Whitstable Museum is a
heritage centre in
Whitstable,
Kent, with
Invicta, one of the world's oldest steam engines, the history of the local
oyster trade and historical
diving equipment.
History
The present museum was established in 1985.
[Information from museum spokesperson] The museum received the Nautiek Award, for services to
diving history, in 2001; the first time the award had been given to a UK establishment.
In 2015, the museum was reopened following a refurbishment, part-funded by a £15,000 grant from Arts Council England.
The building's small doorway opens up into a large hall of displays.
In 1881, the
Ancient Order of Foresters
The Foresters Friendly Society is a British friendly society which was formed in 1834 as the Ancient Order of Foresters. As of 31 December 2016, the society had approximately 75,000 members.
Its head office is located in Southampton, England.
...
bought the building, and inscribed "Foresters' Hall" over the door.
Exhibits
The museum has
collections
Collection or Collections may refer to:
* Cash collection, the function of an accounts receivable department
* Collection (church), money donated by the congregation during a church service
* Collection agency, agency to collect cash
* Collection ...
and displays on themes of the natural world, local oyster trade, early diving and the actor,
Peter Cushing, who lived locally,
as well as displays on the
1953 floods
The 1953 North Sea flood was a major flood caused by a heavy storm surge that struck the Netherlands, north-west Belgium, England and Scotland. Most sea defences facing the surge were overwhelmed, causing extensive flooding.
The storm and flo ...
,
shipwreck
A shipwreck is the wreckage of a ship that is located either beached on land or sunken to the bottom of a body of water. Shipwrecking may be intentional or unintentional. Angela Croome reported in January 1999 that there were approximately ...
s and
maritime archaeology. The collections are held under the following headings: social history, science and technology, maritime, land transport, fine art, decorative and applied art, archives and archaeology.
The museum displays the unique 1830 steam locomotive
Invicta, which operated on the
Canterbury and Whitstable Railway, and Whitstable's first horse-drawn
fire pump
A fire pump usually refers to a pressure-increasing component of the water supply for fixed-place fire suppression systems such as fire sprinklers, standpipes, and foam systems. Fire pumps are also a critical component integrated into fire tru ...
, which required twenty-six volunteers to operate. In 1867, the Norwich Union Fire Insurance Society donated it to the town.
The diving display shows
standard diving dress with
Siebe Gorman
Siebe Gorman & Company Ltd was a British company that developed diving equipment and breathing equipment and worked on commercial diving and marine salvage projects. The company advertised itself as 'Submarine Engineers'. It was founded by Aug ...
helmet and the traditional red bonnet to protect the head against the helmet (see image below). The museum also contains relics from the
East Indiaman
East Indiaman was a general name for any sailing ship operating under charter or licence to any of the East India trading companies of the major European trading powers of the 17th through the 19th centuries. The term is used to refer to vesse ...
''Hindostan'', which wrecked at
Margate in January 1803.
In 2010, the
BBC chose the
pudding pan pots from Whitstable Museum as objects illustrating the history of
Kent as part of the
A History of the World in 100 Objects project.
fire pump
A fire pump usually refers to a pressure-increasing component of the water supply for fixed-place fire suppression systems such as fire sprinklers, standpipes, and foam systems. Fire pumps are also a critical component integrated into fire tru ...
Image:Whitstable Museum by Pam Fray 006.jpg, Courtyard garden
Image:Whitstable Museum by Pam Fray 007.jpg, Diving display
Image:Close-up of the beach, Seasalter - geograph.org.uk - 145829.jpg, Slipper limpets, blamed for the previous decline of the Whitstable oyster trade
Gallery
The collection includes: ship paintings on the theme of international and local trading links; town, shore and coastal views; the work of local artists; and artworks borrowed from an international network of galleries.
Events
Exhibitions
There are about six exhibitions per year: some local, some which have toured nationally, and some with associated public events.
In 2001, there was a special exhibition about art and water.
In March 2002, there was an exhibition in which visitors could handle historic
diving equipment and watch films about diving.
There was a 2009−2010 exhibition on the last oyster
yawl, ''Favourite'', and a
Girl Guides exhibition in 2010.
The museum takes part in the annual
Whitstable Oyster Festival by hosting interactive exhibitions.
In September 2009, the museum had a
World War II frontline exhibition.
Educational space
The museum re-allocated some of its space for education in 2009 on its frontage with Oxford Street.
In the event the Council voted in favour of this proposal.
References
External links
Canterbury Museums: Whitstable Museum web page
{{Authority control
Museums in the City of Canterbury
Museums established in 1985
Maritime museums in England
Local museums in Kent
Art museums and galleries in Kent
1985 establishments in England
Whitstable