, the figure-head is known locally as King Billy, and probablyalways will be.

Over the years the figures rot and eventuallywill be beyond repair. But at Devonport DaveBrown, a member of the Society of Friends of the

• A miniature reproduction of the figurehead of'King Billy' at Plymouth Naval Base Museum.

Museum, has used his carving skill to reproduceminiatures of the base's ten figureheads in yel-low pine.

Rubber moulds are used by another member,Dave Scoble, to cast the figures in resin. Theyare then painted by Dave Brown and are avail-able on order from the museum.

DATA FILEOPENING TIMES: As the museum Is within the Naval Base,

access has to be by appointment on 01752 554582 or 554899.Organisation and Individual visits (no minimum age) last about2.5 hours and include the historic South Yard and execution cell.Full Day Tour (minimum aged 5) and schools and youth organi-sations (minumum age 12)- guided tours begin at about 9.30am.After lunch in HMS Drake, the party takes a river trip around thedockyard (weather permitting) and visit the Frigate RefitComplex.

ADMISSION CHARGES: None, although donations are appre-ciated from members of organisations and individuals.

FACILITIES: Small cafe and gift shop. No transport provided.

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LNAVY NEWS MUSE~ GUIDE, 1998

THOSE MAGNIFICENTMEN IN THEIR a4FLYING MACHINESTHE

FLEET Air Arm Museum at RN air sta-tion Veovilton, Somerset is one of theworld's largest aviation museums, with

over 90 historic aircraft on display, includingthe British prototype of Concorde which firstflew from Filton airfield near Bristol in 1969.The history of British Naval aviation is depicted

through service aircraft, technical equipment, documents,

photographs, uniforms, medals and memorabilia.

The displays are presented in chronological order and aredesigned to appeal to the museum's visitors of all ages.A First World War tableau includes a Sopwith Pup. CaFIIC) and

'Friplanc. a Spad XIII. an Aihatros D\'h and a l-okkcr Thplanclie type made fatuous h' Cicrnianv's Red Baron. Manfred vonRiclit mien.

Sea Gladiator'I'he mid-ss a r display includes a Gloster Sea Gladiator -

ml mortal ised by la ith. Hope and Charity, three of the typewhich reputedly formed part of Malta's meagre air defencesearly in the Mediterranean war.

The World War II exhibition includes a Walrus seaplane, aSwordfish torpedo bomber and ii Fairey Fulmar, as well as manother carrier-based planes. Also featured is a section on theWomen's Royal Naval Service who carried out a range of sup-port roles, including aircraft maintenance.An cxhihtion featuring post-war conflicts includes a l-Iawkci'

Sea Furv and a MiG-15 jet tighter, adversaries during theKorean \Var in which a Fury (mm HMS Ocean becanie the firstl"AA lighter to shoot down a let.

One of the most spectacular displays is a repre-sentation of one of the Royal Navy's big carriers ofthe 1970s, featuring aircraft ranged on the flight deckand a tour of the ship's 'island' to see the variousdepartments of the ship, including the bridge.

Dealing with more recent years. the 1 larrier exhibition has ahawker P1127. prototype of all harrier variants.A major revamp of the Concorde Hall, entrance and shop is

due to start this year.In addition to the displays, the museum's Records and

Research Centre assists hundreds of enquirers each year, whoconduct their research in person or by post. using the museum'svery, large collection of photographs and documents. There arecharges for this service and for copies of photographs.

DATA FILE

The ski-jump ramp wasdesigned for use by SeaHarriers aboard the newInvincibIle class of aircraft

larger weapon or fuelload to be carried with ashorter deck run for take

" .460 CE Extractfrom a booklet available atthe FleetAirArm Museum. Throughfine draw-ings, it tells 'The Story of Aviation' fromman's first attempts at flight to BAe'sconceptfora re-usable, piloted stratospheric aircraftRIGHT: Part of the museum's World War Itableau, with a Sopwith PupIn the foregroundanda Sopwith Triplane In the air.

