Latest News - Portsmouth Historic Dockyard

Lost dog returns home�after nearly 500 years!

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0100

A two year old mongrel who sailed aboard the ill fated Mary Rose is returning home to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and the Mary Rose Museum after an incredible 465 years away.

The painstakingly preserved and reconstructed skeleton of the Mary Roses dog will be back amongst her familiar Portsmouth surroundings and the many sights and smells she would recognise from onboard the Mary Rose, as she goes on display alongside them from Friday 26th March.

Staff at the Mary Rose Trust named the old sea dog Hatch as she was discovered trapped in the sliding door of the carpenters cabin of the Mary Rose where she had lain since the ship sank in mysterious circumstances in 1545. She may have been a pet but is more likely to have earned her keep as a ratter Tudor seafarers did not allow cats on board ship as they were thought to bring bad luck.

It is expected that Hatch will capture the hearts and imaginations of children as they visit the museum to discover the history of Henry VIII''s famous warship and uncover the truth about what happened to the crew and their dog.

John Lippiett (Chief Executive of the Mary Rose Trust and Hatchs guardian) said: "We are very excited to bring our dog into the museum for the first time, because the public especially children have always been particularly fascinated to learn that one had been discovered during the excavation.

"Expert analysis of Hatchs bones suggests that she spent most of her short life within the close confines of the ship. It is likely that the longest walks she took were along the quayside at Portsmouth, her home town.

"Hatch is just one of 19,000 extraordinary Tudor treasures recovered with the wreck of the Mary Rose, but she has never been on display in Portsmouth simply because we have not had the room.

"All that is set to change with the building of a new permanent Mary Rose museum, bringing together the remains of the ship itself with the pick of her artefacts, displayed at last in their historic context."

Other original Tudor artefacts on display in the current vast collection of over 1000 items at the Mary Rose Museum include clothing, jewellery, personal possessions, money, domestic utensils, furniture, musical instruments, medical equipment, navigational apparatus, weapons, tools, rigging and wood from the ship. Plus, for the eagle eyed visitor there is also another doggy treasure a tile was found with a dogs paw print, which would have been made as the tile was put out to dry in the sun!

Having been nationally recognised as a Family Friendly Museum, this attraction is a must see and Hatchs arrival highlights that although the Ship Hall housing the wreck of the Mary Rose is currently closed, the museum remains open as usual with a unique exhibition that is being continually improved to enhance the experience of its many thousands of visitors.

The Mary Rose sank in 1545 in the Battle of the Solent. She was raised in 1982 with her artefact collection presenting a unique time capsule and one of the worlds most precious heritage icons.

The Mary Rose 500 Appeal are fundraising to give Hatch a permanent home and ensure she is isnt lost for another 500 years. To find out more about the appeal to secure the building of the new Mary Rose Museum to open in 2012 visit www.maryrose500.org

Images courtesy of the Mary Rose Trust

Editors notes:

The new museum housing the hull of the Mary Rose will unite her with the artefacts and will open in 2012. The conservation of the hull will be complete in 2016 providing visitors with new and unique views of the vessel.

During the construction phase of the new museum and the temporary closure of the hull, the Mary Rose Museum has devised an imaginative programme of events and interpretations to give visitors a different, but equally fulfilling experience including a new introductory film narrated by TV historian Dan Snow, enhanced displays and an insight by experienced guides.

Ticket and visiting information is available on www.historicdockyard.co.uk

Portsmouth Historic Dockyards New Recruits Celebrate British Tourism Week

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0100

Yesterday, Tuesday 9th March, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard welcomed colleagues from Tourism South East who went back to their roots to work in visitor facing roles as part of the annual British Tourism Week, which takes place from 15 21 March 2010. This key week in the annual tourism calendar sees events taking place nationwide to celebrate and raise awareness about the �114 billion tourism industry that is critical to the UK economy.

Three employees from Tourism South East Paul Jeffries (Senior Development Manager), Karl Appleby (IT Manager) and Rosalyn Paynton (Marketing) learnt about life behind the scenes of Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, as they became tour guides, classroom assistants, customer service staff and mystery shoppers!

Highlights of their day included helping visitors to learn more about the Mary Rose collection in the current museum, there was a particular fascination with the Barber Surgeons collection! They also enjoyed seeing the behind scenes work with the education departments and how the Historic Dockyard and its attractions enthuse the younger generations in engaging with their heritage.

All three of the new recruits had a fun day and felt very welcomed by all the staff. They were really encouraged by the enthusiasm and knowledge of the tour guides at each attraction and the interactivity of the attractions for all ages. They have vowed to come back as visitors, although after all their hard work yesterday they may find themselves back behind the tills or giving tours!

In Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, 23 employees will be dedicating their time to tourism businesses ranging from Romsey Tourist Information Centre, Blue Reef Aquarium, Royal Navy Submarine Museum, Marwell Wildlife and Exbury Gardens.

Mike Bedingfield, Chief Executive of Tourism South East said "Team South East has been hugely enthusiastic in partnering with tourism businesses for British Tourism Week. The initiative will help us to better understand the local level issues of operating tourism businesses, enabling us to better represent them in our day jobs. As we come out of the recession tourism, which is worth in excess of �12 billion p.a. to the regional economy and supports over 300,000 jobs, will be an invaluable industry for skills and employment."

Robert Bruce, Managing Director at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard added: "As a leading attraction and employer in Hampshires tourism industry, we fully support the back to our roots initiative. Our relationship with Tourism South East goes from strength to strength and we were thrilled to welcome our new recruits who threw themselves into the work they were given and the energetic, enthusiastic atmosphere of the Historic Dockyard."

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard will also be celebrating British Tourism Week with all residents with a PO postcode as for one exclusive weekend only, Friday 19th Monday 22nd March 2010, they are offering a one day �5 ticket to discover the Dockyard on their doorstep, saving up to 70% on standard prices!

To take advantage of this fantastic offer, residents just need to bring a utility bill and photo ID with them, any day between the 19th 22nd March, and their �5 ticket will be valid for one day to visit all the attractions.

For those who want even more, they can keep their ticket and redeem it before 30th April 2010 to receive �5 off an Adult, Child or Senior all inclusive ticket to the Historic Dockyard.

To find out more about British Tourism Week visit www.britishtourismweek.com

For more information about Tourism South East visit www.tourismsoutheast.com

Note to Editors:

Full list of participating businesses in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight is as follows:

Blue Reef Aquarium, Portsmouth

Chewton Glen, New Milton

Chilworth Manor, Southampton

Enchanted Manor, Isle of Wight

Exbury Gardens, Exbury

Hoburne Holiday Parks, Bashley and Naish

Romsey Tourist Information Centre, Romsey

Lainston House Hotel, Sparsholt, Winchester

Marriott Meon Valley, Southampton

Marwell Wildlife, Colden Common, Winchester

Mottisfont Abbey, Romsey

National Motor Museum, Palace House and Beaulieu Abbey, Beaulieu

New Forest Activities Centre, Beaulieu

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, Portsmouth

Princess Coaches, Southampton

Royal Navy Submarine Museum, Gosport

Shorefield Holidays, New Forest

Whitley Ridge Country House Hotel, Brockenhurst

Tourism South East is the official tourist board for South East England, covering Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire and Surrey.

The South East is the largest region for tourism in Britain outside of London, worth in excess of �12 billion p.a. to the regional economy (7% of regional GVA) supporting over 300,000 jobs.

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard Celebrate British Tourism Week

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0100

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard has teamed up with colleagues at Tourism South East who are going back to their roots by working on the ground with tourism businesses as part of the annual British Tourism Week, which takes place from 15 21 March 2010. This key week in the annual tourism calendar sees events taking place nationwide to celebrate and raise awareness about the �114 billion tourism industry that is critical to the UK economy.

On Tuesday 9th March three employees from Tourism South East Paul Jeffries (Senior Development Manager), Karl Appleby (IT Manager) and Rosalyn Paynton (Marketing) will learn about life behind the scenes of Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, as they become tour guides, classroom assistants, customer service staff and mystery shoppers!

Robert Bruce, Managing Director at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard added: "As a leading attraction and employer in Hampshires tourism industry, we fully support the back to our roots initiative. Our relationship with Tourism South East goes from strength to strength and we look forward to welcoming our new recruits and introducing them to our staff both in customer facing roles and in the excellent work that takes place with our education teams behind the scenes supporting each new generation of visitors to help look after our heritage."

For those who want even more, they can keep their ticket and redeem it before 30th April 2010 to receive �5 off an Adult, Child or Senior all inclusive ticket to the Historic Dockyard.

