The Dove Marine Laboratory is a research and teaching laboratory which forms part of the School of Marine Science and Technology within
Newcastle University in the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...
.
History
The original Laboratory was established in October 1897. It comprised a small wooden hut sited next to the Saltwater Baths on
Cullercoats
Cullercoats is a coastal settlement in the metropolitan borough of North Tyneside, Tyne and Wear, North East England. Historically in Northumberland, it has now been absorbed into the wider Tyneside conurbation, sitting between Tynemouth to the ...
Bay, and was used by
Armstrong College to study the waters of the north east
UK coastline.
On the 28 March 1904 the Laboratory and Baths were destroyed by fire, but it was agreed that the work of the Laboratory should continue. In 1906 the local landowner, geologist
Wilfred Hudleston, FRS, offered not only to make the site of the old Baths available for newer, larger, facilities, but also offered to finance their construction. He was reluctant to publicise his generosity, and asked that the building be named after one of his ancestors, Eleanor Dove, when it was opened by the
Duke of Northumberland
Duke of Northumberland is a noble title that has been created three times in English and British history, twice in the Peerage of England and once in the Peerage of Great Britain. The current holder of this title is Ralph Percy, 12th Duke o ...
on 29 September 1908. In 2008 the laboratory celebrated its centenary, where the current
Duke of Northumberland
Duke of Northumberland is a noble title that has been created three times in English and British history, twice in the Peerage of England and once in the Peerage of Great Britain. The current holder of this title is Ralph Percy, 12th Duke o ...
led festivities.
The Laboratory became a department of Armstrong College when the building and land were purchased by the college following Hudleston's death in 1909, and soon grew in reputation, acquiring its first boat in 1911. The Laboratory also operated a public aquarium and once housed the coble in which
Grace Darling
Grace Horsley Darling (24 November 1815 – 20 October 1842) was an English lighthouse keeper's daughter. Her participation in the rescue of survivors from the shipwrecked ''Forfarshire'' in 1838 brought her national fame. The paddlesteamer ...
and her father rescued passengers from the
''SS Forfashire'' in 1838.
In 1967 responsibility for the Laboratory was transferred to
Newcastle University.
At one point the entrance was a long beam that had to be walked across.
Present Day
As a research facility the Laboratory is normally closed to the public, but holds open days during the summer months and as part of other events such as Cullercoats Harbour Day and Heritage Open Days.
A Marine Science distance learning course, Delve Deeper, run by the University includes a field course component based at the laboratory.
Research Vessels of the Dove Marine Laboratory
* The ''
Evadne In Greek mythology, Evadne (; Ancient Greek: Εὐάδνη) was a name attributed to the following individuals:
*Evadne, a daughter of Strymon and Neaera, wife of Argus (king of Argos), mother of Ecbasus, Peiras, Epidaurus and Criasus.
*Evadn ...
'': 1911 –
* ''
Pandalus'': 1950s
* The ''Alexander Meek'': 1950s – 1973
*
RV ''Bernicia'': 1973 – 2011
*
RV ''The Princess Royal'': 2011 – present
References
External links
School of EngineeringDove web site at the University of Newcastle
{{authority control
Oceanographic organizations
Marine biological stations
Education in Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle University
University and college laboratories in the United Kingdom
1897 establishments in England
North Shields