OPENING TIMES: Every day except ChristmasEve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. April-Oct. -lOam-5.3Opm, last admission 5pm and last'flights' to carrier 4pm. Nov.-March - lOam-430pm, last admission 4pm and last flights' tocarrier 3pm.

SDt.IISSION CHARGES (from April 19981:adults - £6.80, children 5-16 - £4.50. senior citi-zens - £5.80, family ticket (two adults and twochildren) - £18. Group rate - £4.50 per adult, £3.50

per child or senior citizen. Groups (minimum size

15) are advised to book In advance. Pre-bookedschool groups - £2.75 with free admission foraccompanying adults on a ratio 011:10; addition-al adults £4.

FACILITIES: Guided tours for groups by priorarrangement (call 01 935 841524). Swordfishrestaurant. Entertainment centre.

A grassed picnic area is sited outside themuseum and indoor facilities are available duringwinter by prior arrangement.

There is free car, caravan and coach parking

(Including dog exercise areas - only guide dogsallowed inside museum). Children's play area, andparent and baby care centre. Education Officeravailable Mon.-Fri. for schools visit advice.

Wheelchairs are available and ramps allowaccess to virtually all areas; toilet facilities for dis-abled visitors who have access via ground-floorentrance.

ACCESS: The museum is situated in RNASYeovllton, itchester. Somerset.


The aircraft carrier mirrorlanding sight enabled a pilotto assess and maintain thecorrect angle of approach on acarrier's deck.

I-

SHOREHAM AIRCRAFT MUSEUM

Enthusiastswho digup the past

SHOREHAM Aircraft Museum i iiby local enthusiasts in the Ken:

It was set up as a lasting tribute t:In the skies over southern EngianiIng Fleet Air Arm fliers. It houses it

by the group over many years Iron iaircraft.

Other items have been donatedI 1:

flying helmets, uniforms and lnslAll procceds are used for the I

artefacts, with any remaining tun*Club, a charitable organisation forof World War II.

Not replicas but the

THE FLEET AIR ARM MUSEUM

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NAVY wvws MUSEUMS GUIDE, APRIL 199$ 5

Celebration yearfor Newark's90-plane displayBOASTING one of the finest

British, iS and LNEWARK AIR MUSEUMEuropean aircraft in Britain.Newark Air Museum is this -year celebrating its 25th

- ' - - -

anniversary of being open tothe public.

Since 1963 the museum has builtup a collection of over 90 planes -and helicopters at WinthorpeAirfield in Newark, Nottingham-shire.They include a Hawker Sea

-

Hawk, a Gannet airborne earlywarning aircraft, a Buccaneer 'strike aircraft and a Sea Vixen.Over half the collection is under

cover in the display hail, where -

there are also 30 restored aeroengines. -

Main celebration of the muse-um's silver jubilee takes place onApril 10-14 and will feature lightaircraft flying, competitions, anEaster egg hunt as well as other " This former Royal Navy carrier-borne airborne early warningentertainment. Gannet Is amongNewark Air Museum's large collection of oldair-

Later this year the museum, nm craft.

by volunteers, hopes to start workon a new Aviation Interpretationand Visitor Centre and haslaunched a series of fund-raisingevents throughout the year. includ-

September 5.

in aviation and avionics car hoot -tm).JuIv 4 and

DATA FILI.OPENING TIMES Every day except

andBoxing Day. April-Sept. - iTn-ii(weekends and bank holidays lOam.

Oct, -Uarch - lOam-5pm. Nov-Feb.161r'

OMSSON CHARGES Adults £350, - -----------over~ £2.75, children £250 (Sop perperson discount for disabled, students,UBM holklem anclp~ of at W~ ton).

FACILITIES Cafe, shop freecar andcoach parking, toilets for di$

ACCESS: By car from Al, 446, A17,A1133 and Newark bypass, by public The remarkable restoration work carried out by the voluntarytransport via short taxi ride from workers at the Newark museum is illustrated here with this

rk C~ r~ sta,Buccaneer which arrived in the condition shownaboveandis now

INFORMATION-01635 707170. on display (below) looking as good as new.

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- -':

r0o all the airmen who fought

- lOamn-5pm each Sunday May-Sept. Parties by prior arrangement. -' sI -

during World War II, inciud- Tea room.£1,

free.

