Wingfield Castle is moored alongside the municipal museum of Hartlepool
Step out of the main museum building and you are at Wingfield Castle's gangway
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PS Wingfield Castle : Museum Ship, Hartlepool UK (2009)
After years of neglect, she was purchased by the authorities of her port of birth, Hartlepool, and restored to near original condition. She now forms part of the town's excellent free municipal museum which was built on the site of the shipyard where Wingfield Castle was built. The story of Wingfield Castle shows what can be done by an enlightened museum service.
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Wingfield Castle is moored alongside the municipal museum of Hartlepool |
Step out of the main museum building and you are at Wingfield Castle's gangway |
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Learn about the ship before you step aboard |
Learn more listening to the taped commentary in a reconstructed boiler room |
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As well as a stoker, a model "engineer" has been placed in the engine room |
Press the "Audio" button and a taped commentary explains the workings of the engines |
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Visitors are free to roam the open decks of the paddler ..... |
... and go up to the bridge for a further taped commentary about the operation of the fhip |
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You can see into the Historic Dockyard attraction of which HMS Trincomalee is the centre-piece |
As well as on deck, Wingfield Castle remains spartan below deck - much as she was originally |
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The main saloon forward acts as the museum's cafeteria. The companionway to the lower saloon has recently been blocked off and general public access restricted rather than opened up for museum display use. |
Two lifts have been installed for disabled access to the for and aft saloons below the main deck. Access by stairs is through combination controlled locks. The rooms are now for private hire only. In this respect, the ship is no longer true to her historical configuration...... |
