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National Motor Museum, Beaulieu

2025-09-06T19:14:55Z

2A02:C7C:921:CC00:C72F:A27E:3C7D:321E: unreasonable precison

{{Distinguish|National Motor Museum, Birdwood|National Motorcycle Museum (disambiguation){{!}}National Motorcycle Museum}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2017}}
{{Infobox museum
| name = National Motor Museum
| logo = NMMLogo-600.jpg
| image =
| map_type = Hampshire
| coordinates = {{coord|50|49|23|N|1|27|13|W|display=inline,title}}
| established = {{start date and age|1952}}
| location = [[Beaulieu, Hampshire]], England
| type = [[Automobile museum]]
| visitors =
| director =
| website = [http://www.nationalmotormuseum.org.uk/ www.nationalmotormuseum.org.uk]<br />
[http://www.beaulieu.co.uk/ www.beaulieu.co.uk]

| network =
}}

The '''National Motor Museum''' (originally the '''Montagu Motor Museum''') is a museum in the village of [[Beaulieu, Hampshire|Beaulieu]], set in the heart of the [[New Forest]], in the English county of [[Hampshire]].

== History ==
[[File:Lord Montagu.JPG|thumb|Lord Montagu with one of his classic MGs in March 2007]]
The museum was founded in 1952 by [[Edward Douglas-Scott-Montagu, 3rd Baron Montagu of Beaulieu]], as a tribute to his father, [[John Douglas-Scott-Montagu, 2nd Baron Montagu of Beaulieu|John, 2nd Baron Montagu]], who was one of the pioneers of motoring in the United Kingdom, being the first person to drive a motor car into the yard of the [[Palace of Westminster|Houses of Parliament]], and having introduced [[Edward VII of the United Kingdom|King Edward VII]] (then the [[Prince of Wales]]) to motoring during the 1890s.

At first, the museum consisted of just five cars and a small collection of [[automobilia]] displayed in the front hall of Lord Montagu's ancestral home, Palace House; but such was the popularity of this small display that the collection soon outgrew its home, and was transferred to wooden sheds in the grounds of the house. The reputation and popularity of the Beaulieu collection continued to grow: during 1959, the museum's "attendance figures" reached 296,909.<ref name=PracticalMotorist196004>{{cite journal|title=News Summary|journal=Practical Motorist|volume=6|issue=68|page=782|date=April 1960}}</ref>

By 1964, annual attendance exceeded the half a million mark and a decision was taken to create a purpose-built museum building in the grounds of the Beaulieu estate.<ref name=Motor196905>{{cite magazine|first=Charles|last=Bulmer|title=Expansion at Beaulieu|magazine=[[The Motor (magazine)|Motor]]|issue=3492|page=64|date=24 May 1969}}</ref> A design committee chaired by the architect Sir [[Hugh Casson]] was created to drive the project, and the architect [[Leonard Manasseh]] was given the contract for the design of the building<ref name=Motor196905/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/article/leonard-manasseh-ra-100-birthday|title=Architect Leonard Manasseh at age 100 – Blog – Royal Academy of Arts|website=www.royalacademy.org.uk|access-date=25 June 2017}}</ref> which was primarily the work of his partner [[Ian Baker (architect)|Ian Baker]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Timothy|last=Brittain-Caitlin|title=Leonard Manasseh|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|location=London|date=2017-04-15|page=44}}</ref>

By 1972, the collection exceeded 300 exhibits.<ref name=Autocar1972>{{cite journal|editor=Garnier, Peter|title=News: National Motor Museum|journal=[[Autocar (magazine)|Autocar]]|volume=136|issue=3967|page=9|date=27 April 1972}}</ref> In a ceremony performed by the [[Prince Edward, Duke of Kent|Duke of Kent]] the new purpose-built museum building in the parkland surrounding Palace House was opened on 4 July 1972:<ref name=Autocar197207>{{cite journal|editor=Garnier, Peter|title=National Motor Museum Opened at Beaulieu: Realisation of a dream|journal=Autocar|volume=137|issue=3978|pages=36–37|date=13 July 1972}}</ref> the name was changed to the "National Motor Museum", reflecting a change of status from a private collection to a charitable trust and highlighting Montagu's stated aim to provide Britain with a National Motor Museum "worthy of the great achievements of its motor industry".<ref name=Autocar197207/> The opening of the museum coincided with the UK launch of the [[Jaguar XJ|Jaguar XJ12]] which made it an appropriate week for celebrating the UK motor industry.<ref name=Autocar197207/> The museum is run by the National Motor Museum Trust Ltd, a registered charity.<ref>{{EW charity|1107656|National Motor Museum Trust Ltd}}</ref>
[[File:National Motor Museum at Beaulieu.jpg|alt=The entrance of the National Motor Museum|thumb|The entrance of the National Motor Museum]]
An unusual feature of the new museum building in 1972 is the [[National Motor Museum Monorail]]<ref name=Autocar197207/> passing through its interior. This was inspired by the light railway running through the [[Montreal Biosphère|US Pavilion]] at the [[Montreal]] [[World's Fair]], [[Expo 67]].