.indreds of relics excavated The museum i off the A225 nearSave~, end Is near Shot~stationrashed British and German and Countryside Centre.

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- 01959 524416,M :,--, -

d there is a fine collection of-'

-

One of the paintings by the Shoreham museum ,

"-

covery and oreservatlon of founder, GeoffNutkin. His workshang in a gallery on the- - -

. " . 4

Joing to theAAF Guinea Pig site and are evocative of the war skies over Britain. He

tverely burned Allied airmen alsopaints dramatic representations of the air war fromthe erman viewpoint.

real thing


WORLD-CLASS HERITAGE SITEON THEMEDWAY

» HAfS Gannet, the only surviving Victoriansloop being restored to her looks In the 1880sat Chatham Historic Dockyard, and (below) apreserved )-class submarine, HMS Ocelot^

CHATHAM HISTORIC DOCKYARD

ONE OF THE major Naval museums to benefitfrom the Heritage Lottery Fund, ChathamHistoric Dockyard is undertaking a

'Millennium' package which will ensure that the areabecomes a world-class heritage site at the heart ofthe Medway towns.

A £16 million plan wasannounced last September,over half the cost being metfrom Lottery money.

Most of the dockyard forms atrue time capsule. The majority ofbuildings there have survived fromthe 18th century - a time whenChatham Dockyard built andlaunched no fewer than 125 ships,including HMS Victory, Nelson'sflagship at Trafalgar.

In partnership with MedwayTowns Council, English Heritage,and the Government's Depart-ment for Culture, the HistoricDockyard Trust will use the extrafinance to restore more of theDockyard's impressive buildings.

The 80-acre site has 47 sched-uled ancient monuments includingcovered slips, a wheelwright'sshop, wooden galleries, ordnance

Incorporated byRoyal Charter

THE

ROYAL NAVAII I A S S O C I A T I O N !•

Patron: HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN

Once Navy, Always Navy

Reg. Charity 26682

The Royal Naval Association believes firmly that "welfare is not onlymoney". It offers a broad range of support to people with a Royal Navalconnection. We are 'all of one company' in helping the disabled,looking after the needy, cheering up the distressed, maintaining navaltraditions, supporting naval cadets, enjoying social activities and re-uniting shipmates. The 500 branches in the UK and abroad offer aninstant 'network' of local knowledge and opportunities to shipmatesgoing to live in a new place or starting a new career.The association is for all serving and former officers, men and womenof the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, WRNS and QARNNS and theirreserves

For details of UNA membership, please complete the slip below

NAME:ADDRESS:

PostcodeSEND TO: THE GENERAL SECRETARY, ROYAL NAVAL ASSOCIATION

82, CHELSEA MANOR STREET, LONDON SW3 5QJ

HARWICH MARITIME MUSEUMHARWICH'S long establishedconnection with the training estab-lishment HMS Ganges, whichclosed in 1976, is highlighted inone of the rooms in the town'sMaritime Museum.

Housed in The Low Lighthouse- built in 1818, the museum occu-pies a site not far from the estab-lishment which had a 77-year histo-ry afloat and as a stone frigate.

Models and photographs ofFleet Air Arm aircraft are alsoamong the museum's RN items,

while one room is dedicated to thenow defunct RN Auxiliary Service.

The museum is run by volun-teers and welcomes 3,000 visitors ayear.

DATA FILEOPENING TIMES: 10am-5pm dally

from Easter Sunday to end of Oct., exeptSat.

ADMISSION CHARGES: Adults 50p,accompanied children up to 16 free.

INFORMATION: The Curator, TheHarwich Society, 22 Harbour Cresc.,Harwich, Essex.

MUSEUM OF SMUGGLINGHISTORY

A DECEPTIVELY small buildingin the Botanic Garden nearVentnor, Isle of Wight, houses 300exhibits which tell the 700-yearstory of the island's smugglers.

Building up The Museum ofSmuggling History has been thelifelong work of Ron DowlingRNVR (retd) who was involved incontraband control in Aden duringWorld War II.

