Business as usual – Christmas still celebrated at Fort Nelson! - Friday, 11 December 2009
The Royal Armouries has lined up plenty of free festive fun at historic Fort Nelson this Christmas – despite the museum’s £3.5m revamp.
There’s a fun-packed programme to keep the kids occupied in both the run up to Christmas and during the traditional lull between the Big Day and the New Year.
Fort Nelson will continue to be open every day throughout December (excluding Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day) and 2010, even though work started last month to transform the national collection of historic cannon and artillery into a world-class showcase, fit for the 21st Century.
Ground clearance is now complete and contractors are due to move onto the site and start construction in March. Supported by a grant of almost £2m from the Heritage Lottery Fund, improvements include enhanced visitor facilities, galleries, and state-of-the-art education facilities.
Meanwhile, it’s business as normal during the school holidays, with three family events on December 22, 29 and New Year’s Eve. Admission is free. A charge of £2 per child applies to optional, craft activities.
December 22 – Festive Fun at the Fort. Lots of seasonal activities, including Punch and Judy shows, and Christmas craft activities.
December 29 – Commando Kids. Join the Army, 1940s style, with a junior assault course and real armoured vehicle.
New Year’s Eve – Off With Their Heads!. Dress up as Tudor courtiers, meet King Henry VIII – but watch out for the executioner! Also puppet shows and toy castle-building contest!
Operations Manager Mark Selwood said, “Kids can get very over excited in both the run up to Christmas and the New Year and the Fort is an ideal place for them to let off steam, get some fresh air, and enjoy stimulating events that have nothing to do with the latest “must have” presents. Fort entrance is free, which is a big bonus at this expensive time of year.”
For more information regarding these, and all forthcoming events at the Fort, visit www.royalarmouries.org
ENDS
Photocall
You are invited to send a reporter and photographer/camera crew to any of these events at Fort Nelson.
Media contacts
Catherine Kelly/Joss Loader
Primary PR Ltd.
01903 783832 / 07704 130226 / 07838 379599
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Notes to editors
- The HLF grant to the project Fort Nelson Re-development is for £1,832,000 (53% of project costs) and is a second-round pass, which means it is a confirmed award.
- The Royal Armouries at Fort Nelson houses the national collection of historic cannon and big guns. The museum houses one of the world’s finest collections with over 350 cannon dating back over 600 years and from every corner of the earth. The collection originated at HM Tower of London and has been on display in Hampshire since 1995.
Website: www.royalarmouries.org.uk
- This year HLF is celebrating its 15th anniversary. Using money raised through the National Lottery, since 1994 it has not only revitalised hundreds of museums, parks, historic buildings, landscapes and wildlife sites, but has also given new meaning to heritage itself. People from every walk of life are now involved with the heritage that inspires them, making choices about what they want to keep and share from the past, for future generations. HLF has supported more than 28,800 projects, allocating over £4.3billion across the UK, including £428million to more than 3,000 projects across the South East England region alone.
Website: www.hlf.org.uk
Download the PDF press release.