To find out more about British Tourism Week visit www.britishtourismweek.com

For more information about Tourism South East visit www.tourismsoutheast.com

Note to Editors:

Full list of participating businesses in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight is as follows:

Blue Reef Aquarium, Portsmouth
Chewton Glen, New Milton
Chilworth Manor, Southampton
Enchanted Manor, Isle of Wight
Exbury Gardens, Exbury
Hoburne Holiday Parks, Bashley and Naish
Romsey Tourist Information Centre, Romsey
Lainston House Hotel, Sparsholt, Winchester
Marriott Meon Valley, Southampton
Marwell Wildlife, Colden Common, Winchester
Mottisfont Abbey, Romsey
National Motor Museum, Palace House and Beaulieu Abbey, Beaulieu
New Forest Activities Centre, Beaulieu
Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, Portsmouth
Princess Coaches, Southampton
Royal Navy Submarine Museum, Gosport
Shorefield Holidays, New Forest
Whitley Ridge Country House Hotel, Brockenhurst

Tourism South East is the official tourist board for South East England, covering Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire and Surrey.

The South East is the largest region for tourism in Britain outside of London, worth in excess of �12 billion p.a. to the regional economy (7% of regional GVA) supporting over 300,000 jobs.

SPECIAL OFFER FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS Discover the Dockyard for just �5!

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0100

Twice a day, on his way to and from school, little Charlie Bucket had to walk right past the gates of the Dockyard. And every time he went by he would begin to walk very, very slowly, and he would listen to the gasps of delight and the chatter of excitement. Oh, how he loved to hear the anticipation of other children ready to set out on an adventure! And oh, how he wished he could go through the gates and see what it was like for himself..." (apologies to Roald Dahl!)

Now young Charlie Bucket can once again receive his golden ticket and whats more, so can all residents with a PO postcode! To celebrate British Tourism week, for one exclusive weekend only, Friday 19th Monday 22nd March 2010, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard is offering a one day �5 ticket to discover the Dockyard on their doorstep, saving up to 70% on standard prices!

For those who want even more, they can keep their ticket and redeem it before 30th April 2010 to receive �5 off an Adult, Child or Senior all inclusive ticket to the Historic Dockyard.

This promotion has been arranged to celebrate the fourth annual British Tourism Week (15th 21st March 2010). HRH the Prince of Wales is once again Patron for this series of inter related events, which aims to raise local, regional, national and international awareness to tourisms critical importance, it will encourage organisations and individuals to take pride in being part of the �114 billion visitor economy. Visit www.britishtourismweek.com for more information.

So just like young explorer Charlie, what can visitors expect to find laying beyond the mysterious Victory Gates...?

Well, HMS Victory never fails to impress. Her victory at the Battle of Trafalgar, led by the greatest ever naval figure, Admiral Lord Nelson, is a key date in history. But Victory is much more than just Nelson, shes a living museum of Georgian naval life with all the gory details!

Expertly retrieved from the seabed by hand, where it lay for 437 years, visitors are challenged not to be moved or astounded by the sheer perfection of Mary Rose collection of artefacts, which capture daily life on board a Tudor warship. It is no wonder the collection has been described as "this countrys Pompeii". Plus, a new introductory film narrated by TV historian Dan Snow and a remarkable up close and personal interpretation of the hull with stunning photography, it remains a top class attraction in its own right whilst the ships hull is undergoing conservation and preparing for the building of the brand new museum to open in 2012.

Visible beyond the gates is HMS Warrior 1860. Visitors are often staggered by her size and enthralled to learn that despite being so powerful and imposing, she never fired a shot. But, there is more to her her technology captures the spirit of Victorian invention brilliantly and the story of her restoration is fascinating.

The National Museum of the Royal Navy boasts a proud collection celebrating naval endeavour and bravery over the centuries. The stories of those who have served in the Royal Navy are told through the personal possessions and memories of the men and women who have dedicated their lives to safeguarding our nations freedom.

Action Stations is a high octane, simulator led experience. Its action packed and the perfect opportunity to learn more about the physical and mental challenges behind the Royal Navy and perfect for the young at heart to let off steam!

For many, the best way to see Portsmouth is from the water. Harbour Tours take visitors behind the fences of the heritage area to see the Navy ships, historic landmarks and seascape that has made Portsmouth so distinctive.

Add to this the captivating gems of the Trafalgar Sail, Trafalgar Experience and the Dockyard Apprentice and in the words of a recent visitor it becomes "one of the best days out I''ve had in a very well travelled 46 years!"

Photos courtesy of Matt Sills

Hunt Your History at Navy Days 2010

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0100

Navy Days is a fantastic opportunity to explore the Royal Navy of the present and the future, but it is also a fascinating opportunity to delve into the past, at this hugely popular event that has been taking place since 1927!

This year, visitors will have the chance to discover their own military history when the Naval Historical Branch, located opposite HMS Victory, opens its doors with a panel of experts ready and waiting to give advice on naval family history.

Jock Gardner, one of the branchs historians, said: "We will be able to point visitors in the right direction, advising on what historical documents they would need to answer particular queries. Also if people bring along ancestors service certificates we can help explain information contained within them."

The Historical Branch''s archive dates back to the point at which the Historical Section was first founded by Winston Churchill in 1914 and consists of around 160,000 records, acting as the Navy and MoD''s corporate memory. They also help advise the media, assisting in many documentaries and TV dramas such as the ITV series Making Waves.

In addition, there will be an expert from the MODs medal office on hand to answer questions on Royal Navy medals and awards.

A variety of fascinating facts can also be found in The Ayshford Trafalgar Roll, on special display in the National Museum of the Royal Navy. Visitors can search the display Who was at Trafalgar?, which lists personal details on over 18,000 men who served in the British fleet at Trafalgar (including nearly 3,000 Marines), and also includes The Complete Navy List of the Napoleonic Wars with details on 11,000 officers who served in the Royal Navy between 1793 and 1815.

This mine of information on the Ayshford Trafalgar Roll was compiled over the past 25 years by Pamela and Derek Ayshford, who set themselves the task of working through the relevant records muster books, surgeons logs, prize money registers, pension records, etc to produce a definitive reference guide to the heroes of the Navys finest hour.

So, Trivial Pursuit buffs can learn that there were in fact 9 Nelsons at the battle, two of whom came from Denmark. But, more seriously, the Roll will help anyone tracing their family tree discover if they had an ancestor at Trafalgar.

Navy Days in Portsmouth runs for three days from July 30. Already confirmed among the star attractions are new Type 45 destroyers HMS Daring and Dauntless, plus the aviation training and casualty receiving ship RFA Argus.

Over 800 years of naval history will be brought to life at every turn with historical re enactment displays, a cast of hundreds of costumed characters, thrilling naval displays, and the world class attractions of Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, including HMS Victory, the Mary Rose Museum and HMS Warrior 1860, to guarantee a fantastic, fun filled day out for all the family!

Visitors will require a ticket to Navy Days 2010 for free consultations at the Naval Historical Branch and entry to the National Museum of the Royal Navy. Further information, including ticket details, is available at www.navydaysuk.co.uk

Wedding Fair On Board HMS Warrior 1860

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0100

24th February, 5pm 9pm

Valentines Day may be over but love is certainly still in the air onboard HMS Warrior 1860, as they host their first ever wedding fair and offer couples the opportunity to view the unique ship as the perfect venue for their wedding day.

HMS Warrior 1860 is unique and one of the most sought after wedding locations on the south coast and can boast to have welcomed more than a quarter of a million guests onboard for various events, including over 1,000 weddings. Guests have included members of the Royal Family, celebrities from the world of entertainment & sport, historians and politicians.

Warrior offers a versatile setting for those looking for a small, intimate ceremony or those wanting to splash out on a spectacular celebration for 250 guests. Visitors can take this opportunity to view the entire ship, including the sumptuous Captains cabin and elegant Officers Half Deck, which will be presented ready for the ceremony to begin. Moving through the ship, the Wardroom, Half Deck and Gun Deck will display potential reception ideas.

Warriors Wedding Fair will guide couples through the available options with specially selected suppliers on hand to provide couples with valuable advice and expertise. These range from wedding car hire companies showcasing some of their vehicles, to florists, photographers and wedding cake designers onboard and on hand to help advise and plan a wedding day on Warrior.

County Caterers will be showcasing some of their menu choices, with a selection of samples to taste. With over 15 years experience of catering on board, they will be able to offer advice on all aspects of catering and drink options for that special day.

Brides of Portsmouth will be organising two catwalk wedding shows on the night, to advertise their bridal gowns and accessories. The shows will take place at 6pm and 7.30pm.