== The museum today ==
[[File:Beaulieu National Motor Museum panorama.JPG|thumb|National Motor Museum, Beaulieu, main hall in the 1990s.]]
[[File:Motorcycle gallery at the National Motor Museum.jpg|alt=Motorcycle gallery in the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu|thumb|Motorcycle gallery in the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu]]
:''See [[List of vehicles at the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu]]''

Today, in addition to around 285 vehicles manufactured since the late-19th century, the museum has a collection of motoring books, journals, photographs, films, and automobilia of the world and is affiliated to the [[British Motorcycle Charitable Trust]].<ref name="BMCT">{{cite web|url=http://www.bmct.org/index.html|title=British Motorcycle Charitable Trust|access-date=29 November 2009|archive-date=10 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141010034430/http://www.bmct.org/index.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Vehicles in the museum collection range from the earliest motor carriages to classic family saloons, motorsport cars, motorcycles, and World Land Speed record breakers. A 'Streets Ahead' gallery displays cars, motorcycles and shop fronts from the 1950s to the 1970s. The museum's In Focus gallery houses temporary exhibitions, some containing artefacts and media from the museum's Collections Centre. Grand Prix Greats celebrates the history of Formula 1, whilst Road, Race & Rally focuses on sports cars from rallying and hill-climbing. A recreation of a rustic 1930s garage contains artefacts, fixtures, fittings, tools and ephemera from the era. A multi-media display tells the story of British Land Speed record attempts and contains iconic vehicles such as the Bluebird CN7, Golden Arrow, Sunbeam 350hp, and the Sunbeam 1000hp. <ref name="Beaulieu">{{cite web|url=https://www.beaulieu.co.uk/attractions/national-motor-museum/|title=Beaulieu website|access-date=31 January 2025}}</ref>

The "On Screen Cars" exhibit has a display of TV and film cars including Del Boy's Reliant Regal as featured in the BBC sitcom ''[[Only Fools and Horses]]'', [[Mr. Bean]]'s lime green Mini and ''[[Doctor Who]]'''s Bessie.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.beaulieu.co.uk/attractions/on-screen-cars/|title=On Screen Cars|work=beaulieu.co.uk|access-date=31 December 2019}}</ref>

Some of the cars used in various [[James Bond]] films were displayed in the Bond in Motion – ''No Time To Die exhibition'' in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Morgan |first=Richard |date=2022-05-24 |title=James Bond chase car and props join No Time To Die exhibition |url=https://www.beaulieu.co.uk/news/james-bond-chase-car-and-props-join-no-time-to-die-exhibition/ |access-date=2024-04-05 |website=Beaulieu |language=en-US}}</ref> A Jaguar XKR Convertible used in the Bond film Die Another Day is part of the museum's permanent collection.

The exhibit "World of ''Top Gear''" showcased cars created and used by ''[[Top Gear (2002 TV series)|Top Gear]]'' presenters [[Jeremy Clarkson]], [[Richard Hammond]], [[James May]], [[Matt LeBlanc]], [[Rory Reid (journalist)|Rory Reid]], [[Chris Harris (journalist)|Chris Harris]], [[Paddy McGuinness]] and [[Andrew Flintoff|Freddie Flintoff]] from June 2009 until November 2024. The exhibit welcomed over five million visitors, showcasing both vehicles and props from the BBC series. It closed on 3 November 2024, replaced by a modern classic car display entitled 'We had one of those.' .<ref>{{Cite web |last=Whale |first=Hannah |date=2024-10-11 |title=Last chance to see: World of Top Gear exhibition |url=https://www.beaulieu.co.uk/news/last-chance-to-see-world-of-top-gear-exhibition/ |access-date=2024-10-11 |website=Beaulieu |language=en-US}}</ref>
[[File:Motopia? Past Future Visions exhibition.jpg|alt=Motopia? Past Future Visions exhibition at the National Motor Museum|thumb|Motopia? Past Future Visions exhibition at the National Motor Museum]]
[[File:One of the first electric vehicles at the National Motor Museum.jpg|alt=Columbia Electric (1901), one of the first electric vehicles in the National Motor Museum|thumb|Columbia Electric (1901), one of the first electric vehicles in the National Motor Museum]]
The museum also hosts a collection of the well-known Rolls-Royce radiator mascots – the ''[[Spirit of Ecstasy]]'' – also known as the ''Flying Lady''. The collection includes a figurine commissioned by [[John Douglas-Scott-Montagu, 2nd Baron Montagu of Beaulieu|John Walter Edward Douglas-Scott-Montagu, the 2nd Baron]] to his friend [[Charles Robinson Sykes]] who sculpted a personal mascot for the bonnet of his Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost. Sykes originally crafted a figurine of a female model, [[Eleanor Thornton]], in fluttering robes, pressing a finger against her lips – to symbolise the secret of the love between John and Eleanor, his secretary. The figurine was consequently named ''The Whisper''.

