New Dover Museum Exhibition Charts History of Channel Crossings

A new exhibition at Dover Museum charts the history of Channel crossings

A new exhibition charting the history of Channel crossings opens at Dover Museum on Saturday, 29 July 2023.

Featuring a host of information and artefacts across an entire floor of the museum, the free exhibition looks at the history of the English Channel from several perspectives, including: 

• International trade and tourism and the development of maritime transport
• Endurance swimming and other less conventional ways to cross the Channel
• Pilgrimage, migration, and the social history of crossing the Channel
• Conflict, from the Roman invasion through two World Wars.

Trading links across the English Channel go back at least as far as the Bronze Age. The Bronze Age Boat Gallery at Dover Museum houses the world’s oldest known seagoing boat, discovered in the town in 1992 and another reason to visit the exciting new exhibition.

The exhibition showcases the history of cross-Channel travel from Dover, in particular the development of the roll-on/roll-off ferry along with Great British inventions such as the hovercraft.

Ever since Captain Matthew Webb became the first person to successfully swim the Channel in August 1875, swimmers have been drawn to Dover to take on the ultimate test for endurance swimmers.

Dover Museum is excited to be partnering with the Swimming a Long Way Together project by visual artist and long-distance swimmer, Vanessa Dawes, to tell the fascinating story of Mercedes Gleitze, the first British woman to swim the English Channel in 1927.

Cllr Charlotte Zosseder, DDC’s Cabinet Member with responsibility for museums and tourism, said: “The English Channel has had a remarkable influence on the development of Dover throughout the centuries. In many respects, it’s what put Dover on the map.

“As a community, we’re proud of our cross-Channel links and the warm welcome Dover has always provided to cross-Channel travellers. This exciting new exhibition is a great way to celebrate Dover’s pioneering spirit by taking advantage of its unique location as the UK’s closest town to continental Europe.”

Admission to Dover Museum and the exhibition is free and open daily throughout the summer (9.30am-5.00pm Monday to Saturday, 10.00am-3.00pm on Sunday).

Notes to editors:

Five fascinating facts about the English Channel:

1. The Channel didn’t always exist. Britain was connected to continental Europe until the end of the Ice Age
2. At its narrowest point, the English Channel separates Britain and France by just 21 miles in the so-called Dover Strait
3. To the French, the Channel is known simply as 'La Manche', the sleeve
4. The English Channel is one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world supporting 20% of global maritime trade
5. Among the more unconventional attempts to cross the Channel, includes a double bed and a giant gin bottle!

Dover Museum is owned and operated by Dover District Council. Founded in 1836 it is one of the oldest museums in Kent. Located in Dover’s Market Square, the museum’s exhibits are displayed across three floors with galleries telling the story of the development of the famous town and port. The Museum also includes the Dover Bronze Age Boat Gallery. 

The English Channel exhibition has been curated by the staff of Dover Museum and designers from Dover District Council.