WATCHET Market House Museum has been awarded a grant from the Royal Society to provide an exhibition on board the MV Balmoral featuring the town’s maritime links with Bristol, the museum announced this week.

The exhibition runs from Friday, August 2 to September 9 while the ship is berthed at Prince’s Wharf in Bristol City Docks.

Part of the Royal Society's 'Places of Science' programme, which seeks to support small museums, the exhibition explores the relationship between Watchet and Bristol in conjunction with the Balmoral Trust.

The vessel has just come out of dry dock after an extensive refit. Not having sailed since 2017, she should be back in the Bristol Channel in 2025, with a possible visit to Watchet. 

Market House Museum curator Jim Nicholas said: “The exhibition will include a science theme, in this case the tidal system of the channel which - having the second highest tidal range in the world - poses particular problems for coastal shipping.

“For Bristol, in particular, a high tide is necessary to access the city docks, similarly Watchet Harbour can only be accessed when the tide is in.

 “Historically, Watchet traded with Bristol for hundreds of years, and Bristol steamers bringing 'excursionists' to the Westcountry were a huge boon to the local economy during the 19th and 20th centuries.”

The project will involve 'My Future, My Choice' - an education service for schools and communities that enables young people to go places out of their normal zone, and day trips to Watchet are planned for disadvantaged families.