Hampshire County Council is contributing £800,000 towards a brand new Mary Rose Museum in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard as it invests in the cultural legacy of the County and its future economic prosperity.
The Mary Rose collection is historically unique achieving worldwide recognition from experts and academic institutions. This latest contribution will be matched by fundraising from the Mary Rose Trust towards the £35 million needed to build what is already being named as a ‘centre of excellence’ for Tudor History.
The new museum will be a major international cultural tourist attraction increasing visitor numbers and adding to the county’s £2.3 billion tourism economy. The Museum will help Portsmouth Harbour develop its importance as a cultural destination that will in turn improve the wellbeing and quality of life of Hampshire residents. The museum will also contribute to the regeneration of Gosport and its proud seafaring heritage as it is predicted that visitors to Portsmouth will cross the harbour to visit other naval museums in Gosport and in turn boost local trade.
The new Mary Rose Museum will open in 2012 and provide Hampshire with a world-class exhibition space able to preserve this extraordinary ship and all her treasures, for future generations to enjoy. The museum will contain over 14,000 artefacts compared to the 1000 currently on display. It will also house a new learning centre which will quadruple the existing learning space and a new and improved laboratory and workshop facilities.
The whole of Hampshire will benefit from this new partnership as plans for an enhanced learning and community outreach programme will include taking rare artefacts such as seamen’s footwear, nit combs and beautiful pewter dishes to Council run schools, libraries and museums. The council museum service will also be working with the Trust on preserving and displaying their unique collections.
Deputy Leader of Hampshire County Council, Councillor Roy Perry, said: “This wonderful new museum for the Mary Rose has the potential to play a fantastic role in attracting increased visitor numbers to Portsmouth and Hampshire. Visitors will learn about the history of Hampshire and at the same time contribute to its modern economy. Even in the short term this project will give another boost to the construction industry. We are a naval county and very proud of that part of our heritage. Hampshire is right behind the Mary Rose.”
His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, President of the Mary Rose Trust, has recently commented on the project: “May I congratulate all those who have been engaged in these activities and who have helped bring the Mary Rose to this stage. There is no doubt, against all odds, success will be achieved and the Nation will gain a sensational and sustainable museum, which will no doubt attract huge admiration worldwide”
John Lippiett, Chief Executive of the Mary Rose Trust, said: “Hampshire County Council has been involved in the Mary Rose project from the day of recovery. The Trust is absolutely thrilled to receive this significant support at a crucial time. Our new museum will be a world leader, attracting countless new visitors. Meanwhile we are very excited by the prospect of strengthening our already very active links across Hampshire in learning and outreach.
“The Heritage Lottery Fund have recently awarded us a £21m grant, describing the Mary Rose as: ‘one of this Country’s most precious icons’, but the Trust has to raise £14m in match funding. With this grant from Hampshire County Council, we have now reached 85% of our target.”
Dr David Starkey, trustee of the Mary Rose Trust as well as world renowned Tudor/Henry VIII expert said: “Once the Mary Rose was the pride and joy of Henry VIII’s navy, as well as its most innovative and experimental warship. Now, its conserved hull, together with the thousands of objects once on board and the skeletons of scores of its crew, is the most important historical survival of the reign. It’s the English Pompeii or Herculaneum, our very own tomb of Tutankhamen.
“So I’m delighted that, as we celebrate the five hundred anniversary of Henry VIII’s accession, Hampshire County Council has crowned its long support of the Mary Rose project by a grant of £800,000 towards the building and equipping of the new Mary Rose Museum.
“The Museum, which will be outstanding in terms of its architecture, contents and presentation, will make Hampshire, which is already rich in history, a must-visit destination for anyone 14and they number millions 14interested in the life and times of England’s most important and memorable king.”
History of the Mary Rose:
The warship the Mary Rose was built in Portsmouth between 1509 and 1511 for King Henry VIII and became the flagship of the British Navy. She served for 34 years before her tragic loss off Portsmouth, when she sank in full view of land with the loss of five hundred lives during a battle with the French.
On 14 May 1966, the first modern dive was made on the wreck site of the Mary Rose. That dive, was the first of many thousands looking for evidence of the wreck and led ultimately to the ship being raised in 1982 and taken to No.3 Drydock for conservation and later display.
While the Mary Rose was being excavated, around 19,000 artefacts were found in the wreck, most of them in an almost miraculous state of preservation. Around 1000 of these artefacts are on display in the current Mary Rose Museum at the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.
ENDS
Notes for editors
The money being contributed by Hampshire County Council will come from the Local Authority Business Growth Incentive Scheme.
The quote from HRH the Prince of Wales was taken from the 2009 Mary Rose Trust annual report.
The full report that was presented to cabinet can be viewed at: www.hants.gov.uk/decisions/decisions-docs/090629-cabine-R0622094959.html
Image Credit Wilkinson Eyre Architects and Pringle Brandon
