Transformed 'Geology Jewel' Unveiled
Posted on: Sunday, 11 May 2008, 00:00 CDT
THE transformation of Scarborough's Rotunda Museum, the jewel in the crown of Britain's geological heritage, was unveiled yesterday.
The museum celebrates the work of William Smith, "the father of English geology", whose discovery became the basis for all mineral and oil exploration today.
In the late 18th century, Smith solved one of the great puzzles of the age - how to recognise the sequence of rocks and correlate them across the country, on the basis of the fossils they contain.
The Rotunda is the only building in the world to commemorate Smith's invention of "fossil-ordered stratigraphy".
He moved to Scarborough after his release from debtors' prison in 1820 because the dramatic coastline offered an area of geological richness. The Rotunda was opened in 1829 and was one of the country's first purpose-built museums.
Its circular plan was intended to interpret Smith's great discovery, while around the gallery was a painting of the geological formation of the East Coast from the Humber to the Tees.
Restoration of the Grade II* listed building near Scarborough's seafront has taken Pounds 4.6m and two years of work. This redevelopment has returned the Rotunda to its original role at the cutting edge of science.
The project has been a key element of Scarborough's renaissance plans. It is also the first phase of a wider programme to revitalise the town's museums and gallery.
Major funding has been provided by the Heritage Lottery Fund, the European Regional Development Fund and Scarborough Council.
Fossil specimens from Smith's own collection, on loan from the Natural History Museum, will now be displayed for the first time in Scarborough.
Shirley Collier, chief executive of Scarborough Museums Trust, said: "The Rotunda may be a small building, but it is a big part of Britain's scientific heritage.
"We've got innovative displays and activities which will appeal to all ages, especially children who are mad on dinosaurs."
Yesterday's reopening ceremony was performed by Lord Oxburgh, president of the Geological Society. The public is welcome to inspect the redevelopment from today.
(c) 2008 Yorkshire Post. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.
Source: Yorkshire Post
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