There will also be the chance to meet Warriors Special Events Team for couples to discuss and plan their wedding ceremony and/or reception and to view the diary to book their special day.

To finish the night in style, there will be the opportunity to enter a raffle draw with several lovely prizes available to win, from Warrior champagne to discount vouchers for bridal hair and a special prize of a stunning set of hand made jewellery for the bride on her wedding day.

As this stunning ship approaches her 150TH Anniversary on December 29th 2010, this is the perfect way to start the celebrations, and what better way than a wedding to make Warrior memories of the future.

Admission �2 Entry via Victory Gate, The Hard

Bridal fashion show

Limited cash bar available

Car parking is advised in the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard car park as this will remain open until 10pm and visitors attending the fair have been given a reduced rate of �4 for 4hrs.

For further details on attending the event, please call 023 92778604 or email specialevents@hmswarrior.org

Star Attractions Lined Up For Navy Days 2010!

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0100

The Royal Navys two newest warships are set to be dazzling double act as the newest naval technology features alongside the historic prowess of the naval fleet of the past, including HMS Victory and HMS Warrior 1860, at this summers Navy Days event at Portsmouth Naval Base and Historic Dockyard.

The new formidable Type 45 destroyers HMS Daring and HMS Dauntless are among the most powerful warships in the world and for the first time together they will open their hatches to the public for the three day event, which runs Friday 30th July Sunday 1st August.

Navy Days 2010 promises to be one of the most popular events on the South Coast this summer, featuring serving warships of the Royal Navy, ships of foreign navies, thrilling naval displays, historical re enactments and the world class attractions of Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.

Other ships on display will be two Type 23 Frigates, one of the mainstay ships of the modern surface fleet. The public will also get a rare chance to see specialist Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship Argus an aviation training and casualty receiving ship. Her hospital facility includes four operating theatre tables, ten intensive care beds, 20 high dependency beds and 70 general ward beds. Argus is one of few ships in the world to have a CT scanner and is similar to RFA Largs Bay which is currently helping the aid effort in Haiti.

Captain Paul Lemkes, Deputy Naval Base Commander, said: "Navy Days is a fantastic opportunity for the Royal Navy to be able to show the public, close up, the capabilities it contributes to UK Defence. I am particularly delighted that we are planning to have two Type 45 destroyers on show in their home port so that visitors will be able to see how the Royal Navy is maintaining its place at the forefront of maritime operations with this cutting edge class of warship.

"I am sure that RFA Argus will be a big hit with visitors too. She is a one off ship with a very special capability and does not often get the chance to have the public on board."

For the adventurous and active visitor there is the chance to see if they have the skills to join the senior service on challenging displays, simulators and climbing tower in Action Stations. Whilst there, they can also see Carrier Strike, an interactive exhibition detailing the aircraft carriers of the future.

This spectacular event ensures that there is always something going on around every corner from awe amazing military displays of the Royal Navy Black Cats helicopter team and the Royal Marines Display Team, to displays of strength, courage and teamwork from the Field Gun Crews of HMS Sultan and HMS Collingwood, army parachute teams, motorcycle displays and of course the military band.

Robert Bruce, Chief Executive of Portsmouth Historic Dockyard which is co hosting the event with the Naval Base, added: "Navy Days 2010 will be a brilliant event for all ages, showcasing the Navy's present and future capabilities including its people and, especially at Portsmouth, its heritage too. There's nowhere else in the country that you can see this great mix and we're expecting it to be the highlight of this summer on the south coast."

Over 800 years of naval history will be brought to life at every turn with historical re enactment displays, a cast of hundreds of costumed characters and the welcoming doors of the National Museum of the Royal Navy, Mary Rose Museum and HMS Warrior 1860 will open wide to guarantee a fantastic, fun filled day out for all the family!

Further information, including ticket details, is available from the Navy Days website www.navydaysuk.co.uk

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard has fantastic new displays and a range of events for Half Term

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0100

The Mary Rose Museum is displaying the newly unveiled facial reconstruction of the man who could have been responsible for sinking the Mary Rose and has been making national headlines this week.

The head of the Bosun has been modelled by the internationally renowned forensic artist Richard Neave and two of his colleagues, from a skull recovered from the wreck. Evidence suggests the ship put about with its gunports open, was hit by a squall and sank like a stone. Ensuring that the gunports were closed would have been the Bosun''s job.

The Bosun''s skull is typical of the preservation of the collection, providing a window into everyday Tudor life: the historian David Starkey has called the Mary Rose "England''s Pompeii".

Visitors to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard can also enjoy spending time with the family this February half term, by taking the challenge in activities and pastimes that will test their survival and code breaking skills and by participating in games with a Tudor twist.

The family friendly programme of activities includes both free drop in workshops and activities that are free with a valid Historic Dockyard ticket and this year sees the launch of some brand new ventures.

A dedicated family activity area will be opening for the first time this half term on board HMS Warrior 1860. Visitors can bring their young sailors for costumed role play, toys, games and colouring in the ships Gun Room.

Warrior will also be encouraging visitors to Follow the Flag as they discover more about the men who lived and worked on board as well as cracking and creating codes using semaphore.

The National Museum of the Royal Navy, (Royal Naval Museum), will be taking to the road for the first time during a school holiday, as it takes the lead in the Sea Life Roadshow at Buckland Community Centre. The day will include arts and crafts, storytelling, object handling and a variety of other activities.

For all those intrepid explorers there is also an opportunity to get prepared for an adventure to the Pole by discovering some survival tips and making Arctic explorers kits at the National Museum of the Royal Navy.

Tudor Games and Pastimes will be the theme at the Mary Rose Museum and families will have the chance to challenge each other to discover how Tudor entertainment compares to today.

Further information about the extensive events programme can be viewed at www.historicdockyard.co.uk/events or on 023 9272 8060.

Sea Life beyond the doors of Portsmouths museums and libraries as they take to the road!

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0100

The National Museum of the Royal Navy (NMRN), Portsmouth, is leading the way with an exciting community project, which will see local organisations take to the road for the Sea Life Roadshow at Buckland Community Centre, Portsmouth, on Thursday 18th February 2010.

Buckland Community Centre will be transformed with mini museums, a special soft under the sea play environment, object handling, arts, crafts and storytelling, making for a fun filled family day.

The NMRN has teamed up with HMS Victory, HMS Warrior 1860, the Mary Rose Museum, Portsmouth Chat, Portsmouth City Museum, Portsmouth Library Service and the Royal Navy Submarine Museum to give local residents a real taste of the culture that is right on their doorsteps.

The Roadshow will also be the first opportunity for some very talented local children to view the amazing artwork they created as part of the Sea Life project. Funded by Find your Talent PUSH the project has seen 3 local schools working with the National Museum of the Royal Navy and local artist Debbie Dodsworth to explore Portsmouths important maritime links. Ninety pupils from Flying Bull Primary, Charles Dickens Junior School and Corpus Christi Catholic Primary School used buildings, silhouettes, letters and objects they saw in the Historic Dockyard as inspiration to create their own Soul Sails.

Debbie Dodsworth, the artist who has been working on the project commented: "All the students who took part had a successful outcome regardless of their age...it was a really positive, energetic few days in school producing work which they would never normally get the chance to take part in, using techniques and materials used by professional artists. I hope I get the opportunity to work with more of the children of Portsmouth they truly are an inspiration."

The Roadshow will not only be a celebration of the project, but will also be a great day out! All the attractions involved at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard are happy to have the opportunity to get out and about and visit the people who cant make the trip to the site.

Listings

Date: Thursday 18th February 2009

Time: 11am 4pm (drop in style attendance)

Location: Buckland Community Centre, PO2 7BL

Notes for Editors

Find Your Talent PUSH

Find Your Talent PUSH is being delivered through a partnership of Hampshire County Council, Portsmouth City Council and Southampton City Council in the south east region, called the Partnership for Urban South Hampshire (PUSH)*.

With children and young people at the heart of the programme, the Find your Talent Initiative will over its three year life be bringing some �2.1 million pounds to the PUSH area, enhancing and building on the fantastic cultural work that is already taking place. Find your Talent PUSH will deliver a programme of work to ensure children, young people and their families have access in out of school time, to the best quality of arts and cultural activities and programmes as part of their entitlement. We are passionate about reaching hard to reach children and young people aged 0 19 years and in certain priority areas who would not normally access these kinds of programmes.