Additional attractions include the [[National Motor Museum Monorail]], veteran bus ride, playground, restaurant and a substantial part of the [[Beaulieu Palace House|Palace House]] and grounds, including the partially ruined [[Beaulieu Abbey]]. Among the monastery buildings to have been preserved are the domus (now used for functions and exhibitions), and the refectory, which is now the parish church.

==Beaulieu attractions==
[[File:Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the National Motor Museum.jpg|alt=Chitty Chitty Bang Bang outside the National Motor Museum|thumb|Chitty Chitty Bang Bang outside the National Motor Museum]]
The National Motor Museum is one of several attractions on Lord Montagu's Beaulieu estate which are marketed jointly as "Beaulieu". One admission ticket includes the following attractions:

* [[Beaulieu Abbey]]
* National Motor Museum
* [[Beaulieu Palace House]]
* Secret Army Exhibition – an exhibit about the [[Special Operations Executive]] (SOE) training at Beaulieu during [[World War II]]
* Gardens
* [[National Motor Museum Monorail]]

==See also==
* [[List of motorcycles in the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu]]
* [[List of vehicles at the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|National Motor Museum, Beaulieu}}

* [https://www.nationalmotormuseum.org.uk/ The National Motor Museum website]
* [https://www.beaulieu.co.uk/ Beaulieu website]

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Museums established in 1952]]
[[Category:Lionsgate Canada]]
[[Category:Automobile museums in England]]
[[Category:Museums in Hampshire]]
[[Category:Motorcycle museums in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Auto racing museums and halls of fame]]
[[Category:Media museums]]
[[Category:1952 establishments in England]]

River Medlock

2025-08-29T20:03:49Z

2A02:C7C:921:CC00:C72F:A27E:3C7D:321E: mouth bigger than a square centimetre

{{Short description|River in Greater Manchester, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2019}}
{{Infobox river
| name = River Medlock
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| name_other =
| name_etymology = 
| image = medlock1.jpg
| image_size = 240px
| image_caption = River Medlock running under [[Wilmslow Road|Oxford Street/Oxford Road]], Manchester
| map = Medlock.png
| map_size = 280px
| map_caption =
| pushpin_map =
| pushpin_map_size =
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| subdivision_type1 = Country
| subdivision_name1 = [[England]]
| subdivision_type2 =
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| length = {{Convert|16|km|mi|abbr=on}}
| width_min =
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| depth_max =
| discharge1_location =
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| source1 =
| source1_location = between [[Oldham]] and [[Saddleworth]], [[Pennines]]
| source1_coordinates =
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| mouth =
| mouth_location = [[River Irwell]]
| mouth_coordinates = {{coord|53|28|27|N|2|15|12|W|display=inline,title}}
| mouth_elevation =
| progression =
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The '''River Medlock''' in [[Greater Manchester]], England, rises in east [[Oldham]] and flows south and west for {{convert|10|mi|km|0|abbr=off}} to join the [[River Irwell]] in [[Manchester city centre]].

==Sources==
Rising in the hills that surround [[Strinesdale]] just to the eastern side of the [[Metropolitan Borough of Oldham]], the Medlock flows through the steep-sided wooded gorge that separates [[Lees, Greater Manchester|Lees]] from [[Ashton-under-Lyne]] and the [[Daisy Nook|Daisy Nook Country Park]] with its 19th century [[Navigable aqueduct|aqueduct]] carrying the disused [[Hollinwood Branch Canal]] over the shallow river. {{citation needed|date=December 2014}}

==Lower reaches==
The final miles of the river flowing to the [[River Irwell]] have been extensively modified. The river is culverted underneath the car park of the [[City of Manchester Stadium]] (the site of a former [[gasworks]]). It is visible flowing through [[Mayfield Park, Manchester|Mayfield Park]] and under a bridge on Baring Street, close to [[Manchester Piccadilly railway station|Piccadilly station]], before running again in a culvert beneath the former [[University of Manchester Institute of Science & Technology]] campus (London Road (A6) to Princess Street), then under Hulme Street, until it appears briefly at Gloucester Street before flowing under the former gasworks at Gaythorn, reappearing at City Road East.{{citation needed|date=March 2024}}

