A New Museum for the Mary Rose - News
This is a selection of artist's impressions of the new museum design, both external and internal
Wreck the halls - The first brick is demolished to make way for new Mary Rose Museum
The first brick on the site of the Mary Rose Ship Hall was demolished this morning to make way for the construction to begin on the new Mary Rose Museum, which will open in 2012.
At 12pm on Friday 11th December, John Lippiett (Chief Executive of the Mary Rose Trust), Michael Aiken (Chairman of the Mary Rose Trust) and Colin Crowther (Construction Director of Warings Contractors Ltd) took their hammers to the buildings surrounding the ship hall in a symbolic moment, as the dream of building a new museum to house the Mary Rose for all time is now underway.
Signing the contract
The £35m project to build a permanent home for Henry VIII's warship will see a discreet new boat-shaped building positioned over the dry dock in which the Mary Rose sits – itself a Scheduled Ancient Monument – where she is currently undergoing conservation. The design has been developed to maintain as extensive visitor access as possible, balancing the specific conservation conditions necessary to the ship’s preservation with the requirements of a world-class visitor attraction.
Starting the demolition
The Mary Rose Trust has received a £21 million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund to complete the conservation of the hull and build a permanent museum, which will also house the thousands of treasured artefacts found with the ship.
12 Dec 2009
Hampshire County Council
Hampshire County Council has contributed £800,000 towards the new Mary Rose Museum in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard - visit their website to find out more.
The Mary Rose is a must-see this summer before she is withdrawn, temporarily, from view
A visit to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard to see the Mary Rose – in the year of her 500th Anniversary - is a popular choice this summer. Visitors are being urged to enjoy the sight of this magnificent vessel, the only Tudor warship on display in the world, before she is withdrawn temporarily from view on September 20th for a new £35 million museum to be built around her.
In one of the most ambitious and significant heritage projects in recent years, the Mary Rose’s hull will be housed in a brand new boat-shaped museum and for the first time visitors will be able to see a state-of-the-art recreation of the wreck’s missing side. The Mary Rose Trust has received a £21 million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund to complete the conservation of the hull and build a permanent museum which will also house the thousands of treasured artefacts found with the ship.
The existing Mary Rose Museum, located elsewhere on site, contains over 1000 original Tudor artefacts and will remain open throughout the construction phase where the hull will be interpreted imaginatively within, including a new introductory film, enhanced displays and an insight by experienced guides. Having been nationally recognised as a ‘Family Friendly Museum’, this attraction is a must-see in its own right.
Chief Executive John Lippiett explained: “We have devised an imaginative programme of events and interpretations during the closure to give visitors a different, but equally fulfilling, visitor experience.”
“We have a number of new, previously unseen exhibits planned that we know the public will be excited to see; we will be hosting the British Library’s national travelling exhibition Henry VIII: Man and Monarch at the end of the year, and technology allows us to present the hull in innovative and exciting ways.”
The new building will be a finely crafted, wooden “jewellery box”, clad in timber planks both reflecting the structure of the original ship and HMS Victory alongside. The timber will be painted black and inscribed with carvings used by the crew of the Mary Rose to identify their personal belongings. A balcony to the west will offer visitors a spectacular view over the historic dockyard and its numerous 18th and 19th Century Grade 1 and 2* listed buildings.
The new permanent Mary Rose structure will complete the visitor experience with galleries corresponding to the principal deck levels – castle, main and hold – running the length of the ship to imitate the missing port side of the Mary Rose and allowing the original artefacts to be displayed in context. The atmospheric lighting will make visitors feel like they are walking on-board the ship and stepping back in time to that fateful day. Galleries at either end will display additional material related to the corresponding deck level, and include further artefacts, interpretation material and hands-on experience.
On display will be more than 60% of the collection of artefacts recovered by maritime archaeologists including uniforms, weaponry, medical instruments, ceramic mugs, eating utensils, silver tankards, dice, playing cards and more
The Mary Rose will remain in its current ‘hotbox’ in the centre of the museum until the conservation process is complete in 2016, allowing visitors to witness the ongoing wet and dry conservation through new viewing ports from each of the new deck-level galleries. On completion of the air-drying phase, the hotbox enclosure will be removed, allowing visitors to fully appreciate new and dramatic views of the Mary Rose’s original timbers as per the original dream when the Mary Rose was raised from the seabed in 1982.