*PUSH is a partnership of local authorities in South Hampshire dedicated to improving the quality of life for everyone who lives, works and spends their leisure time in South Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton

The Sea Life Project

The Sea Life project has offered local school children aged between 5 and 11 an opportunity to visit the Historic Dockyard, including the Royal Naval Museum and HMS Victory, and given them a chance to go behind the scenes in the museums atmospheric attic stores. Each school worked for 3 days with the artist. During the sessions children learnt new art techniques and discovered more about silhouettes, shadows and other cultural beliefs about the soul. The Soul Sails which have been created will be on display during the roadshow, then at the museum and will finally be returned to the schools taking part.

To find out more about the project please contact Claire Jordan (Learning Officer) by email claire.jordan@royalnavalmuseum.org or by phone 023 9272 7584.

Did This Man Sink The Mary Rose?

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0100

For the first time in Portsmouth, the face of a member of the crew of the Mary Rose can be seen, thanks to advanced facial reconstruction techniques based on biomedical and archaeological research.

This Thursday 11th February 2010, will see a special unveiling in the Mary Rose Museum of the spectacular facial reconstruction of the Bosun from the Mary Rose.

First seen on display at the Hidden Treasures exhibition at Whitgift School in South Croydon, the reconstructed head of the Bosun has now been gifted to the Mary Rose Trust to be put on display in time for Half Term, amongst the vast collection of everyday objects found on board the fated warship.

John Lippiett (Chief Executive of the Mary Rose Trust) commented that "it is great to have the opportunity to see what the Bosun looked like after all these years and to welcome his arrival in our Museum".

The head has been modelled by the internationally renowned forensic artist Richard Neave and two of his colleagues, from a skull recovered from the wreck. Only a handful of the more than 500 crew and soldiers survived when the ship sank in July 1545 and Henry VIII was reported to have heard the screams of the drowning men as he helplessly stood and watched from Southsea Castle.

In a few cases it is possible to suggest the occupations of individuals by the scientific study of the skeleton and associated objects. This man was found with the emblem of his comparatively senior status, his Bosun's call a whistle suggesting he was the man who may have been at least partly responsible for the disaster.

There are many theories about why the ship sank, but evidence from the wreck itself suggests the ship put about with its gunports open, was hit by a squall and sank like a stone. Ensuring that the gunports were closed would have been the Bosun's job. The Mary Rose settled deep into the silty bed of the Solent, which preserved the many thousands of unique artefacts in excellent condition.

The Bosun's skull was typical of the preservation of the collection, providing a window into everyday Tudor life: the historian David Starkey has called the Mary Rose "England's Pompeii". The excellent condition of the human remains makes reconstruction relatively straightforward. Neave commented that "it was a pleasure to work on" and had "lots of character".

Experts have analysed the skeleton and teeth, and concluded the man was in his late 30s or early 40s. Although doing a relatively sedentary job, his skeleton indicates he had previously undertaken heavy work, suggesting he had risen through the ranks. The teeth revealed that he came from south west England.

Neave builds up the heads from his extensive database on the relationship between skull, muscles and features. Details of the Bosun's skin, hair and eyes are conjecture, based on research on Tudor styles, and his outdoor life.

A plaster cast was made of the skull, onto which the head was built. Measurements were pegged enabling facial muscles to be built up. Features such as eyes and ears were added next, followed by a thin layer of fat and then a skin like substance, made from a thin layer of clay. The acrylic eyes were prepared at the specialist NHS eye unit at Blackpool. "By his age the edge of the iris is less sharply defined, and the white more veined," Neave said, "and I think of him in the chaos of the gun deck in battle, scrubbing his eyes with his knuckles to try to clear his vision."

Thanks to Neaves skills we are now able to see the face of a man who either struggled desperately to try to save the Mary Rose, or was responsible for the fatal error which led to her sinking.

Last Operational World War II Motor Boats Saved For The Nation

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0100

Two of the last remaining fully operational high speed World War II motor boats have been saved for the nation today by Portsmouth Naval Base Property Trust[*], with the help of a �580,000 grant from the National Heritage Memorial Fund (NHMF).

When built, they were among the fastest boats of their type in the world. One of the boats, MGB 81, was active during the US landing at Omaha Beach during D Day and received the battle honour Normandy 1944. The other, HSL 102, is the only surviving example of the 100 class high speed launch and was stationed at RAF Calshot during the Battle of Britain, retrieving shot down airmen from the sea. Throughout the duration of the war, HSL vessels saved a total of 10,000 airmen of many nationalities.

The money will enable Portsmouth Naval Base Property Trust (PNBPT) to purchase the gunboats. Although both were outstanding examples of British naval engineering, they only had a life expectancy of 20 years. They have now been restored to original working condition and are on display at Gunwharf Quays Marina in Portsmouth. It is hoped people will get the opportunity to charter the boats and experience what it was like for the crews driving at full speed 70 years ago.

Peter Goodship, Chief Executive of the PNBPT, said: "These unique craft are a legacy to the heroism of those who crewed them during World War II. Both boats made significant contributions to the War effort and saved the lives of many sailors and airmen. The Trust is grateful to all those who contributed, especially the National Heritage Memorial Fund, without which this would not have been possible."

Having got them, PNBPT are now keen to bring their story alive by making at least one of them available for charter, so that people can experience something of their breathtaking power and speed a ride not for the faint hearted.

They also hope to use them once in a while to take people across to Priddys Hard and the revamped Explosion museum, where boats like 102 were based during World War 2.

The boats represented pioneering technology when they were built just down the coast at Hythe near Southampton. They were known as the Spitfires of the Seas and effectively it was like riding on a massive petrol bomb. With 3,000 gallons of fuel on board, if they were hit in the fuel tank they simply exploded. And as they were only made of plywood and had no real armament they were extremely vulnerable.

The young men who crewed these boats, many of whom were just teenagers, were responsible for life saving work, often in appalling conditions. Some of these heroes paid the ultimate sacrifice and in telling the story of the boats, PNBPT hope people will remember their bravery and their dedication to duty.

Lt. James Shadbolt MBE and a veteran of Royal Navy''s 8th Motor Gunboat Flotilla, said: "Im delighted these two motorboats will now be safe guarded. Organisations like NHMF and other generous donors play such a vital role in protecting our precious heritage and those of us who particularly cherish these boats are very grateful. Its wonderful to know that future generations will be able to experience first hand these extremely exciting machines just as we did as young men during the war."

Bob Bewley, Director of Operations at NHMF, said: "The purchase of these boats is an important part of a continuing success story and just what the NHMF was set up to do to defend the most outstanding parts of our national heritage at risk as a memorial to those who have died for the UK. These gunboats are so integral to our rich seafaring history. They can now join other great British naval achievements, such as Nelsons HMS Victory and the Mary Rose, which have been saved thanks to the unique ability of the NHMF to act quickly as the fund of last resort over the past 30 years."

NOTES TO EDITORS

History of the Boats

The boats were designed and built by the British Powerboat Company, which later went on to build the famous Supermarine Spitfire. The companys founder, aviation and powerboat pioneer Hubert Scott Paine, along with T.E. Shaw (known as Lawrence of Arabia), pioneered these fast manoeuvrable craft for British military use. In fact, T.E. Shaw personally undertook the testing of the HSL prototype.

MGB 81 After the war, MGB 81 was disposed of by the Royal Navy. In late 1945, she was sold to a private owner, achieving notoriety for being arrested as part of a smuggling operation in 1958 and then was sold for scrap. Later, she became an accommodation barge for a sailing school and then spent some years as a house boat before restoration in 1988.

HSL 102 During a two month period HSL 102 is recorded as having saved 38 men from the North Sea including the crews of two German bombers. After restoration in 1996, she was re launched by HM Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, and performed as a Royal Barge for both HRH Prince Phillip and HRH the Duke of Kent. She went on to star in the film Enigma with Kate Winslet in 2001.

Funding

The acquisition cost �750,000 which was made up of five funding streams:

National Heritage Memorial Fund �580,000 (77 % of the total value)

Private donations �90,000

Fundraising �50,000

PRISM �20,000

Coastal Forces Trust �10,000

The National Heritage Memorial Fund (NHMF) / 30th Anniversary

The National Heritage Memorial Fund (NHMF) is 30 years old in 2010. It was set up to save the most outstanding parts of our national heritage in memory of those who have given their lives for the UK. It currently receives �10million annual grant in aid from the Government.

