About this pop-up

The second excursion brought us to Harwich Maritime Museum, nestled under the ‘umbrella’ of Harwich’s low lighthouse. This Archive exhibition explored different tragedies at sea, from the death of Henry Winstanley on his 1698 masterpiece, to the Fastnet Yacht disaster of 1979.

Inside the Archive

Each shelf brought together objects, photographs, books and stories around a different part of the theme.

Henry Winstanley

With a drawing of Winstanley’s iconic 1698 lighthouse, and that of the current Eddystone tower, we told the story of the doomed Eddystone Rocks. From the ships claimed by the rocks, to Henry Winstanley’s kidnap and eventual watery demise, these rocks are full of tragic tales.

This shelf was particularly apt, as for each of the Archive pop-ups, Annie is dressed as Henry Winstanley to help engage visitors with maritime heritage!

1979 Fastnet Yacht Disaster

The second shelf contained a video interview with Gerald Butler, a former lighthouse keeper. He was stationed on Fastnet lighthouse (in Ireland), during the doomed 1979 28th Royal Ocean Racing Club’s Fastnet Race. Huge storms rolled in, leading to 21 deaths. This number comprised of 15 taking part in the race, and 6 spectators.

Gerald Butler talked about his experience, watching the race and storm from the relative safety of the tower. You can watch his interview below:

Grace Darling

The third shelf contained some Victorian depictions of the heroine Grace Darling. A daughter of the Longstone Lighthouse’s keeper, in 1838 she carried out a daring rescue with her father, rescuing nine people who had been aboard the Forfarshire when it ran aground.

Whilst this act was heroic and inspiring, perhaps more interesting is the public reaction to the event. Grace became a household name, with many retellings of the story depicting her as being the sole rescuer. She was a feminine figure embodying a brave and caring persona which captured the imagination of the general public. Her early death just a few years later cemented her legacy as an extraordinary historical figure.

Trinity House’s Harwich Archival Material

The final collection within this Archive pop-up was dedicated to maps of local lighthouses, a diagram of a gas burner, and a brief history of lighthouses in Harwich, written by an Elder Brother of Trinity House in the 1950s.

Whilst interpreting the Archive for guests, this was the final shelf we looked at. At this point, guests either perused through the material at their own speed, or went back for a closer look at other elements within the collection.