Shipping

The Ships gallery houses a collection of intricate models of sailing vessels, ranging from Ancient Egyptian funerary ships, to modern day passenger ferries.

They provide a great resource for:

Thinking about how ships are powered by looking for clues such as oars, propellers, chimneys, paddles, sails etc. This can be extended to think about how the method of powering ships has changed over time with the development of new technologies.

Comparing the shapes of the hulls and other features in relation to the purpose and function of the ships and how fast they might travel.

Considering the range of materials used to build the ships.

Older and more able children can discuss the scale of the models.

The gallery also displays component parts of vessels, such as the mechanisms for operating paddle steamers, and a walk -in deck of a naval vessel.

Some of the models reflect particular historical periods such as:
Ancient Egyptian ships
Ships from the Tudor period
Santa Maria (Columbus)
Victorian paddle steamers
Battleships used in the 1930s and 1940s

They also represent different countries of origin.