William Smith Museum of Geology
Updated: Thursday, July 31, 2008
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The Rotunda, which is a Grade Two listed building, will re-open as the William Smith Museum of Geology this year.
History :
William Smith's work from the late 18th century - interpreting an area's rock formations - is still used in the Gas and Oil industries today. He learnt to recognise the sequence of rocks and correlate them on the basis of the fossils they contain. The museum's redevelopment we will create a centre of geology serving the Yorkshire region.
Plan :
The first floor gallery will present William Smith’s ideas, capturing the flavour of a 19th century museum. Specimens from Scarborough’s own fossil collection - which would have formed part of the original displays - will be returned to the Museum and for the first time specimens from Smith’s own collection, on loan from the Natural History Museum, London, will be displayed.
A new floor - "Geology Now!" - will bring the museum up to the 21st century using multimedia technology to present current geological and environmental research. Shell UK Ltd will have a special involvement in this section.
The Dinosaur Coast Visitor Centre will make the link between the museum and the world outside; encouraging people to visit geological sites on the coast and enabling them to identify and register their fossil finds.
Design :
A new entrance will be created, at what is now basement level, and a lift will replace the central stair.
Funding :
The £4 million project secured £1.9 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Update:
07 Sep 07
Prince Charles visits the Rounda
The Scarborough Evening News reported the Scarborough Museum Trust could receive a £10,000 cash boost, thanks to the latest release by top-selling author Graham Taylor.The eagerly awaited offering – Mariah Mundi and the Midas Box – goes on sale in Scarborough tomorrow, two days before it goes on general release. Now a book company has offered to donate £5 to the town's museums for every copy it sells through its website.
06 Nov 07
The Scarborough Evening News reported that the keys to the Rotunda had officially been handed over by the contractor William Anelay to Scarborough Museums Trust. The building now has to be fitted out for its re-opening.
For further information, you can either download a pdf of the initial designs or, alternatively, visit the Rotunda Museums official website.
** Rotunda images at the top of this page are copywrite 'Blue the design company'.
The official opening ceremony was on May 9th and the museum opened to the public the following day.
Click here for more information.
