National Lottery Heritage Grants £10,000 to £250,000
Originally built for the Royal Navy between 1824 and 1826, HMS Erebus was later refitted as a state-of-the-art exploration ship.
It took part in the Ross expedition to the Antarctic which identified the position of the South Magnetic Pole and joined the Franklin expedition to the Canadian Arctic in 1845.
During this second expedition HMS Erebus became trapped in the ice while attempting to cross the Northwest Passage and was abandoned by its crew, none of whom survived. The wreck was not discovered until 2014.
With our funding, Pembroke Dock Heritage Trust is marking the 200th anniversary of the ship’s launch with a temporary exhibition. It will include previously unseen artefacts from the wreckage and highlight the role local shipbuilders played in a story that stretches from Pembrokeshire to the polar seas.
The project will also:
- create scale models, accessible displays, bilingual audio material and video footage of the wreck site
- work with local groups and schools to co-create the exhibition and design educational resources
- support volunteers to build their skills in research and front-of-house engagement
John Evans, Patron of Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre, said: “Thanks to National Lottery players, this project will preserve and celebrate a heritage story of national and international significance, while re-establishing Pembroke Dock as a place of discovery, craftsmanship and exploration.
“By reconnecting HMS Erebus with the community that built her, we aim to inspire pride, learning and long-term cultural and economic benefit for the town.”
From historic ships to iconic railways, discover more industrial, maritime and transport heritage projects we’ve funded.
