NEXT CHAPTER IN THE STORY: Finally, finally. the Pevensey Bay Fin Whale goes on show in Cambridge. Congratulations to the staff at the Museum of Zoology in Cambridge. Wonderful hard graft work over many years. The lower gallery opens to the public today. Time perhaps for the hire of an old fashioned charabanc style bus from those lovely people at Seaford and District Buses to see the extraordinary exhibit. And how cool might it be if there was to be a permanent exhibition at the place where the story began, here in Pevensey Bay. All we would need here for the purpose is a library that is fit for the 21st century —Bay Life, 27 March 2018
Museum of Zoology , Cambridge
28 March 2018
The Fin Whale
the weight of eight double decker buses
The whale is back
The whale is back at the Museum of Zoology in Cambridge. Come and stand under the whale in its new, purpose built, glass entrance hall. The 21 metre (70ft) Fin Whale skeleton had been in storage for 4 years, during the building programme. It was one of the first exhibits to return to the museum, ahead of the re-opening. It was first on public display 150 years ago at the Central Cricket Ground in Hastings, where visitors were charged a sixpence admission fee.
The museum has owned the whale since 1866, the year after it was washed up dead in Pevensey Bay in Sussex. The Fin Whale is the second largest species of whale, after the Blue Whale. When alive it is thought it would have weighed about 80 tonnes, the equivalent of eight double decker buses. The re-hanging process took two people around four weeks, due to its enormous size and weight.
Museum staff and specialist installers spent many weeks putting the whale back together and hanging it in its new home, the Whale Hall.
The whale was hung at the old Museum of Zoology, which was on the same site as the new museum today.
Museum of Zoology , Cambridge
Welcome to the Museum of Zoology. With thousands of specimens on display, the museum offers a fascinating insight into the wonders of animal life. Entry to the Museum is free.
Our Opening Times:
The Lower Gallery will open on 27 March 2018. In the meantime you are welcome to take a peek inside our Whale Hall which is open every Friday and Saturday 12 noon to 4pm. The Museum will be fully open from 23 June 2018.
From 27 March 2018, our opening hours will be:
Tues to Sat: 10am to 4.30pm
Sunday: 12noon to 4.30pm
Monday: Closed (open Bank Holiday Mondays)
Please note that we are closed on Good Friday, and for the period between Christmas and New Year. Visitors making a special trip are advised to check opening times beforehand by contacting the Museum.
Last admission is 4.00pm
Entry to the Museum is free.
Contact Us:
Email: umzc@zoo.cam.ac.uk
Telephone: 01223 336650
Museum of Zoology, Downing Street, Cambridge. CB2 3EJ
www.museum.zoo.cam.ac.uk
