Harwich Mayflower Heritage Centre facts for kids
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| Established | 2017 |
|---|---|
| Location | Harwich Essex, CO12 United Kingdom |
| Type | Heritage |
| Public transit access | Mayflower line |
| History | |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | |
| Namesake | Mayflower |
| Owner | Harwich Mayflower Heritage Centre |
| Keel Cut: | June 2013 |
| Projected Completion Date: | Not specified |
| Quatercentenary Voyage: | 2020 |
The Harwich Mayflower Heritage Centre is a special place in Harwich, England. It's a museum and a community project. Its main goal is to create a lasting memory for the area. They plan to do this by building a full-size copy of the famous ship, the Mayflower. This ship carried about 100 Pilgrims from England to America in 1620. The Centre also celebrates the rich history of Harwich.
Contents
The Centre's Journey: How It Started
The idea for the Harwich Mayflower Heritage Centre began in 2009. This happened after a copy of HMS Endeavour visited Harwich. The Endeavour was the ship sailed by James Cook. A small group of local people decided they wanted Harwich to build its own replica ship.
The Mayflower was the perfect choice. This was because its captain, Christopher Jones, was born and grew up in Harwich. The first designs for the ship were shown in April 2009. By 2010, the project became a charity. This meant it could officially start its work. It got a big boost when Richard Branson, a famous businessman, supported it.
In 2016, a visitor centre and museum were built next to where the ship would be. By 2018, the project officially became the Harwich Mayflower Heritage Centre. They decided to build a Mayflower replica that would stay on land. This land-based ship would be the main attraction for the 2020 Mayflower 400 celebration in Harwich.
Building the Harwich Mayflower Replica
The original plan was to build a Mayflower that could sail. The main work began in December 2012. They started by cutting the first oak tree for the ship. In June 2013, a special ceremony was held to cut the keel. The keel is like the backbone of a ship. The first part of the build was finished in December 2014.
However, progress on building the ship slowed down after this first stage. In April 2018, the Heritage Centre confirmed a change in plans. They decided to build a replica that would stay on land. This means it won't be a ship that can sail.
Exploring the Railway and Maritime Museum
In 2017, a lot of work started to fix up the old buildings at Harwich Town railway station. The inside of these buildings was completely redone. They used a large collection of railway items from a local enthusiast named Bob Clow. The goal was to make the station look exactly as it did around 1924. This year was important because the Harwich train ferry terminal opened then.
By June 2017, the station's renovation was going well. In October 2017, the Centre signed a 25-year agreement for the station buildings. This secured their future for a long time. The Railway and Maritime Museum officially opened its doors on April 15, 2018. This opening happened at the same time a special charity train ride arrived in town.
The Centre in the News
The Harwich Mayflower Heritage Centre gained a lot of attention in 2013. Many news groups from different countries reported on Harwich's connection to the Mayflower. Stories appeared in Britain, America, Canada, and even Hungary.
The Centre itself has also been featured on national TV, like the BBC and ITV. Many online articles have written about the 400-year celebrations for the Mayflower journey. Local newspapers, such as the Harwich & Manningtree Standard, have also covered the Centre's activities.