The Mary Rose has been described by historian Dr David Starkey as this country's Pompeii, painting the finest picture of the world of sixteenth century life. The Mary Rose features highly on an international stage and the new museum will continue to attract visitors from all over the world and provide a learning programme to inspire children, students and community groups of all ages and abilities.
20 Aug 2009
Mary Rose Trust jubilant as Heritage Lottery Fund gives green light to new museum
One of the most ambitious and significant heritage projects in recent years has been given the go-ahead by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), which has given full approval for a £21 million grant to the Mary Rose Trust to complete the conservation of the Tudor warship, the Mary Rose, and build a permanent museum for the ship and the artefacts in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.
In addition, the Mary Rose Trust has raised almost £10 million of the final £35 million cost for the museum, which is due to open in 2012 in time for the Olympics. The green light means that the construction of the new museum, located alongside Nelson's flagship, HMS Victory, can now proceed.
Visitors are being urged to view the hull of the famous warship before she is withdrawn, temporarily, from view in the autumn. The existing Mary Rose Museum will remain open throughout the construction phase and the hull will be interpreted imaginatively within, including a new introductory film, enhanced displays and time lapse photography. Details are now being finalised to launch a public fundraising appeal for the final £4 million next month.
The HLF has been an established supporter of the Mary Rose project, awarding almost £7 million over the last 15 years. The decision to award the £21 million grant finally secures a future for the Mary Rose.
Dame Jenny Abramsky, Chair of the Heritage Lottery Fund said: “This is excellent news and means restoration work on the Mary Rose can now move up a gear. It's also a key milestone for the Trust as part of a complex but hugely worthwhile journey to make this ambitious project a reality and enable many more of the ship's artefacts to be viewed. We're proud to be playing our part in safeguarding one of the UK's most precious pieces of maritime heritage."
John Lippiett, Chief Executive of the Mary Rose Trust welcomed the news: "This is indeed great news. The Mary Rose has been described by historian Dr David Starkey as this country's Pompeii, painting the finest picture of the world of sixteenth century life. The HLF has today demonstrated their real commitment to the nation's heritage and ensured this truly unique ship and collection remains forever. When better to celebrate than during the month which marks the 500th anniversary of Henry VIII's accession - we think he would be delighted!"
"The Mary Rose features highly on an international stage; the new museum will attract visitors from all over the world and our learning programme inspires children, students and community groups of all ages and abilities. Our call now is for people to help with the final push towards funding when we launch our fundraising appeal and to make sure that they visit the ship hall before the autumn if they've never had the chance to see the hull, before she's withdrawn temporarily."
The new museum, designed by a team comprising Wilkinson Eyre Architects (architect), Pringle Brandon (interior design) and Land Design Studio (exhibition design and interpretation, in collaboration with Gifford (structural and M&E engineer,) will reunite the ship's preserved hull with many thousands of artefacts unseen for over 500 years and enhance Portsmouth Historic Dockyard as a major visitor destination.
The hull of the Mary Rose will continue to be sprayed with polyethylene glycol, a water-based wax solution, behind closed doors, until April 2011. The new museum being built around her will be opened in 2012 and the hull will be carefully dried within the new museum until she can be displayed fully in 2016, when visitors will be able to walk through the display containing the Mary Rose.
29 June 2009
Work on the New Museum to start in September 2009
The hull of the Mary Rose, which is currently undergoing an active conservation process to preserve her for all time, can be viewed by the visiting public in the ship hall, which is a short walk from the Museum.
However, visitors are advised that the ship hall is likely to close from mid-September 2009 as construction starts on a new £35 million museum.
Although withdrawn from general view, the hull of the Mary Rose will continue to be interpreted in the current Museum which will remain fully open throughout the construction phase and will not be affected by building work. Included amongst the plans for making the hull as visible as possible is a new introductory film; time lapse photography; a real-time film link to the ship hall and enhanced displays.
29 May 2009
Press Release
13 February 2009Planning granted for Mary Rose Museum
The £35 million project to build a new museum for the Tudor warship Mary Rose in Portsmouth’s Historic Dockyard took significant steps forward today 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 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 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 ship’s 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 England’s 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 country’s Pompeii, painting the finest picture of the world of sixteenth-century life”.
The Mary Rose Trust’s 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.