DATA FILEOPENING TIMES: Dally April 1 to end

of Sept., 10am-5.30pm.ADMISSION CHARGES: Adults £1.90,

children and senior citizens £1. Childrenunder the age of seven, free with adult.Special rates and free questionnaires forschool parties.

FACILITIES: Car and coach parking.ACCESS: In the Botanic Gardens, on

the A3055 one mile west of Ventnor.INFORMATION: 01983 853677.

galleries, lofts, a church and aworking 19th century ropery. Lastyear 110,000 visitors were wel-comed to the main site.

Seven museum galleries tell thedockyard's story, and include a 25ftmodel of the Victory, built for the1941 film That Hamilton Womanstarring Vivien Leigh andLawrence Olivier.

One dry dock is occupiedby the last surviving sloopfrom the Victorian Navy,HMS Gannet.

Built on the River Medway atSheerness in 1878, Gannet wasdesigned to police the furthestwaters of the British Empire.Before the turn of the century shesaw service in the Pacific, protect-ing British citizens in Valparaisoduring war between Chile andPeru, and in the Red Sea defend-ing Port Suakin after the fall ofKhartoum.

In 1902 she was converted into adrill ship for the RNR, serving asHMS President until 1911. Twoyears later she was lent to TSMercury, a boys' sea trainingschool and remained as a dormito-ry ship on the River Hamble inHampshire until the school closedin 1968.

She was acquired by theMaritime Trust in 1971 who, in1987 chartered her to ChathamHistoric Dockyard for restoration.

Now owned by theDockyard, the work onGannet is continuing withthe aim of restoring her toher condition of 1886. Thenew funds will enable theDockyard Trust to completethe reconstruction, creatinga major new attraction to thesite.A multi-media audio-visual the-

atre is planned on board, allowingvisitors to discover what life waslike in a ship of Queen Victoria'sNavy.

Other improvements willinclude a new visitor entrance witheasy access to and from theMedway Tunnel, car-park land-scaping and a museum square cre-ating a new focal point for visitorsand those who live on the site.

Many of the existing gallerieswill be refreshed with increasedinter-activity for younger visitorsand family groups.

Plans include an on-site trans-

Fly Navy• mj at the Wes! Country's' tea Aviation Attraction

Exhibitions includt:

World Wars I and 0 • KamikazeWrens • Korea • Recent Conflicts

Harrier 'Jump' Jet'Carrier' the ultimate experience

Concorde 002

Facilities mclitlt:

Licensed Restaurant • Extensive Gift Shop

Picnic Area • Airfield Viewing Galleries

Children's Adventure Playground

Access and Facilities for the Disabled

Free Parking

I FLEET AIR ARMMUSEUM

RNAS Yeovilm, Dctmtr. Somena BA22 8HTTelq*o«e (01935) M0565 Fnamlt (01935)840181


Displays such as this at Chatham show how ships were maintained and built in Nelson's day. Inthis case a hull is being caulked.

port system, a major new'play trail' for children, anda new central shop.

Special events this yearinclude a Mad Hatter's TeaParty on April 12-13, aSteam Special and VictorianFair on May 9-10, a modelrailway exhibition on June13-14, and a Heavy HorseDay on June 21.

DATA FILEOPENING TIMES: March 30 to Nov. 1 -

daily 10am-5pm. Nov. 98 to March 99-Weds.,Sat., Sun. 10am-4pm. Last admission onehour before closing.

ADMISSION CHARGES: Adults £5.60(group £4.60), children 5-16 £3.60 (group£2.60), concession £4.60 (group £3.60), fami-ly ticket (two adults, up to four children) £15.Half price for return visit within 12 months(not valid for special events or school tick-ets). Extra charge for cruise on paddle steam-er Kingswear Castle (call 01634 827648 for

timetable, bookings).FACILITIES: Free parking, licensed restau-

rant, outdoor/indoor picnic areas, gift shops,baby changing facilities, toilets for disabled,wheelchairs available, braille guides.

