MUSEUM

Most people know that the Nottage Maritime Institute exists, " for the furttherance of nautical skills", and a surprising number think that's all we do.  Not so, for the Institute is also the proud guardian of the maritime traditions and love of the River Colne and its people.  During the summer months we move into 'museum mode' and apart from regular openings for the public on Sundays and other special days we also welcome organised groups andeven individual visitors by appointment.  \over the years these have ranged from local schools and special interest groups to overseas students and visitors.  Our archivists Don Dsmith and Liz and Austin Baines with John Collins also handle individual reseach querirs in a wide range of fields relating to various aspects of local history.

CHANGES

In recent times a number of changes to our displays and the way they arelaid out has been introduced.  In the upstairs rooms photographs, models and artifacts have been brought together in 'subject groups,' while the exhibition cabinets and glass topped tables have been extensively reorganised.  The team has also given a lot of thought to attracting visitors into the insitute, which has proved a problem in the past because of our limited frontage onto the quay.  As Liz Baines herself says. 'We want to create attractive display areas which make it immediately obvious that we are a museum as well as a boat building shed and that all are welcome.

To this end there will be a new display area at the main entrance downstairs including a number of models mounted behind the glass walls of the former office.

THE LIBRARY

Here too things are moving! Thae previous library had served us well for many years but had become increasingly cramped.  Thanks to our many generous donors and the untiring efforts of former librarians Georgina and Bill Ellis we had more books than could be conveniently displayed, so the decision was made to move the bulk of the books to the smaller lecture room upstairs.  The prevous library room has become the Wardens office and 'technical resources room,' to support courses and for general admistration, although some books requiring secoure storage will probably still be kept there.  Lots of scope for our librarian!

ARTIFACTS

The Museum houses a rich variety of nauitcal items.  It is open........Please come along and pay us a visit if you are in the area.  The items displayed on this page are examples of some of our exhibits

SUMMER EXHIBITION -2008

The summer exhibition opened on May 17th with a preview for Custodians and invited guests.  This year it was decided to do something different in showing the work of only two local artists, and Annie Bielecka's shimmering stitched textiles together witha James Dodd's linocuts and an oil painting, although contrasting in technique and style, complemented each other very well.

Handsomely presented brochures of the works on view were quickly snapped up. but good as they were, could not do justice to the originals which must be seen to be appreciated.  Both artists were in attendance which added greatly to the occasion, as did the effect of recently installed lighting and glazed display cabinets.  The exhibition is open on Sundays and Bank Holidays until its final day on Saturday 13th September, when it will be part of the Wivenhoe Society Fun Day.

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