How women's roles have helped shape Fleetwood will form new museum exhibition

Fleetwood Museum manager Ben Whittaker gives an update on keeping visitors safe under Covid restrictions - and hints of new exhibits...

What a strange time it has been and continues to be for us all!

Zara Robinson, collections assistant at Fleetwood Museum, with a cardboard cut-out and usherette’s jacket from the Victoria Cinema (and later Barney’s Bingo) in Fleetwood.

placeholder image — Zara Robinson, collections assistant at Fleetwood Museum, with a cardboard cut-out and usherette’s jacket from the Victoria Cinema (and later Barney’s Bingo) in Fleetwood.

After a four month delay we finally opened the doors to Fleetwood Museum last month.

It took a lot of planning and hard work to put in place the system and all the things required to make the museum as safe as possible for our staff and visitors alike.

Understandably, a lot of people are cautious about visiting museums and indoor attractions, but we have still had plenty of visits and some great feedback.

There are lots of new displays this year, from our Early Fleetwood gallery, Fisherman’s Friend and Collecting Fleetwood exhibitions, and new displays in our Deep-Sea gallery including material collected from the Jacinta trawler.

We are offering Fleetwood FY7 residents a free visit to the museum – up to five people from a household can visit - just bring proof of address with you.

This is your museum and we could not operate without the precept that we get from Fleetwood residents – so after everything we have all been through, it is nice to offer this free visit in 2020 to you all.

We are also asking people to get in touch with stories for our planned 2021 exhibition about Fleetwood women.

The exhibition will highlight the important contributions that women have made to the history of Fleetwood, from the 1830s up to the present day.

Most of the focus in our current galleries tends to be on men – so we will also add new content to all of our existing displays that gives the role of women a stronger voice.

From the first female Mayor Margaret Rowntree, to pioneering boxer Jane Couch, we will celebrate the inspiring stories of Fleetwood women.

We will also explore how attitudes to women have evolved over time and how aspects of society have changed – from school, to work and leisure time – all with a Fleetwood flavour.

So if you have a story, object, film or photos that can help us tell the story of women in the town – let us know!

We want stories big and small – the unsung heroes past and present.

Perhaps you went to Baileys school in the 1970s when it was very different to today.

Maybe your daughter runs her own business or does lots of work in the community, or your mum or auntie worked at BSL or Mullards.

Get in touch with us by emailing [email protected] or call (01253) 876621.

We will be doing more call outs for information later this year.

Ben Whittaker