ACCESS: By road - Signposts from M2,junction 3. From M20 junction 6 follow signsfrom Chatham A229, then A230 & A231. Rail -Trains from London victoria and CharingCross or Ramsgate and Dover. Dockyard onemile (bus, taxi or walk) from Chatham station.


of mercygo onshowOCCUPYING a large newgallery at ChathamHistoric Dockyard is thisnational collection ofRNLI lifeboats, rangingfrom the pulling andsailing craft used in thelast century to the 54ftArun-class boats, mostof which are still in ser-vice.

Housed in the historicNo.4 covered slip, thedisplay includes the his-tory of the men - andwomen - who served enboard the boats. Also onshow are tractors,launching carriages,engines, winches andother equipment of pastand more recentlifeboats.

Britain's oldest lifeboatWHILE the lifeboat display at Chatham is impres-sive, possession of the oldest existing lifeboat inthe world is claimed by Zetland Museum at Redcar.

The vessel, the Zetland (below) was built in about 1800and remained in service for an astonishing 80 years, sav-ing over 500 lives. Only one crewmen was lost during heryears of service.

The boat was launched from a wooden carriage pulledby horses, and she was crewed by volunteers - mainlyRedcar fishermen - who were alerted by a boy beating adrum to the rhythm of Come Along Brave Boys, ComeAlong.

ZETLAND MUSEUM

DATA FILEOPENING TIMES: 11am-4pm daily May 1 to Sept

30.ADMISSION: Free (average 13,000 visitors a year).

Donations to RNLI welcome. School parties byarrangement.

FACILITIES: Car park nearby at cost of 50p, sou-venir shop In aid of RNLI.

ACCESS: Museum situated on The Esplanade,Redcar, Cleveland.

JUBILEESAILINGTRUST

See a tallshjp beingbuilt...A CHANCE to see theworld's largest woodensquare-rigged sailing shipbeing built is offered by theJubilee Sailing Trust.

Their second ship, to supple-ment the sail training vessel LordNelson, is under construction atthe Jubilee Yard at Woolston,Southampton - thanks to aNational Sports Lottery Fundgrant of £6.5 million.

A visitors centre overlookingthe shipbuilding hall offers abird's eye view of every stage ofthe construction of the 65m ship.There is also detailed informationon shipbuilding techniques, sou-venirs, and a curriculum-basededucation programme for schools.

The Trust's aim is to encourageintegration between physicallydisabled and able bodied people,achieved through them sharingthe challenge of crewing a tall shipat sea for voyages lasting fromfour to ten days.

Since her maiden voyage in1986, the Lord Nelson has taken13,676 people to sea, over 5,485 ofthem disabled and 2,265 wheel-chair users.

DATAOPENING TIMES: Daily 10am-4pm,

plus special open days on selectedweekends.

ADMISSION: Free (donations wel-

A Naval anti-aircraft gun, one ofthe Battle of the Atlantic exhibitsin Mersey side Maritime Museum.

MERSEYSIDE MARITIMEMUSEUM

FACILITIES: Car parking and cafe onsite. Full disabled access.

ACCESS: Jubilee Yard, Hazel Rd,Woolston. Southampton City bus Nos. 2,6, 6A, 10, 16, 17, 17A, 25. Train -Woolston station from Southampton.

INFORMATION. 01703 449108.Bookings: 01703 449145.

ONE OF Europe largestmuseums of its kind -Merseyside MaritimeMuseum - covers sevenacres of the Albert Dock inLiverpool.

While commercial shippingis its main focus, it does housea Battle of the Atlantic galleryand in an Art and the Sea dis-play has a fine figurehead fromHMS Hastings, a 74-gun ship of1819 used as a Mersey guard-ship.

The establishment is part ofthe National Museums andGalleries on Merseyside(NMGM), as is the associatedHM Customs & Excise NationalMuseum.

Therein are many intriguingstories of smuggling past andpresent, including a videowhich recreates the lastmoments of Customs OfficerJohn Hurley's life. On August 9,1755 Hurley spotted signalfires lit by smuggler's wives.He tried to put the fires out, butplummeted to his death fromthe cliff-top. Did he fall, or washe pushed? ...

