UKMCS begins to assess the UK's Marine Technology and Engineering Collections

The UKMCS is committed to developing the UK's maritime collections through sharing collecting policies, and where it will increase public access, ‘sharing' collections between museums by either loan or transfer.

By working together to assess and evaluate collections, and discussing our respective Collecting Policies, we can maximise development of the UK marine technology and engineering collections whilst avoiding unnecessary duplication of material, particularly for large items.

To start the ball rolling, Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust hosted a seminar in Autumn 2005, to consider the key developments in Marine Technology and Engineering from 1750 to the present day. This seminar was attended by representatives from a number of UKMCS partner museums and other interested individuals.

A draft timeline of the key developments has been compiled. The timeline is still a work in progress and any comments or feedback you may have are very welcome.

Download the timeline (Excel, 123KB).

Please send any suggestions by 30 September 2006 to:

Lindsay Doulton
Curator, Maritime Engineering & Technology
Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust
The Historic Dockyard
Chatham
Kent, ME4 4TZ
E-mail: ldoulton@chdt.org.uk

Collections mapping

UKMCS would like to develop a better understanding of the UK's marine technology and engineering collections to enable us to identify both overlaps and gaps in the national collection.

We are compiling a list of objects held in UK public and private collections.

Download the list (PDF, 13KB).

If you would like to add details about objects in your collection to this list, download and complete the form below and send it to Lindsay Doulton.

Download the object information form (PDF, 8KB)

Next steps

It is planned to hold a second follow up seminar in autumn 2006, which will focus on developments in marine technology and engineering from 1960 to the present day and beyond.

Representatives from museums, private collections and marine industries will be invited to attend, and further information about the seminar will be posted on the UKMCS website later this year.