The boats join a diverse range of well over 1,000 iconic objects and places which have been safeguarded by the NHMF to the tune of nearly �3million. These include:

� The Coenwulf Coin

� The Macclesfield Psalter

� The Mappa Mundi

� The Mary Rose

� Flying Scotsman

� The last surviving World War II destroyer, HMS Cavalier

� Sir Walter Scott manuscripts

� Antonio Canovas The Three Graces

� The personal archive of Siegfried Sassoon, WWI soldier, author and poet

� Stokholm Island, site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in Pembrokeshire

[*] Portsmouth Naval Base Property Trust

PNBPT was set up in 1985 by the Ministry of Defence and Portsmouth City Council with the initial purpose of taking responsibility for the long term preservation of the historic south west corner of Portsmouth Naval Base.

The Trust now owns and manages several of the attractions within the Historic Dockyard and Portsmouth Harbour, including Action Stations, Explosion Museum of Naval Firepower, Harbour Tours and the Dockyard Apprentice Exhibition. Since its foundation, it has also established one of the UKs largest collections of small naval craft, many of which are on display within the Historic Dockyard. These include the former barge of Commander in Chief Naval Home Command, a harbour defence launch, gigs, whalers, cutters, small dinghies used for Royal Naval sailing training, and a World War II landing craft. The Trust recently inherited the former British Military Powerboat Trusts collection, which includes a small Air Sea Rescue craft and a motorboat tender from Ark Royal.

HLS 102 and MGB 81 will represent the Trusts most significant acquisitions to date.

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard sailing the BBC airwaves over the weekend!

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0100

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard became the star of the small screen once again on Friday, featuring on both BBC ONE and BBC TWO!

Firstly, comedian and presenter Arthur Smith discovered what it was like to spend the night aboard HMS Victory as he followed in the footsteps of Admiral Lord Nelson for BBC Ones The One Show.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00qlj7n/
The_One_Show_05_02_2010/ (15.10 into clip)

Whilst onboard Nelsons famous flagship HMS Victory, Arthur visited Horatio Nelsons Great Cabin and chatted to current Commanding Officer Oscar Whild, he learnt about the everyday lives of the men on board and he quickly discovered how difficult it is to sleep in a hammock, before eventually settling down to sleep in his Naval sleeping bag and camp bed!

Commenting on his unique visit, Arthur Smith said "it was a thrilling experience to walk around Victory to imagine the sailors climbing the rigging, slurping grog, tending the guns, and the spot where nelson fell is rather chilling."

The feature was also illustrated by fantastic images of Nelson, courtesy of the National Museum of the Royal Navy.

Then following on at 9pm on BBC TWO was the final episode of Empire of the Seas featuring HMS Warrior 1860.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00qlmcq

This stunning documentary series fronted by historian and avid sailor Dan Snow saw him visit the various attractions at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and around the coast, to go beyond the battle tactics and reveal a surprising history.

Travelling across the oceans and with unique access to the modern fleet, Dan examined the impact of the Royal Navy on society, from its role in the foundation of the Bank of England to the creation of a model for the civil service.

The series unearthed rarely seen manuscripts and records, and revealed the hidden human stories behind the famous battles.

The series not only showed the modern Navy within Portsmouth Naval Base but also HMS Warrior 1860 and HMS Victory. Dan Snow explored how Warrior was taken on a tour of the country so that the public could explore the latest innovations in shipbuilding. Filmed during the Royal Navy Past and Present weekend, it was the perfect way to illustrate the historical tour and reflect the enduring relationship between the British public and the Royal Navy.

Dan Snow commented that "I have never been to a better museum than Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. There, the past is tangible and alive."

The images supplied with this story are courtesy of the BBC (Arthur Smith) and � John Lee/Anova Books 2009 (Dan Snow)

The Hero Inside Photographic Exhibition

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0100

17th February 2nd March 2010

FREE TO VISIT

In support of Help for Heroes, Gill Shaws photographic exhibition is a thought provoking and emotional record of experiences and traumas on the battlefield and at home, because Gill Shaw, celebrity photographer, is also Gill Shaw, the soldiers mum.

Visitors to Portsmouth Historic Dockyards Boathouse No.7 will have the opportunity to see how Gills skill and passion for photography, combined with the help of war heroes and celebrities, have resulted in an amazing and inspirational exhibition, highlighting the courage of the men and women wounded while serving in the Armed Forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Currently No.2 on the Tesco Best Seller list, The Hero Inside is the officially authorised fundraising book for Help for Heroes, the charity founded in 2007 to support servicemen and women wounded in the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Gill Shaw says of The Hero Inside: "I, for one, know that we have the best Armed Forces in the world and I am truly inspired by the whole concept of heroism. My purpose in wanting to produce this book and subsequent exhibition is to show our war heroes in a positive light, in these negative times. "

Gill travelled 21,500 miles around the UK in only 4 months (running alongside her regular business) in order to capture the inspirational photos, and whenever the task seemed to be too daunting to complete, the inspirational stories from these courageous individuals spurred her on to a new level.

The Hero Inside is a touring exhibition of the photographs from the book, which shows wounded soldiers in a positive way, plus a selection of photos from events that were taking place for Help for Heroes.

"With The Hero Inside I feel very much like Gill Shaw the mum with a camera, these wonderful people seemed to open their hearts to me, I have felt very humbled and found myself often giving out advice on life, loves and the future."

Listings

The Hero Inside Photographic Exhibition by Gill Shaw

17 February until 2 March

Boathouse No.7, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard,

Victory Gate,

HM Naval Base,

Portsmouth PO1 3LJ

10am 5pm.

Admission Free

Arthur Smith Spends the Night on HMS Victory for BBCs THE ONE SHOW

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0100

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard will be the star of the small screen once again this Friday, when comedian and presenter Arthur Smith discovers what it is like to spend the night aboard HMS Victory as he follows in the footsteps of Admiral Lord Nelson for BBC Ones The One Show.

Filmed as part of a series of features on The One Show called "Sleeping With...", Arthur Smith spends the night at a historic location associated with a significant personality. Last week saw him visit Cheltenham to learn more about the composer Gustav Holst.

To see if Arthur survived the night, tune into BBC ONE this Friday 5th February at 7pm.

The images supplied with this story are courtesy of the BBC.

Video guide for hard of hearing

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0100

Hard of hearing visitors can use a revolutionary new hand held video guide at the Mary Rose Museum.

The guides use touch screen technology. Users press the number which corresponds with the display they are looking at in the museum and a Sign Language Interpreter appears on the screen to explain the exhibits.

Sixteen displays are featured including the hull of the ship.

The first couple to use this brand new device rated it highly: "Absolutely wonderful & interesting... highly recommended for British Sign Language users" Gillian and Mervyn Brewer of Worcester.

There are 12 of these devices in total available free of charge in the Mary Rose Museum.

Mary Kinoulty, Head of Learning explains: "The Mary Rose Trust is committed to making the collection as accessible as possible to as many people as possible. These hand held signing guides are a brilliant new way of communicating with our hearing impaired visitors. "

The hand held video guides are supplied by a local company, ATS Heritage. Hampshire based ATS has installed similar devices in castles and heritage sites all over the UK and also specialise in the production of audio guides.

These video guides have been introduced in addition to the accessibility features already in place at the Mary Rose including hearing loops, wheelchair and pushchair access, audio guides and a number of tactile exhibits for visually impaired visitors.

Mums, come and sample some free wine and chocolate in a delightful Tudor setting this Mothers Day�

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0100

The Mary Rose Museum will be inviting mums to pop in and sample some free chocolate and wine from 10am on Sunday 22nd March.

Treat your mum to a day out with a difference at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, a stunning setting steeped with history spanning 800 years.

The Mary Rose Museum exhibits hundreds of Tudor artefacts including original finds from Henry VIIIs favourite warship. Thousands of personal, domestic and military objects were recovered, including a selection of wooden combs, some still with the nits attached bringing you closer to history that you could ever imagine!

Henry VIII and friends will be wearing their red noses to support Comic Relief

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0100

Friday 13th March is Comic Relief and there are a number of influential statues who will be wearing red noses to mark the occasion.

The Henry VIII statue outside the Mary Rose Museum will be wearing a giant red nose as will the Admiral John Benbow figurehead and HMS Warrior 1860s figurehead.

As well as these iconic landmarks, staff from many of the attractions will also be wearing red noses and there will be the opportunity to buy cakes, tea and coffee and have you face painted alongside HMS Victory with all proceeds going to Comic Relief.

6 must see attractions for 1 great price!

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0100

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard is steeped in history with 6 must see attractions for the price of 1 covering 800 years of naval history.

This isnt even a special offer; its applicable all year round so theres never been a better reason to pay us a visit.

The tickets are valid for one year and youll be able to visit HMS Warrior 1860, Action Stations and the Royal Naval Museum as many times as you like within the year.

