Chepstow Museum

D-Day Remembered For the 75th Anniversary of the D-Day Landings, here's a reminder of the role that Chepstow played in helping to make it happen. At the shipyard, where ships had not been built since the 1920s, tank landing craft were constructed. The prefabricated sections made at yards in the north of England, were assembled at Fairfield's Chepstow. The first (LCT 589) was scheduled to be launched at 11am on the 11th November 1942. Unfortunately it failed to move down the s...lipway – either the “wrong sort”, or frozen grease on the timbers was blamed, and it was successfully launched the following day. The target was to launch one craft every two weeks. The photograph shows LCT 593 one of the 60 Mark 4 craft that left Chepstow, many of which were used in the D-Day Landings. These craft could take 6 40-ton tanks, or 9 30-ton tanks, or 12 3-ton lorries, and took a crew of 12, and 36 troops. Women as well as men worked in the yard during the war, and some worked on the construction of the tank landing craft. The yard at Chepstow also built parts of the Mulberry Harbours, the pre-fabricated harbours which were used to offload supplies once the beachheads were held, at 'Omaha' and 'Gold' Beach. Photograph from the collections of Chepstow Museum © Monmouthshire Museums Service
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So here's a taster trailer for the new Exhibition on Screen film, Van Gogh and Japan, which we're showing this week Thursday 6 June 7.30pm at the Drill Hall, Chepstow. Tickets are £10 from us in advance tel 01291 625981 (11am -4pm) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=boPI6c-IX G4

The bizarre bezoar! What is this perfect ball - it's actually stuff that a cow was unable to digest!. In the cow’s stomach, the matter begins to mineralise, giving it this odd appearance. Bezoars were once valued highly as an antidote to poison. But not without all reason. Scientific studies have shown that they actually do have a neutralising effect on arsenic compounds.. This is one of the 50 wonders of nature in our exhibition Stuffed Pickled and Pinned. The weird and the wonderful, specimens from the collections of museums across Wales. Open daily 11-4 (except Wednesdays from June onwards) Free

Wow - look at this trailer for Carmen, live broadcast from Moscow of Bolshoi ballet double bill, Carmen and a new version of Petrushka, which also looks extraordinary. This is the last Bolshoi broadcast of the season, don't miss it - ballet lover or not - this could make you see ballet differently. The Drill Hall, Sunday 19 May at 4pm. Tickets £12/ £10 concession and you get the best seat in the house! Fundraiser for Monmouthshire Museums, so come and see it here... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9WbNh4Nt pk

Here's a taster trailer for REMBRANDT the exceptional Exhibition on Screen film we're showing this week on Thursday May 9 at 7.30pm at the Drill Hall, Chepstow to mark the 350th anniversary of the artist's death. We're able to screen this at a very special price of just £5. Get tickets in advance from Chepstow Museum 01291 625981 (11-4) or at the door on the night https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oe1jrYFHy zE

One week until the screening of REMBRANDT excellent Exhibition on Screen film on May 9th 7.30pm, at Chepstow Drill Hall, to mark the 350th anniversary of the artist's death this year. Remarkably he died in poverty and was buried in a rented unmarked grave. Yet it's the output of the last years of his life, soulful, honest and deeply moving, that defines his image and is the subject of this film. The showing at Chepstow is at special price just £5 and it's in support of Monmouthshire Museums to book tel 01291 625981 or drop in and see us!

Looking for something to do inside this weekend? It's the last chance to have a go at our Egg Hunt, - ends Sunday 28 April - great fun and a challenge for super sleuths! And there's a simple version for very young ones to do. And there are still some chocolate eggs at the end of the trail! We're open daily 11-4.

This Thursday April 25th is Gallipoli day, the day of the fateful landing of troops on the Gallipoli peninsula in 1915 which resulted in the slaughter of so many of the allied forces, also known as ANZAC day for the baptism of fire it represented for Australian and New Zealand men. It is a day commemorated in Chepstow with a service at 11am by the gun and cenotaph to remember the heroism of Able Seaman Williams Charles Williams who was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actio...n that day. It cost him his life and his VC was the first ever to be posthumously awarded to the navy. Williams was one of six men of the Royal Navy all serving on the troopship SS River Clyde, to receive the highest award for gallantry that day. The landing at V Beach did not go to plan and a floating ‘bridge’ of barges was hastily manoeuvred into place to allow the troops from the River Clyde to reach the shore. It was Williams and his commanding officer Unwin who waded through the water getting the barges in position and finding that the rope was too short to tie the line of barges to the rocks they stood chest deep in the water and took the strain holding the floating bridge in place while the men attempted to reach the shore under fierce fire from the Turkish guns. Many were mown down. After an hour straining on the rope, and prime targets themselves, Williams was hit by a shell and died in Unwin’s arms. The photograph shows the crowds in Chepstow witnessing the unveiling of the captured German submarine gun given to the town by George V which is a memorial to Able Seaman Williams VC. Its original location was behind the railings that enclosed the old Bank Buildings. Three memorials were unveiled that day, 8 January 1922, the gun by Williams’ sister Frances Smith, the painting of the Landing of the SS River Clyde in the Priory & Parish Church of St Mary by Captain Unwin, as well as the cenotaph itself. On Thursday all are welcome to join in remembering the valour of Able Seaman Williams VC, who lost his life 104 years ago but won a lasting special place in Chepstow’s heart. Photograph from the collections of Chepstow Museum ©Monmouthshire Museums. Find out more about AB Williams VC in the display in the Museum.
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Searching for the Easter bunny? Have you seen our rabbit - inside and out! - in our special exhibition Stuffed, Pickled and Pinned..some weird and wonderful wonders of Nature from museum collections across Wales. It's open every day 11-4, with some great things to explore for kids and adults.

This photograph, taken on April 4 1936, just over 83 years ago, shows a Great Western Railway diesel railcar at Chepstow Station. The streamlined design of the bodywork echoed the fashions of the period and the spirit of the age. The first of these railcars was introduced by GWR at the end of 1933. They were very successful and remained in use until 1962. An interesting feature was steam heating which had the power to heat the whole railcar. Many were fitted with sliding doors, and they were painted in the chocolate and cream livery of GWR. As well as the train’s interesting features Chepstow’s two station buildings can be seen, including toilet facilities. Does this bring back memories? Have you got more photographs – let us know! Photograph from the collections of Chepstow Museum

This afternoon, Sunday 14th April we're screening Bolshoi Ballet's The Golden Age, set in the roaring 20s - great music, great dancing from some of the best in the world. And you get the best seat in the house, all on the doorstep in Chepstow at the Drill Hall. At 3pm it's a perfect time for ballet fans of all ages to enjoy. It's also a fundraiser for Monmouthshire Museums so support as at the same time. If you want to pay by credit card ring 01291 625981 up to 2pm otherwise cash on the door tickets £12 full, £10 concession Here's a preview of the tango scene https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DRZawGF7 WY