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Magnificent and Furious - Fast and Fine
| Published: 10th November 2015 14:59 |
Magnificent and Furious - Fast and Fine
Local Collections Cabinets exhibition 3 Nov - 31st Jan 2016
John Terry These words are used to describe the Royal Navy's first Invincible, discovered as a wreck in the Solent in 1979 and now brought to life by an exhibition at The Spring Arts and Heritage Centre.
The Invincible was a French warship, launched at Rochefort in 1744. With two decks, 74 guns, and a crew of 700, she was the elite fighting ship of the day. In 1747 she was captured by the English off the coast of Spain, and subsequently became a model for the design of Royal Navy ships - but she sank in the Solent some 250 years ago. There she remained until local fisherman Arthur Mack brought up some remarkable timbers after snagging his nets in the eastern Solent.
The dive site now known as ‘Horsetail' was explored by Isle of Wight divers Jim Boyle and John Broomhead, and later by Commander John Bingeman, and a team was formed to excavate the wreck under government license. A significant number of items recovered from the Invincible can now be seen at The Spring, including fragments of fabric and clothing, a rigging truck, pieces of pottery, and an early writing kit. Items such as musket balls and grapeshot bear witness to the vessels' military purpose; and even the original fire buckets, made of leather, are on display, with their red paint still visible.
‘Show and Tell' with John Broomhead
On Thursday 28 January John Broomhead himself will be on hand to present a ‘Show and Tell', where you will have the opportunity to hear at first hand about the discovery of the wreck, and touch and handle some of the original artefacts.
£6 non conc
Tickets from the box office 02392 472700 or http://www.thespring.co.uk/
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