Youll get one entrance to HMS Victory, the Mary Rose and a Harbour Tour.

Prices start from �17.50 for an adult Dont delay come aboard today!

The Royal Naval Museum welcomes a new collection of personal artefacts belonging to the Baker ...

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0100

The story of an ordinary man known as the Baker Soldier Sailor unfolds in a new collection showcasing some of his personal belongings, kindly donated to the Royal Naval Museum by his family.

Ninety years ago, a baker from Sussex was demobilised from the Royal Navy after being wounded, even though he never went to sea. A collection of his personal artefacts including photographs and his personal pocket watch are now on display in the Royal Naval Museum.

Alfred Frank Smith worked as a baker in Sussex and joined the Royal Navy in 1916. Instead of joining a ship he became an infantry soldier and on 28th September 1918 he was hit in the chest by a German bullet, lodging itself close to his heart.

Demobilised in 1919, Alfred bought a newsagent & tobacconist shop in Lewis. He had 10 children and died in 1974 with the German bullet still lodged close to his heart, after being there for 56 years!

We only know of Alfred''s story due to the kind donation to the Royal Naval Museum by Alfred''s family of photographs, a pocket watch he carried in the trenches and his original service certificate together with the memories that they have of him. This is just one of the many treasures on display in the Royal Naval Museum.

Preparations in place for a "staycation" summer

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0100

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard is a member of The Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (ALVA) and this week ALVA has released its members visitor figures for 2008 today, showing a general upward trend in the number of people visiting the countrys foremost museums, galleries, heritage sites, cathedrals, gardens, zoos and leisure parks.

We saw an overall increase of 10.2% on visitor numbers last year, recording just under 560,000 visitors and this includes the Meet Your Navy event.

The UKs visitor attractions, including the Historic Dockyard, are gearing up to ensure that people who opt for a stay at home break will be offered unique experiences, family friendly activities and good quality, added value packages. 86% of our visitors agree that our all inclusive ticket is good or very good value, with 97% stating that they would make a return visit.

With value at home so much better than in Europe and the US, over 60% of attractions expect to maintain or increase visitor numbers in 2009. Overseas visitors are also expected to give a boost to the economy, with nearly a third of attractions planning for an increase in international visitors this year.

Come and see the Mary Rose before she is temporarily withdrawn from view

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0100

Seeing the hull of the famous Tudor warship Mary Rose is a must do this year before it is withdrawn from view temporarily so a new �35 million museum can be built around her.

The new museum is due to open in 2012 in time for the Olympics and it recently received planning permission. The project is supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) which earmarked �21 million in January 2008 for the new museum. The Mary Rose Trust can now progress to stage two and submit a further, fully developed application to the HLF to secure the full grant.

The ship hall is likely to close from mid September 2009 as construction commences on the new museum. However, the hull of the Mary Rose will be interpreted in imaginative and visual ways in the current Museum which houses over 1000 original Tudor artefacts retrieved from the hull. Included amongst the plans for interpretation is a new introductory film; time lapse photography; a real time film link to the ship hall and enhanced displays.

The hull will continue to be sprayed with polyethylene glycol, a water based wax solution, until 2011 when the hull will be carefully dried within the new museum. She will be displayed fully in 2016.

Last chance to buy 'early bird' tickets for Steam

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0100

Book your tickets for Celebration of Steam before 28th February and save 10%. This year''s event takes place on Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th May and visitors can discover more about the role that Portsmouth Historic Dockyard played during the 18th and 19th centuries when it was the greatest industrial complex in the world.

There will be displays of all types of steam engine, a tasty sausage and ale festival, Ivor the Engine and the exclusive opportunity to view the first complete steam powered factory in the world, the Block Mills.

For more information visit the Celebration of Steam website or buy your tickets NOW!

Great news for the Mary Rose

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0100

Planning granted for Mary Rose Museum

The �35 million project to build the new Mary Rose Museum took a significant step forward this week with the news that the planning application has been approved by Portsmouth City Council.

The announcement coincides with confirmation from the Mary Rose Trust that they have raised over half of the �14million required to match the �21 million earmarked for the project by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) in January 2008. The Trust can now progress to stage two and submit a further, fully developed application to the HLF to secure the full grant.

The museum, designed by a team comprising Wilkinson Eyre Architects (architect), Pringle Brandon (interior architect) and Land Design Studio (exhibition design and interpretation), in collaboration with Gifford (structural and M&E engineer), will reunite the ships preserved hull with many thousands of unseen artefacts for the first time in 500 years.

The museum building will resemble a finely crafted, wooden jewellery box, clad in timber planks invoking both the structure of the original ship and its immediate neighbour HMS Victory. The timber will be painted black, reflecting Englands traditional boat shed architecture, and the exterior will feature inscriptions drawn from the carved symbols used by the crew of the Mary Rose to identify their personal belongings.

Over 19,000 artefacts were raised from within her but only 6% of these are currently on display in a temporary museum a short walk away from the hull. The well known Tudor historian Dr David Starkey describes the collection as: "This countrys Pompeii, painting the finest picture of the world of sixteenth century life".

The Mary Rose Trusts Chief Executive John Lippiett welcomed the good news: "We have reached a real milestone in the project and taken another step in the fascinating journey of the Mary Rose."

"We can now submit our stage 2 application with real confidence. We have the planning approval; we have demonstrated considerable success in raising half the money required and are buoyant that we can raise the remainder.

The hull of the Mary Rose will be withdrawn from public view later this year as the new museum is built around her. It will continue to be interpreted in imaginative ways in the existing museum, which will remain open throughout.

She will continue to be sprayed with polyethylene glycol, a water based wax solution, until 2011. The hull will be carefully dried within the new museum until she can be displayed fully in 2016.

Be my Valentine, Your Majesty!

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0100

On 14 February 1537 King Henry VIII declared by Royal Charter that England would celebrate the date as St Valentine''s Day, thus demonstrating that in spite of marrying six women, divorcing two of them and beheading two more, he was at heart a true romantic.

Spread a little love on the streets of Portsmouth on Saturday 14th February (11am 3.30pm) to celebrate Valentines Day. Using chalks leave a message on the pavements for your loved ones at the principal historic, shopping and public sites in the city. Sites include Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, Guildhall Square, Gunwharf Quays and Commercial Road City Centre shopping area. For a full list of participating sites visit www.visitportsmouth.co.uk

Free materials included no experience necessary!

Family days out this February half term

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0100

Schools out and youre looking for ideas to keep the family occupied this half term. Portsmouth Historic Dockyard has an array of activities throughout the February Half Term and best of all theyre free with a valid attraction ticket.

A 50 minute guided tour of HMS Victory by one of our professional guides will give visitors a real insight into what it would have been like to sail on Nelsons Flagship. You will learn where phrases like square meal and let the cat out of the bag originated and be amazed at how your bed became your coffin if you were unfortunate enough to die at sea.

Climb to the top of the 28ft tower in Action Stations, escape from pirates in the simulator ride and try your hand at flying a replica Merlin helicopter, just like the one on the navys newest and most advanced warship HMS Daring, equipped with realistic controls and buttons.

Activities include:

� Object Detectives on board HMS Victory this activity runs on Thursday 19th February 11am 1pm & 2pm 4pm.

� Maritime Globetrotting at the Royal Naval Museum takes place on Wednesday 18th February (11am 1pm & 2pm 4pm).

� Tudor games and pastimes at the Mary Rose Museum running daily during half term 11am 12noon and 2pm 4pm.

� Follow the Flag family trail on board HMS Warrior 1860. This activity runs from 10am 4.30pm daily.

� Crack the Code on board HMS Warrior 1860 Tuesday 17th and Wednesday 18th February 11am to 4pm.

The clock is ticking and soon the Mary Rose Ship Hall will be closing for construction work to begin on the multi million pound project to develop a brand new museum over the existing ship hall structure. The works will start in the autumn but dont worry, the Mary Rose Museum will be open throughout and will continue to provide and interesting interpretation of the ship through a variety of interactive displays.

The Mezzanine Cafe inside Action Stations will be selling teas, coffees, light refreshments and snacks during half term and is run by established DW Bars (one of the main providers of catering for our many events).

Snow makes for great photos

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0100

'With a light dusting of snow, the Historic Dockyard has never looked prettier. The ships, museums, buildings and statues are all looking particularly wintry, although judging by the photograph taken earlier by Sean Hounsell, we''re not sure what Henry VIII would make of it! All the attractions are open for business, ring 023 9272 8060 for further details or follow the link to visitor information from our home page. '

New loyalty scheme announced at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0100

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard has re launched the popular Season Ticket enhancing benefits and giving visitors more choice.