DATA FILE(Both museums)OPENING TIMES: 10am-5pm dally

(last admission 4pm). Ships and quay-sides closed during winter months.

ADMISSION CHARGES: Adults £3,concessions £1.50, family (two adultsand up to four children) £8. (Unlimitedreturn visits for 12 months).

FACILITIES: Cafe, shops, educationservices (call 0151 478 4441), restrictedwheelchair access to basement andships. Two wheelchairs available. Babychanging room.

ACCESS: Bus service links MaritimeMuseum to city centre and rail stations.

INFORMATION: Packs available byringing 24-hour line - 0151 478 4747.

THE BOSUNSBOOK SHOPA large selection of

Royal Naval andMaritime titles

For more detailsTel: 01705 826682 or Fax: 821881

ROYAL NAVAL MUSEUM TRADINGCo Ltd. No 9 Store. Main Road.

HM Naval Base. Portsmouth PO1 SPY

THE RNBT WONTLEAVE YOUSTRANDED

The RNBT helps past and present Sailors,Royal Marines and their dependants.

Established in 1922, the RNBT has helped about half amillion Naval people and their families over the years.Today, the RNBT gives almost £2 million each year tomeet a wide variety of needs and provides a residentialhome for old Sailors and Royal Marines.

For more information or <?JJ5

advice please call: ^"VY ™E ROYAL NAVAL

01705660296 ) BENEVOLENT TRUST

8 NAVY NEWS MUSEUMS GUIDE 1998

LAIR OF THE BIG GUNSTHE MIGHTY Victorian

bastion of Fort Nelson atFareham, Hampshire has

in recent years acquired animportant collection previouslyhoused in the Tower ofLondon.

The Royal Armouries, datingfrom the 15th century, displaysone of the most varied collectionsof artillery in Europe. At FortNelson, imaginative scenes andevents tell the story of artilleryfrom its earliest days.

There are 18 galleries full of careful-ly restored exhibits, with guided toursand audio-visual presentations. Dailylive firings show the awesome powerof the guns.

The collection includes fortressguns from India and China, Frenchcannon captured at Waterloo, and sec-tions of Iraq's infamous 'supergun'.

Fort Nelson itself is an intriguing, 19-acre site which has changed little overthe 160 years since it was built as partof a network of defences to protectPortsmouth from a feared Frenchattack.

Now fully restored, the fort includesmassive guns and mortars on the ram-parts, tunnels and undergroundammunition stores. Above ground, thebuildings include a restored barrackroom once occupied by volunteer sol-diers of the late 1800s.

A rather more gruesome exhibitionof Tower of London items is on displaythere until June 30. The special collec-tion centres on the torture and execu-tion that awaited prisoners of theTower.

Among the relics is the block used atthe execution of Lord Lovat in 1747, aswell as an executioner's axe, thumb-screws, manacles and a fearsomedevice known as the 'Scavenger'sDaughter'.

• A live firing display at Fort Nelson, involving a replica of a medieval cannon, guns of Napoleon's superbImperial Guard, World War I guns, and a World War II self-propelled gun.

SOUTHWOLDSAILORS'

READING ROOMFIGUREHEADS, ship models and pictures areamong the items on display at Southwold Sailors'Reading Room built in 1864.

The association that runs it is a registered char-ity, while the Reading Room itself was built as amemorial to Cap! Charles Rayley who was aNaval officer at the time of Trafalgar.

DATA FILEOPENING TIMES: Daily 9am-5pm, except Christmas.ADMISSION: Free, donations welcome. Under 18s to be

accompanied by adultACCESS: From Ipswich A12 -A1095 to Southwold.INFORMATION: Southwold Sailors' Reading Room

Association, East Cliff, Southwold, Suffolk, IP18 6EL.

HAMPSHIRENAVAL COLLECTION

THE HAMPSHIRE Naval Collection of booksand documents is housed at Gosport Library andincludes Brassey s Annual 1886-1933 and Jane'sFighting Ships from the turn of the century.