At the point where [[Deansgate]] and Chester Road ([[A56 road|A56]]) meet (under the Bridgewater Viaduct), the river meets the [[Bridgewater Canal]] head on, where a sluice gate (a listed structure) allowed water to feed the canal, until the water quality of the Medlock became too polluted for canal use. Normally, the level of the river is several feet below the level of the canal, and the river is carried in a tunnel under the [[Castlefield]] canal basin, reappearing at Potato Wharf, where it is supplemented by excess canal water draining into a circular weir. When the river is in flood, the tunnel cannot cope and river water enters the canal, flows across the basin, and exits via the weir and manually operated gates. {{convert|1/4|mi|m|abbr=off|spell=In}} further on, the Medlock enters the Irwell adjacent to the bottom gate of the disused [[Hulme Locks Branch Canal|Hulme Locks]].{{citation needed|date=March 2024}}

==Navigation==
In the latter part of the 18th century the river was navigable at least between the [[Bridgewater Canal]] (at Deansgate) and the site of India House (on [[Whitworth Street]]). At India House was the entrance to a tunnel used to carry coal to a wharf at Store Street (by Piccadilly station).<ref>N.B. India House was built more than a century later</ref><ref name=Ashworth>Geoffrey Ashworth, ''The Lost Rivers of Manchester'', Willow Publishing, Altrincham, 1987, {{ISBN|0-946361-12-6}}.</ref> The tunnel mouth is still visible. The tunnel was rendered obsolete by silting of the river and the construction of the [[Rochdale Canal]].{{citation needed|date=March 2024}}

==Notable features==
[[File:Fred stuck back together. (40809508363).jpg|thumb|Statue of Friedrich Engels]]
The area just south of [[Manchester Oxford Road railway station|Oxford Road railway station]] enclosed by the railway line and the loop in the river was known as [[Little Ireland]], and was described by [[Friedrich Engels]] as "the most horrible spot" of the area.<ref name =Engels>Friedrich Engels, ''Condition of the Working Class in England'', 1845 (multiple publishers; [http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1845/condition-working-class/ online edition]).</ref>
It is commemorated by a red plaque on the wall of 8 [[Great Marlborough Street]], about half-way between New Wakefield Street and Hulme Street.<ref>Site of Little Ireland
Large numbers of immigrant [[Ireland|Irish]] workers lived here in appalling housing conditions
Built c. 1827
Vacated c. 1847
Demolished c. 1877</ref><ref>Hartwell, Clare (2001); p. 179</ref>

About {{convert|3/8|mi|m|abbr=off|sigfig=1}} west of the plaque, there stands the [[Statue of Friedrich Engels, Manchester|Statue of Friedrich Engels]] at Tony Wilson Place.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/soviet-engels-statue|title=Soviet Engels Statue|website=www.atlasobscura.com|access-date=19 August 2020}}</ref> The statue was moved from [[Ukraine]] after the [[dissolution of the Soviet Union]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/soviet-engels-statue|title=Soviet Engels Statue|website=www.atlasobscura.com|access-date=19 August 2020}}</ref> and has the now-culverted flow of River Medlock between Anne Horniman Street and City Road East beneath.{{citation needed|date=March 2024}}

The telephone exchange name, and subsequent dialling code for the area around Strinesdale, Moorside, and Grains Bar, was Medlock Head, abbreviated to MED for dialling. This was so at the time of the introduction of Subscriber Trunk Dialling to the area in the 1960s. The name owed less to local geography than to technology. The code MED was rendered as 633 on the telephone dial. MAI, the code for Oldham Main, was 624. Post Office Telecoms equipment of the day worked better when discrete local geographical areas, then with relatively few subscribers, had similar prefixes. These numbers, and others beginning with 6, remain in use in Greater Manchester, prefixed by 0161.{{citation needed|date=March 2024}}

==Tributaries==

*[[River Tib]]
*Shooter's Brook
**Newton Brook
*Lord's Brook
*Lumb Brook
*Taunton Brook
*Holden Brook
*Little Bankfield Brook
*Rabbit Brook
*Rowton Brook
*Thornley Brook
**Ashes Brook
**Wood Brook
*Sheep Washes Brook
*Roebuck Low Brook

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==

*Ed Glinert, ''The Manchester Compendium'', Allen Lane, 2008. {{ISBN|978-0-7139-9971-6}}.
*Andrew Taylor, ''Manchester City Centre Map at a scale of 1:3500'', 7th edition, Andrew Taylor, 2011. {{ISBN|978-1-905250-09-7}}
{{River item box
|type=confluence
|river=[[River Irwell]]
|upstream=[[River Irk]] (East)
|downstream=-
}}{{Greater Manchester}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Medlock, River}}
[[Category:Rivers of Tameside]]
[[Category:Rivers of Manchester]]
[[Category:Rivers of the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham]]
[[Category:Rivers of Greater Manchester]]
[[Category:Irwell catchment|1Medlock]]