PLANS have been unveiled for a multi-million pound aquarium and maritime centre which could become an international attraction for Southampton. The Southampton Living Waters project have produced a brochure inviting individual donors and corporate organisations to support a feasibility study into “a new maritime attraction with international reach”. It is hoped the attraction would combine aquarium displays and spectacular, state-of-the-art exhibits including a large-scale model of the Mayflower, the ship on which the Pilgrim Fathers sailed to America. http://southamptonlivingwaters.com/Southampton Living Waters14 (2).pdf What is Living Waters
But The Mayflower sailed from Plymouth. There is a commemorative plaque near the National Marine Aquarium. Alan
The Mayflower sailed from London to Southampton and then on to Plymouth before heading across the Atlantic; Southampton has the Mayflower Theatre and Mayflower Park and a memorial Anyway, interesting to see that the National Oceanography Centre and unis are part of the steering group. If it comes off it could be a really good chance to showcase the ocean/maritime science being done in Southampton as well as being a new collection for the area.
The Titanic, which really did sail from Southampton, might be more appropriate I will write out 500 times. "I must not be a boring old pessimist. We do need more and better public aquariums." Alan
To be honest, it's nice to have a change from the Titanic in Southampton! Let's hope if it comes off it is good quality and reasonably priced - I often find that aquariums seem expensive compared to zoos for the time most (i.e. non-enthusiasts) spend in them and Southampton's SeaCity Museum (there's the Titanic again!) has been criticised for being relatively expensive in one of the less affluent areas of the south.