DATA FILEOPENING TIMES: Mon. and Wed. 9.30am-5pm: Tue.-Fri

9.30-7; Sat. 9.30-4.ADMISSION: Free.ACCESS: High St, Gosport, Hants.INFORMATION: 01705 523431

PARTS 2 and 3 of this series willappear in the May and June issues ofNavy News, building up into a 24-p~ ~nationwide quide to museums of rmmJ

DATA FILEOPENING TIMES: Daily 10am-5pm

until Nov., then Thurs.-Sun. 10.30-4pmuntil end of Feb. (Daily opening for Feb.half-term). Last admission one hourbefore closing.

ADMISSION CHARGES: Adults E4.25,senior citizens £3.50, children and card-carrying students £2.80. Family - twoadults/two children £10, twoadults/three children £12. Groups (tenor more) - adults £3.45, senior citizens£2.70, children £2. Organised schoolvisits-£1.25.

FACILITIES: Guided tour andacoustic guide (handset) included Inprice. Powder Keg restaurant and coffeeshop. Toilets for disabled.

ACCESS: Situated at Down End Rd,Fareham, a mile from M27 junction 11.


WESTERN APPROACHES HQ •BRIGHTON FISHING MUSEUMUNDER the streets ofLiverpool is what was onceBritain's nerve centre in theBattle of the Atlantic.

A labyrinth of rooms covering50,000sq ft forms the WesternApproaches museum whereWrens and Waafs were amongthose working under constantpressure to mastrermind thedefeat of the U-boats.

On show are the main opera-tions room, the Admiral's office,teleprinter station, a reconstruct-ed educational centre, an

Anderson air raid shelter and a'bombed out' room, bringing adramatic period vividly to life.

All rooms are audio-linked forany unaccompanied tours.

DATA FILES: March 1 to Nov. 1,

10.30am-4.30pm. Closed Fri. & Sat. Lastadmission 3.30.

ADMISSION CHARGES: £4.75, con-cessions and children £3.45, familytickets £9.95. Groups of ten or more£2.99.

ACCESS: In Rumford St behindTown Hall.

INFORMATION: 0151 227 2008.

BRIGHTON'S historicallyimportant sea fishery and theseafront are vividly presentedthrough a wide variety ofartefacts at the town'sFishing Museum.

It was established in 1994 as asmall, independent museum inco-operation with the local fish-ing community.

Exhibits include models, pho-tographs, film and paintings,with an audio presentation offishing folk talking and singing.

Also on show is a Naval 2pdr gundating from 1800 and dug out ofBrighton beach.

In conjunction with the fishingcommunity, the museum organ-ises the annual BrightonMackerel Fair, which this yeartakes place on May 18.

DATA FILEOPENING TIMES: 10am-5pm daily.ADMISSION: Free, donations wel-

come.ACCESS: 201 Kings Rd Arches,

Brighton.INFORMATION: 01273 723064.

Each year over one million@©©Q, @£§® come to The GreatThorpe Park in Surrey, oneof Europe's leading

0Tj[jfl parks. Worldfamous attractions

include X:\ No Way Out, Thunder River,Loggers Leap, Depth Charge, Mr Monkey'sBanana Ride, The Flying Fish and NEW FOR 1998,Wet, Wet, Wet and funtastic Dino Boats.

... it's aout for everyone!

http://www.thorpepark.co.uk

Thunder River!

FROM21st MARCH TO30th JUNE 1998

THE GREAT THORPE PARKCHERTSEY, SURREY.

OFF THE M25, JCT 11 OR 13TEL: 01932 562633

Simply present this voucher at thepay kiosks of The Great Thorpe Park

for one <9@®"r <33S7 ticket worth

£13, valid for guests under 14 years,for FREE admission. Each free Cool

Cat under 14 years must have aseparate voucher and be

accompanied by an adult purchasinga full price ticket.

ADMISSION!conditions: It is valid only on or between thedates indicated and cannot be used inconjunction with any other offer, voucher orpromotion, and is not valid against RanAhead Family Supersaver, Come Back Soonor Price Busters tickets or any othercategory of ticket. This voucher is invalid ifsold or offered for sale. Not negotiable.Height restrictions apply on some rides.Children under 1m admitted free at alltimes.

199804 museum guide pt1

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