DESIGN STATEMENTThe plans for the new purpose-built museum come over twenty five years after the hull of the Mary Rose was raised from the bed of the Solent, from a design team which brings together the complex combination of technical expertise, creativity and specialist knowledge necessary to realise the vision of the Mary Rose Trust. The discreet building will be positioned over the dock – itself a Scheduled Ancient Monument – where the ship is currently undergoing conservation. The design has been developed to maintain as extensive visitor access as possible, balancing the specific conservation conditions necessary to the ship’s preservation with the requirements of a world-class visitor attraction.
The external structure of the new museum has been designed as a minimal volume, its curvilinear geometry derived from the dry dock it protects. Its low elegant form responds sensitively to its historic context, allowing important sight lines to and around the nearby HMS Victory to be maintained. The roof shell – a pure ellipse subtly articulated from the building’s raked walls – will be prefabricated off-site and lifted into place over the dock, minimising disruption to conservation activities.
The building is conceived as a finely crafted, wooden jewellery box, clad in timber planks in response to both the structure of the original ship and HMS Victory. The timber will be painted black, reflecting England’s vernacular boat shed architecture, and minimally ornamented with inscriptions drawn from the carved ciphers used by the crew of the Mary Rose to identify their personal belongings. A balcony to the west will offer visitors a spectacular vantage point over the Royal Navy dockyard and its numerous 18th and 19th Century Grade 1 and 2* listed buildings.
Inside, the preserved starboard side of the Mary Rose hull will be the museum’s centrepiece. The new permanent structure will enhance the visitor experience by consolidating the collection and increasing accessibility. New galleries corresponding to the principal deck levels – castle, main and hold – run the length of the ship, imitating the missing port side and allowing the original artefacts to be displayed in context. Galleries at either end will display additional material related to the corresponding deck level, and include further artefacts, interpretation material and hands-on experience.
The hull will remain on its original recovery cradle and will not be moved from its current position in the dry dock. The ‘hotbox’, in which the ship will be kept sealed until the conservation process is complete in 2016, will form an exciting dimension to the museum, with visitors able to witness the ongoing wet and dry conservation through new viewing ports from each of the new deck-level galleries. On completion of the air-drying phase of the hull conservation, the hotbox enclosure will be removed, allowing visitors to fully appreciate new and dramatic views of the Mary Rose’s original timbers, with her contents displayed in context within the virtual hull.
The Mary Rose Museum will be a time capsule through which visitors will be able to take a unique journey through a slice of Tudor England. Journeying through the 1700m2 of gallery space across three floors, the visitor will learn the history of Henry VIII’s favourite ship, experiencing her tragic sinking in 1545 (after 34 years of successful service) and the lives of the seamen and officers who served on the Mary Rose. Real artefacts combined with exhibits will enable the extraordinary treasures to be placed in context within the ship, explaining how and where they would have been used at the moment she sank.
* The Heritage Lottery Fund
Using money raised through the National Lottery, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) sustains and transforms a wide range of heritage for present and future generations to take part in, learn from and enjoy. From museums, parks and historic places to archaeology, natural environment and cultural traditions, we invest in every part of our diverse heritage. HLF has supported more than 28,800 projects, allocating over £4.3billion across the UK. Website: www.hlf.org.uk. For more information, please contact Katie Owen, HLF Press Office on tel: (020) 7591 6036.
Project Team
Architect: Wilkinson Eyre Architects
Interior Architect: Pringle Brandon
Exhibition Design: Land Design Studio
Structural and M&E Engineer: Gifford
Project Manager: GVA Second London Wall
Quantity Surveyor: Davis Langdon
Specialist Lighting: DHA
Client: Mary Rose Trust
For more information/images please contact:
Michelle Lewis, Wilkinson Eyre Architects
T: 020 7608 7900
E: m.lewis@wilkinsoneyre.com
Sophie Eastwood, The Holistic Group
T: 020 7664 7820
E: seastwood@holisticgroup.co.uk
Sally Tyrell, Mary Rose Trust
T: 02392 750521
E: s.tyrrell@maryrose.org
Jacquie Shaw, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
T: 023 9289 4550
M: 07775 837912
E: jacquie.shaw@historicdockyard.co.uk
Previous Press Releases
Mary Rose saved for the nation by £21 million from Heritage Lottery Fund - 25 January 2008
Decision due this week on Grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund - 20 January 2008
Visit the News page and access the archived news for more on the quest to build a new museum
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