|
|
|
New Maritime Exhibition - 1- Jottings Issue 2005/2. ‘A Tragic Moment in Time - 5pm 5th Feb 1805’ is the title of a commemorative exhibition on the loss of the ‘Earl of Abergavenny’ in the new exhibition gallery of Weymouth Museum. It is to open on 21st March 2005 and run to 31st October 2005 and is being designed and built by Weymouth Lunar Society members. Additional help is always welcome as we are building a “full-size replica” of the ‘Abbey’ deck at the moment it hit the Shambles(!) show-ing the ‘marks being open’ and a full-size section through the hull to incorporate the knee that was lifted. If you want to help please contact David on 768 442. Why did the ‘Abergavenny’ sink This is one of the topics that the Exhibition will try to address by considering the following questions:- · Was her design flawed in any way? · Were there short comings in her construction? · Was she structurally damaged when she was hit at anchors in Portsmouth a few days before? · What was her draught and trim as she approached the Shambles? · How competent was the pilot? · Could the pilot see the marks to take him clear of the Shambles at 5pm? · How did the conditions of wind and tide affect the outcome? · Were the Captains decisions correct after hitting the Shambles? HMS Hood Display Alongside the ‘Abergavenny’ Exhibition in the new gallery will be a display of items recovered from HMS Hood by John Kelly, a selection of early photographs and the stunning multi-beam images of the wreck-site and Victorian railway. We also hope this display will keep the issue of the ‘Hood’ diving ban to the fore. DJC
New Exhibition Gallery at Weymouth Museum - 2- Jottings Issue 2005/3. ‘Moments from Dorset’s Maritime Heritage’ is the new and final title, of the exhibition in the new gallery of Weymouth Museum. It has been widened from just an Abergavenny display, although this still remains the main exhibit, but it will also incorporate a HMS Hood display in the main gallery and in the lobby the largest collection of Halsewell material ever displayed in Weymouth thanks to Ian, Selwyn and Ed are renovating their Tomahawk and Torpedo displays, hopefully a Great Eastern display and a “Cabinet of Curiosities from Weymouth Bay” by Ron. It will open on 21st March with a preview on 16th March and run to 31st October, 7 days a week from 10am to 4.30pm. It has been designed and built solely by Weymouth LUNAR Society members. During the exhibition period it is intended to have open evenings to invited guests with talks and displays of the more valuable artefacts from the Abergavenny that can not be left out on public display with just the Brewers Quay cabinet security system, a visit by the Wordsworth Trust on 15th April after they have dedicated their plaque in All Saints Church, hopefully some special children’s days in the summer with appropriately qualified staff to utilize the mock-up of the Abergavenny helm and possibly a Trafalgar Day Event with nautical songs and free grog all night (surely some mistake here – Editor).
New Exhibition Gallery at Weymouth Museum - 3 - Jottings Issue 2005/4 The ‘Moments from Dorset’s Maritime Heritage’ (MfDMH) exhibition in the new exhibition gallery of Weymouth Museum opened, after an estimated 500 volunteer hours from LUNAR Society members, just on time at 6.30pm on Monday 21 March 2005, it will run until 31st October 2005, 7 days a week from 10am to 4.30pm with entry entirely free. This was a total LUNAR Society effort having been conceived, designed, built and exhibits material either from or in the possession of LUNAR members. During the exhibition period it is intended to have open evenings with talks and displays of the very valuable artefacts that can not be left on public display as well as children orientated events in the summer. Preparation of the exhibition has required further close inspection of some of the artefacts, two of which are discussed this month in more detail. Hopefully the exhibition will spark further contributions over the following months in the same vein.
Moments from Dorset’s Maritime Heritage - 4 - Jottings Issue 2005/4 The LUNAR Society exhibition is proving to be a great success and 2,752 visitors have been logged by the stewards (who are on duty for about 70% of the time) in its first six weeks. Anyone who would like to do a spell as a volunteer steward should contact Hazel Foster at the museum. The octant from the ‘Earl of Abergavenny’ is being collected from Hastings Museum on 10th May and will then be added to our exhibition. Visitors have included Ken McGoverin from Kent who is writing the definitive work on Pitcher’s Yard which built the ‘Earl of Abergavenny’ (anyone wishing to contact him for information about the Pitcher Yard should contact David or Ed) and Tony Sellwell from Florida who claimed to have been the first of the modern divers to have dived the ‘Earl of Abergavenny’ in 1955. He has promised to write up his early dives for ‘Jottings’.
New Exhibition Gallery at Weymouth Museum - 5 - Jottings Issue 2005/4 The ‘Moments from Dorset’s Maritime Heritage’ exhibition is proving to be a great success and 2,000 visitors have been logged by the stewards (who are on duty for about 60% of the time) in its first six weeks. Anyone who would like to be a volunteer stewards should contact Hazel Foster at the museum. The octant from the ‘Earl of Abergavenny’ is being collected from Hastings Museum on 10th May and will be added to our exhibition.
|
