The Hold
The Hold is our largest single exhibition space where we install our major exhibitions. At present we have Lighthouses: Life on the Rocks, which shines a light on the world of lighthouses and their keepers.
From the massive scale of these triumphs of engineering to the tall tales of the lighthouse keepers themselves, Lighthouses: Life on the Rocks illuminates these fascinating stories with hands-on exhibits and interactive displays.
The exhibition features an incredible array of objects both large and small, such as the massive four tonne optic from Bishop Rock, which forms a sculptural centre-piece to the exhibition with its dazzling array of prisms and lenses. Life on the Rocks is supported by Trinity House, the General Lighthouse Authority. They have generously lent a large number of artefacts to the exhibition, which is seen as complementary to their own heritage centre at the Lizard Lighthouse.
The UK's last manned lighthouse was converted to automatic operation in November 1998. The Museum has worked closely with former lighthouse keepers and their families to tell the incredible stories of the last of the lighthouse keepers. Visitors can step inside the lighthouse keeper’s world with a reconstruction of a lighthouse kitchen, the heart of any lighthouse, and a display which asks the all important question “which bed would you rather sleep in?” A hammock or a banana bunk?
As you would expect from the Maritime Museum, the exhibition is filled with hands-on exhibits and interactive displays to keep the whole family engaged. Man the light and sound the foghorn at St Anthony’s lighthouse; explore how light and lenses work; and test your knowledge of lighthouse names - Muckle Flugga anyone?
And this is only a taste of what’s on offer in this in-depth exhibition. Life on the Rocks also looks at lighthouses in popular culture, from Fraggle Rock to Marks and Spencer; explores the power of the oceans and the daunting challenges of building a lighthouse out at sea; and reveals the little-told story of lightvessels and their crews.
And don't miss our wonderful Model Boat Case where you can see over fifty examples of boats from around the world: large, small, working, ceremonial or for pleasure.