The new scheme, which is now called Portsmouth Historic Dockyard Loyalty Club, will be available from 1^st April 2008 and offers a two tiered ticket allowing visitors to choose a ticket that best suits their requirements and is valid for two years, a six months increase on the current ticket.

The new tickets to be available are: Admirals Boarding Pass, which includes free entry to events at the Historic Dockyard and the Captains Boarding Pass, which includes discounts to events at the Historic Dockyard.

The new scheme has incorporated the ideas and opinions of current Season Ticket holders and benefits have been improved allowing for members to enjoy exclusive privileges as well as learn more about the future developments of Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and its attractions.

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard Loyalty Club offers unlimited access to HMS Victory, HMS Warrior 1860, the Mary Rose Museum and Ship Hall, the Royal Naval Museum, Action Stations and Harbour Tours for two years. It is available from Tuesday 1^st April 2008. Tickets for the Admirals Boarding Pass costs adult �50, child/senior, �45, family �135. Captains Boarding Pass costs adult �35, child/senior �30, family �110 (family = up to 5 members of the same family, maximum 2 adults/seniors).

Further information will be updated on the website.

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard welcomes newest venture

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0100

A brand new venture, Antiques Storehouse, has been introduced at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard within one of its most historic buildings. The grand opening weekend, revealing the whole ground floor of Antiques Storehouse including The Georgian, their new English tearoom, will take place on the Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 March with special guests, music, fine food and drink and music.

The newest and largest antiques centre on the South Coast, Antiques Storehouse sits perfectly within the portfolio of the Historic Dockyard, surrounded by the historic ships and museums. It features 6,000 sq feet of retail space with many independent specialist items, creating an imaginative use of the Grade 1 listed Georgian building that has played a vital role in the Dockyard since 1782.

A wide range of antiques, art and collectables are available, including nautical items, Roman artefacts, Arts & Crafts ceramics, Georgian and Victorian furniture, ideal for collecting or interior design.

The Antiques Storehouse is also home to its charming van, which has already become a familiar feature of the Historic Dockyards scenery.

In March, the Antiques Storehouse will be introducing a catering outlet, which will be the first of its kind at the Historic Dockyard. The Georgian at Antiques Storehouse is a traditional English tearooms with a contemporary twist, serving cream teas, afternoon high tea, an international selection of quality beverages from around the world and seasonal artisan cakes. Visitors can also enjoy lunches served with wine or beer and there will be a sweet shop for the children.

The introduction of Antiques Storehouse and The Georgian are a welcome feature to the historic Dockyard and serve to remind visitors that entry to the Historic Dockyard is free and all shops, restaurants and cafes can be visited throughout the day, (except during some special events). Tickets are only required to visit the attractions, HMS Victory, HMS Warrior 1860, the Mary Rose, the Royal Naval museum and Action Stations.

HERE COMES THE BIGGEST NAVY SHOW SINCE TRAFALGAR 200

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0100

The Royal Navy is this summer putting on the biggest show for the nation since the Trafalgar 2005 celebrations three years ago.

Entitled Meet Your Navy, the three day event at Portsmouth Naval Base on July 25 27 is a new concept in providing families with an unforgettable opportunity to tour up to 20 naval ships, witness exciting arena events and air displays and rub shoulders with the men and women of the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Royal Fleet Auxiliary and other members of Britains Armed Forces.

The extravaganza afloat and ashore goes beyond what was once known as Navy Days. More than ever before it will give show comers the exciting opportunity to truly meet and talk to the people who man the ships and look after them, who fill the ranks of the Royal Marines Commandos, who compete in the daring gun run competitions and who will play the music throughout the three days.

Meet Your Navy will also break new ground in the closeness of the partnership with Portsmouth Historic Dockyard in the running of the event which will be open to the public at competitive ticket prices. The Historic Dockyards attractions HMS Victory, Mary Rose and HMS Warrior 1860 will be open along with the Royal Naval Museum and Action Stations at a heavily subsidised, competitive ticket price.

Assistance will also be provided in some areas by an event company Richmond Event Management REM in the arrangement of such things as seating and display arrangements, trading and catering .

Royal Navy ships of all types, including the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious, the event flagship, will welcome visitors of all ages. Ships from visiting navies will be present, and there will be flying displays each day as well as rapid roping demonstrations, band concerts including a Royal Marines band, diving displays, field gun runs, re enactors and many trade stalls.

Portsmouth Naval Base Commander Commodore David Steel said today: "The Naval Base and City have hosted many great naval events, and Meet Your Navy 2008 will be one.

"The Navy is busier that it has ever been. As we meet, we have ships, submarines, aircraft and Royal Marines deployed in every part of the world. A year ago over half the British combat forces on the ground in Afghanistan were from the Royal Navy and Royal Marines, something that will be repeated in coming months.

"Meet Your Navy 2008 is designed to allow the British public to meet those people who make up the Royal Navy and to see their ships."

Robert Bruce, Managing Director Portsmouth Historic Dockyard Ltd, said: "We are delighted to be working with the Royal Navy on what is our largest event this year. Everyday the historic ships and museums showcase the proud heritage of the Navy and this will be an opportunity to link closely with the ships and people of the present day Royal Navy, an event not to be missed. There is no where better to showcase the past, present and future than in Portsmouth, home of the Royal Navy."

More information about Meet Your Navy, including booking and ticket details, are available at www.meetyournavy.co.uk

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard offers a host of things to do for all the family over the half ...

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0100

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard offers visitors a host of things to do with a maritime twist.

Having had a successful and commemorative year, the temporary special exhibition at the Royal Naval Museum marking the 25 years since the Falklands Conflict is coming to an end. Task Force South: The Royal Navy and the Falklands War describes the Navys involvement through the stories of some of the 18,000 individuals, from all the naval services, who sailed 8,000 miles to deliver and supply the land forces who recovered the Falklands Islands. Visitors are urged to visit this exhibition during half term as it will be concluding on 29th February.

On 23rd February at 11.00am in The Royal Naval Museum Shop, the author of a new novel, "HMS Resolute and How She Prevented a War", Elizabeth Matthews will be hosting a book signing, as well as reading extracts and performing sea shanties.

Visitors will also be able to discover a link between HMS Resolute, the Royal Naval Museum and a new Hollywood action adventure film, National Treasures Book of Secrets, which stars Nicholas Cage. A piece of furniture made of HMS Resolute timber a writing table which Queen Victoria used herself on the Royal Yacht will be going on display in the Royal Naval Museum. During half term the Royal Naval Museum is running a special childrens trail to celebrate the link to the film with prizes donated by Disney.

Following the �21m award received by the Mary Rose Museum from the Heritage Lottery Fund, visitors can find out more about the exciting plans for the future of the ship and thousands of artefacts, They can also find out what the new museum will look like and why it is so important to Portsmouth.

Family activity highlights during half term include:

Daily:

� Tudor Dressing Up 11am 12noon & 2 4pm at the Mary Rose Museum. Visitors can discover what they would look like as a Tudor and are encouraged to bring their camera. Free with a valid attraction ticket.

Follow the Flag Trail on board HMS Warrior 1860, 10am 4.30pm. Find out about the men who lived and worked on board Warrior. Free with a valid attraction ticket.

Weekly:

Tuesday 19 & Wednesday 20 February 11am 1pm & 1.30 4pm. Crack the Code on board HMS Warrior 1860. Become a secret agent and write and send coded messages to family and friends. Free with a valid attraction ticket.

Wednesday 20 February 11am 1pm & 2 4pm. Into Antarctica at the Royal Naval Museum. Follow the explorers and discover the South Pole with variety of arts and crafts. Free drop in workshop, all ages welcome.

Thursday 21 February 11am 1pm & 2 4pm. Scrimshaw and Starfish on HMS Victory. Use special modelling material to create a stunning piece of Scrimshaw (traditional sailor craft) or a super starfish to take home. Free with valid admission ticket.

Blockbuster link to Portsmouth Museum

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0100

What links a Portsmouth museum, the Royal Navy and a new Hollywood action adventure film with both Queen Victoria and the President of the United States of America?

Well, the answer is HMS Resolute. In 1854, the Resolute had to be abandoned when she became stuck in Arctic ice, but she was subsequently rescued by the Americans. When the ship came out of service and was broken up in 1879, Queen Victoria ordered an ornate desk to be fashioned from the ships timbers and, as a gesture of thanks, presented this to President of the United States, Rutherford B Hayes, in 1879. The desk has sat in the Oval Office in the White House ever since and it plays a key role in the forthcoming film National Treasure: Book of Secrets, which stars Nicholas Cage and opens in the UK on Friday 8th February.

