Maritime treasures at Chatham Historic Dockyard

A new innovative arts and maritime centre, No.1 Smithery, opened to visitors at Chatham Historic Dockyard on 24 July. The venue features a collection of the nation’s maritime treasures, objects and art combined with visual art, interactive family activities and magnificent maritime models.

To cater for a diverse audience, the centre has been divided into five main areas. The ‘National Museums’ section includes new galleries of art and maritime models from The Historic Dockyard collection, as well as objects from the Imperial War Museum and the National Maritime Museum. ‘The Gallery’ will host touring exhibitions, including Resonance and Renewal - Shipbuilding on the Clyde, featuring a series of evocative paintings by British artist Sir Stanley Spencer on loan from the Imperial War Museum. The exhibition will run until 12 December.

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