Tuesday 14 May 2019
Extended opening hours and free entry is on offer this Friday night at Fort Grey Shipwreck Museum.
The Museum is open with free entry from 17.00 until 20.00 as part of the European initiative 'Museums at Night', which sees thousands of heritage sites open after-hours with no admission charge.
One of the attractions at the Fort will be a small collection of recent archaeology from the west coast. States Archaeologist Dr Phil de Jersey will be on hand to meet the public, answer questions and explain some of the finds from the nearby Chapelle Dom Hue, including the mysterious porpoise skeleton. Over the road, history fans can also enjoy a 20-minute guided tour of the Roman wreck store, hosted by Head of Heritage Services Dr Jason Monaghan. Dr Monaghan will give a personal insight into the ship's discovery, present state and its future.
Two living history performances take place during the evening. 'Narrow Escape' tells the exciting tale of the Guernsey man from Cobo who helped Captain James Saumarez escape a superior French squadron in 1794. This lively and interactive show is 20 minutes long, begins at 18.00 and is perfect for families with small children. At 19.30, there is a creative retelling of the tragic shipwreck of the ship 'Boreas' of 1807.
Continuing with the musical theme, the local choir La Guaine Du Vouest ('the gang from the west') will treat visitors to a repertoire of songs, featuring Guernsey's language, at 19.00.
Children and families will be well catered for, with Museum trails and extra arts and crafts during the evening. Volunteers from the RNLI are hosting a hot drinks stand, where visitors can give a donation for tea, coffee or hot chocolate.
Josephine Dowding, Access & Learning Manager says:
'It's wonderful to be returning to Fort Grey for Museums at Night this year. Once again, visitors are welcome to bring their own picnics and enjoy the atmosphere of this special place after-hours, take part in the activities on offer and watch the sun begin to set'.