Also featured in the film is a second piece of furniture made of Resolute timber a writing table which Queen Victoria used herself on the Royal Yacht. And this table will be going on display in the Royal Naval Museum in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.

'The plot of National Treasure sees Nicolas Cage discover vital clues in both the desk and the writing table, says Richard Noyce, Curator of Artefacts at the Museum. 'In fact, although it is shown as being in Buckingham Palace, the table has been on long term loan to us from the Royal Collection and we will be putting it on display through February and March.

The whole Resolute story is absolutely fascinating, continues Richard. Ironically she was in the Arctic searching for survivors from Sir John Franklins last ill fated attempt to find the North West passage when she herself became stuck in the ice and had to be abandoned. She was found two years later having drifted some 1,200 miles reports tell of how eerie it was to find her almost exactly as she had been the day she was abandoned but with no men on board. And George W Bush sits at the Resolute desk as has virtually every President since 1879 in fact he mentions the desk on a tour of the oval office that you can watch on the internet (www.thewhitehouse.gov).

The Museum is running a special childrens trail that ties in with the film during February half term with prizes donated by Disney. It is also hosting a talk and book signing by Elizabeth Matthews, who has written a novel based on the Resolute story. This will be held on Saturday 23rd February at 11.00am, when Elizabeth also promises to sing some sea shanties. Please ring 023 9272 7582 for more information.

Notes for Editors
1. Stills and footage from National Treasure: Book of Secrets are available by contacting Kirsty Saltmarsh at Disney on 020 8222 1602 or e mail: Kirsty.Saltmarsh@disney.com
2. Images of HMS Resolute and the writing table can be obtained from Julian Thomas at the Royal Naval Museum on 023 9272 7567 0r e mail: julian.thomas@royalnavalmuseum.org

Major Exhibition provides visitors with an opportunity to reflect upon anniversary of the ...

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0100

The Royal Naval Museum in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard announces plans for a major exhibition in 2007 to mark the Navys central role in the Falklands War of 1982. Task Force South: The Royal Navy and the Falklands War will run from Saturday 31st March 2007 to 29th February 2008.

The exhibition will explain the Navys involvement through the stories of some of the 18,000 individuals, from all the naval services, who sailed in the Falklands Task Force of over 100 ships. Men and women from the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Royal Fleet Auxiliary, Queen Alexandra Royal Navy Nursing Service and the Merchant Navy all played a vital role.

Matthew Sheldon, Head of Research Collections at the Museum says, The campaign might have been over in just 11 weeks, but it was an immensely complicated operation. It was also intensely fought; 130 naval personnel were killed, 257 were wounded, and six ships were lost. We aim to bring this home to visitors by focusing on the personal experiences of people with differing roles in the War

This War is still in many peoples minds, says Dr Colin White, Director of the Royal Naval Museum. The exhibition will naturally include key events like the sinking of the Argentinian cruiser, General Belgrano, and HMS Sheffield and will offer visitors the chance to contribute their own opinions, thoughts and memories.

The Royal Naval Museum is working closely with its partner museums, the Royal Marines Museum, the Fleet Air Arm Museum and the Royal Navy Submarine Museum. The exhibition will also include material loaned by individuals and other collections from all over the country, including P&O and the National Maritime Museum. The exhibition has attracted over �50,000 in sponsorship, including support from defence companies such as BAE Systems, Chemring, and VT Shipbuilding.

There will be a full programme of events to support the exhibition, including: a major conference, Falklands 25: the Naval Experience, on 18th 19th May 2007, and a series of talks by veterans of the conflict throughout May.

Task Force South: The Royal Navy and the Falklands War opens on 31st March 2007 andruns until 29th February 2008. Tickets to the Royal Naval Museum are required to visit the exhibition. All inclusive tickets give entry to each of the attractions on site, including HMS Victory, Mary Rose, HMS Warrior 1860, the Royal Naval Museum and Action Stations. Tickets are also available just for the Royal Naval Museum.

The Mary Rose Trust's Chief Executive Rear Admiral John Lippiett has written a personal reflection of the conflict. WAR & PEAS is a book with a difference, containing the raw emotions of letters written between John Lippiett and his wife Jenny during the short but intense Falklands War . She, pregnant and struggling to be brave, is looking after their two children, their errant dog and the peas in the garden, while he, onboard HMS Ambuscade, is battling not only with the enemy, but also with the elements. Hair raising accounts of missile attacks and a collision are less frightening than the gigantic seas, the ice and storms, and the worry that the ship is breaking up. And there is also the humorous side of life that is always present in the Royal Navy.

Hampshire's top attractions launch new tourism drive in the shadow of Portsmouth Historic ...

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0100

Hampshire tourism is set for a big boost this year as the countys top visitor attractions join together for the first time to market themselves to a wider area with a new leaflet and website.

The Hampshire Attractions Group features the best on offer for days out and demonstrates the real variety available for visitors. Members range from Exbury Gardens in the New Forest, the Watercress Line in Alresford, Southseas Blue Reef Aquarium and Winchesters INTECH Science Centre. Also featured are the traditional large visitor attractions Paultons Park, Marwell Zoo, Beaulieu, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and the newest addition to the tourism landscape the Spinnaker Tower.

The Hampshire Attractions Group is also supported by Hampshire County Council who is a strategic partner.

Together the attractions are visited by almost 3 million people a year. The group has printed over 200,000 leaflets distributed across the South of England and established a new website www.hampshireattractions.co.uk which will feature money off and free ticket special offers and news about the attractions.

New additions this year at the attractions include the Australian Bush Walk and Encounter Village at Marwell Zoo and the Trekking Tractors ride and Gold Rush Falls Adventure Golf at Paultons.

Exbury Gardens has introduced late evening openings during May so visitors can fully appreciate the colour and scent of the blooms on display and the Watercress Line will be celebrating their 30th anniversary.

Winchesters INTECH Science Centre continues to invest in interactive exhibits and a full programme of holiday activities, science shows and lectures. The Watercress Line has a new interpretative display of a 1950s Station Masters lounge and Blue Reef Aquarium has recently unveiled a new Seahorse Ranch display which includes a family of seven British seahorses rescued from the Solent. At Beaulieu, a new exhibition, Autoglym Supercars, will showcase some of the worlds fastest, most expensive and exotic sports cars. A new show, Trucks and Troops, will join the attractions line up of popular outdoor events.

The Spinnaker Tower continues to draw new visitors to the region and Portsmouth Historic Dockyard has a number of new exhibitions focussing on the bicentenary of the abolition of the slave trade, the 25th anniversary of the Falklands and a full programme of events including A Celebration of Steam in May and Dockyard 800 in September.

The Hampshire Attraction Groups Chairman, Rob Griffiths explained: "Hampshire has a superb selection of visitor attractions with something for everyone. By working together we hope to attract even more visitors to the area which can only be good news, not just for us but for local businesses and the economy."

Hampshire County Council's Tourism Officer Kirstin Monk added "By promoting the large visitor attractions in the county, the Hampshire tourism industry as a whole should benefit through increased visitor spend and footfall. We're delighted to be part of this new initiative"

Royal Naval Museum to be centre stage in souths commemorations of abolition of slave trade

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0100

March 25th 2007 is the bicentenary of the abolition of the slave trade and Portsmouth Historic Dockyards Royal Naval Museum will take centre stage in the souths commemorations as it hosts a full days programme of community based events to mark the occasion.

The community day in partnership with BBC South will centre on Chasing Freedom: The Royal Navy and the suppression of the transatlantic slave trade, the special exhibition at the Royal Naval Museum which presents for the first time the Royal Navys role in combating the trade and its continuing work in defending human rights across the world today.

Community events will include performances of lyrical works on the themes of freedom, slavery and its legacy from finalists from the Emancipation slam poetry event taking place earlier in the week in Southampton; Readings RASPO Steel Band and storytelling by Cameroonian Noah Messomo, who will bring to life some of the human stories behind the slave trade.

A selection of specially commissioned short BBC films will also be playing during the afternoon and popular Family History expert Nick Barratt will be hosting a family history workshop in the Victory bookshop.

In addition, BBC South is staging an interactive day of broadcasting, workshops, performances and live radio broadcasts. The BBCs Politics Show will also be broadcast live from the site.

For this day only, entry to the Chasing Freedom exhibition and all the community events will be free. Tickets will be required if visitors wish to visit the remaining attractions on site. The exhibition is part of a yearlong programme of abolition events at the Historic Dockyard, including African Legacy Week in July and the Chasing Freedom Conference in October.