TOWNSPOTLIGHT
( L-R ): RMS Titanic on its departure from Belfast 2nd April 1912 , before its disastrous maiden voyage ; Original sheet music recovered from the body of Wallace Hartley , Band Leader on RMS Titanic ; Original Great Western Railway travel ticket for sale on board RMS Titanic to third Class Passengers ; Only surviving first-class public room cartel clock from Titanic ’ s sister ship RMS Olympic ; Gold pocket watch and discharge book belonging to Christopher Mills , Assistant Butcher on RMS Titanic
Titanic IN PHOTOGRAPHS
An exhibition of images and artefacts from a legend at Royal Victoria Place
This summer , West Kent ’ s largest shopping centre will be hosting an exhibition of unique photographs of the world ’ s most famous ship brought to life with a world-class display of original artefacts . The international exhibition will be at Royal Victoria Place in Tunbridge Wells between Saturday 23rd July and Sunday 21st August before it sets off later this year to tour South America and the USA .
The exhibition at Royal Victoria Place will be only its second opening in the UK and a first in Kent . The exhibition is free to enter and will be open during centre trading hours each day .
The Titanic , the most famous ship ever built , continues to be one of the most popular culture topics in the world and touring Titanic exhibitions continue to attract millions of visitors every year . The exhibition will feature almost 100 large-scale period photographs , all of which are numbered and set out to guide the visitor through the immersive story of Titanic – from conception to her tragic demise . One of the visual highlights of the exhibition is the central display of an 8-metre image of Titanic on one side and a stunning cutaway painting of the ship on the other , by internationally renowned artist and Titanic expert , Ken Marshall , showing incredible detail and many of the ship ’ s luxurious interiors .
The photographs are just part of this must-see exhibition . Alongside many of the images are display cabinets , containing over 130 genuine artefacts from Titanic and her identical twin sister ship , Olympic . These rare and often unique items bring the photographs to life , transporting the visitor back in time and placing them in the picture .
Marc Burchett , marketing manager of Royal Victoria Place commented : “ I am extremely proud that we will be bringing this unique exhibition to Tunbridge Wells and Kent this summer . It will certainly provide visitors with something different to enjoy and has great appeal to all ages . I think the story of Titanic has captivated us all and this exhibition will certainly not disappoint .”
Relive the emotion of the disaster as you view personal artefacts , such as stationery from Titanic ’ s Reading & Writing Room , sent home as a souvenir by one of the victims of the sinking , mailed at Titanic ’ s last stop , Queenstown . A railway ticket , purchased on board Titanic from the Purser ’ s Office by a 3rd-class passenger , for their onward journey that was never to take place .
Although the emphasis of the exhibition is based around the beauty , opulence and splendour of this truly magnificent ship , the tragedy itself is comprehensively covered with a poignant display , containing lifeboat plaques , unique original period photographs taken on board the rescue ship Carpathia , a passenger list , memorial postcards and even a gold pocket watch , dropped by a 1st-class passenger as he rushed to secure a place in one of the last lifeboats to leave the sinking ship , only to be picked up by one of Titanic ’ s crew members .
As Titanic slowly slipped beneath the waves , bandleader , Wallace Hartley and his fellow musicians carried on playing until the final moments . View the actual sheet music he carried with him that night , tragically recovered ( along with his violin ) some 10 days later .
As the visitor leaves this exhibition , a memorial wall lists the crew and passengers of Titanic , driving home the cold truth of just how many survived and perished on that fateful night of 15th April 1912 .
Discover more about Titanic In Photographs – The Exhibition at www . royalvictoriaplace . com or follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news and updates .
122