£4.5m Exhibition To Tell Navy's History

Work is getting underway on a new £4.5m exhibition at the Babcock Galleries in Portsmouth's Historic Dockyard.

'HMS - Hear My Story' will give voice to the stories of the men, women and ships which have contributed to the Navy's history over the last 100 years and impacted on everyone's life. 

The hoardings have gone up on the 18th century Storehouse 10, home to the new Babcock Galleries where the new HMS exhibition will be situated. 

A spokesperson said:

Veterans whose personal stories will be retold in the exhibition when it opens in spring 2014, the centenary of the start of World War I - marking the Navy's vital role, were on hand to see the start of the works. 

HMS will bring visitors closer to the Royal Navy than ever before, as their heritage is brought together for the first time through cutting edge interpretation. 

Visitors will be able to see and hear the stories of the Navy in war and in peace, from the storms of the Arctic to the heat of Afghanistan. 

The new galleries will also have a meeting space where veterans can meet the public to share their stories of living and fighting at sea. 


Prof Dominic Tweddle, Director General of the National Museum of the Royal Navy said:

"I am delighted that the National Museum of the Royal Navy in Portsmouth will finally be able to bridge the gap in our interpretation of the Royal Navy during the last 100 years with this brand new exhibition in the newly refurbished Babcock Galleries." 

Matthew Sheldon, Project Director of HMS added, 

"HMS has a dramatic and moving story to tell. It will bring our visitors closer than ever before to the real Royal Navy through undiscovered stories from the ordinary people who were put into the exceptional circumstances in the last 100 years." 

The project to build the Babcock Galleries, house the HMS exhibition and a special exhibitions gallery, which will give the museum the chance to create two new exhibitions a year that can showcase new collections, commemorate anniversaries and bring a changing attraction to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, will cost £4.5m of which £1.4m is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. 

The National Museum of the Royal Navy situated in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard remains open to visitors during the refurbishment works.

For more information about the HMS project, future events, how to share a story, or volunteering contact 02392 727595 or visit www.nmrn.org.uk/hms.