Latest news with #NorthAyrshireHeritageCentre
Daily Record
17-06-2025
- Science
- Daily Record
North Ayrshire Provost officially opens Scottish Maritime Museum's summer exhibition
'Beneath the Waves' brings together a historic ceramic collection recovered from the shipwrecked SS Eagle by Graeme Bruce, award-winning photography by Lawson Wood and detailed marine sketches by Christina Riley. North Ayrshire Provost Anthea Dickson officially opened the Scottish Maritime Museum's summer exhibition, 'Beneath the Waves'. The Provost joined Matthew Bellhouse Moran, Executive Director, and Eva Bukowska, Exhibitions and Events Officer of the Scottish Maritime Museum to mark the opening of the colourful exhibition which celebrates the extraordinary world beneath the ocean's surface. Also present were exhibition collaborators Oban-based diver and maritime explorer Graeme Bruce, renowned underwater photographer, marine conservationist and writer Lawson Wood and Ayrshire underwater artist and writer Christina Riley. The exhibition is the first time that the collection of rare 19 th century ceramics recovered from the 1857 iron steamship SS Eagle off Lamlash Bay, Arran, last year, have been on public display. The ceramics were made by Glasgow-based Bell's Pottery. In the 19 th century, Glasgow was a major centre for the production of ceramics and Bell's Pottery was arguably the most internationally significant producer of ceramic wares in Scotland at that time. Lawson Wood's award-winning photography reveals the captivating world of marine life and ranges from colourful tropical fish and seals to corals and anemone. Christina Riley's work focuses on the small details of complex and beautiful marine ecosystems. The exhibition features a selection of photographs and pencil drawings created during her time as a snorkelling-artist-in-residence at the Argyll Hope Spot. Part of the global Mission Blue initiative led by the renowned oceanographer Dr. Sylvia Earle, the Hope Spots project highlights areas critical to the health of the ocean. Other Hope Spots include the Galapagos Islands and Great Barrier Reef. Complementing the SS Eagle ceramics, 'Beneath the Waves' also features cups and plates from the Scottish Maritime Museum's own national maritime heritage collection as well as four vessels dating back to the Roman Empire on loan from North Ayrshire Heritage Centre. Visitors can also learn more about free diving and how this ancient practice has advanced our understanding of marine archaeology and conservation. Admission to 'Beneath the Waves' is included in museum admission. The museum is open daily 10am – 5pm. Up to three children go FREE with each Adult/Concession ticket.
The National
05-06-2025
- General
- The National
19th century ceramics recovered from shipwreck to go on display
The SS Eagle sank off the Isle of Arran on November 28, 1859, after colliding with a sailing boat, with the loss of 11 lives. The ship was sailing from Glasgow to Londonderry with a general cargo, 200 sheep and 54 passengers when the collision happened. The ceramics, discovered by Oban-based diver and maritime explorer Graeme Bruce and team in July 2024, were made by Glasgow-based Bell's Pottery. READ MORE: American investors buy UK's oldest ice hockey team based in Scotland During the 19th century, Glasgow was a major centre for the production of ceramics, and the items from SS Eagle will form part of the Scottish Maritime Museum's summer exhibition from Saturday. Bruce (below) said: 'Diving has been my great passion for 35 years. For me, a shipwreck is a time capsule hidden from view over time by the sea. (Image: Graeme Bruce) 'The privilege of being able to explore and connect with the past is beyond description. 'Enabling the artefacts from shipwrecks like this Bell's Pottery collection to then have a new life on show for everyone to learn from and appreciate is so important. 'Connecting people with a heritage like this means everything to me and those I dive with.' The Beneath The Waves exhibition at the museum in Irvine, North Ayrshire, brings together the ceramics, award-winning photography and an artist's marine sketches. Bell's Pottery is recognised as arguably the most internationally significant producer of ceramic wares in Scotland at the time. The haul from the SS Eagle is almost intact, which museum bosses say is unprecedented. Experts said this, coupled with the lack of surviving pottery from Glasgow's industrial ceramics period, which spanned three centuries from 1748 to the mid-1980s, makes the SS Eagle's ceramic tableware nationally significant. (Image: Scottish Maritime Museum in North Ayrshire) The SS Eagle collection features ceramics destined for trade and exhibition in Londonderry, Northern Ireland, and artefacts from the ship's galley. Exhibits include seven plates and a bowl, a teapot lid, two bottles, a decanter and bell. Complementing the SS Eagle ceramics, Beneath The Waves also features cups and plates from the Scottish Maritime Museum's own national maritime heritage collection, as well as four vessels dating back to the Roman Empire on loan from North Ayrshire Heritage Centre. The SS Eagle launched from the Dumbarton yard of Alexander Denny in July 1857. The 324-tonne steamer was acquired by the McConnel and Laird Line of Glasgow in June 1859 for service as a passenger and cargo vessel. (Image: Scottish Maritime Museum in North Ayrshire) Eva Bukowska, exhibitions and events officer at the Scottish Maritime Museum, said: 'We are really excited to host the first showing of these fascinating ceramics recovered from SS Eagle. 'The vessel also has a significance for the museum as it was built by Alexander Denny, who was the brother of William Denny, whose test tank is now home to our second collection in Dumbarton.'
