Falmouth for Orders exhibition

9:34am Thursday 10th April 2008

AN interactive display in the Maritime Museum's new Falmouth for Orders exhibition gives visitors a unique glimpse of Falmouth in the 1880s and reveals that April 12 was the harbour's busiest day in 1881.

A unique touch screen display in the Falmouth, First and Last gallery gives visitors the opportunity to delve into the records of G C Fox and Company, the largest ship agency in Falmouth during the harbour's heyday between 1850 and 1910.

Ship agents played a pivotal role by passing orders on to the ship's captain, telling them where to take their cargo to be sold, but they also served the varied needs of the arriving ships and crew.

From checking the quality of the cargos, to arranging delivery of fresh supplies, the agents ensured that the ships' needs were met quickly and efficiently in order for them to depart in good time.

Ben Lumby, exhibitions manager said: "Fox's ledgers reporting the daily arrivals of ships from all over the world are a unique record of Falmouth in the 1880s. The exhibit gives visitors the opportunity to look up arrivals for any given day in 1881 - for instance, on my birthday four ships arrived from exotic places such as Peru, the West Indies and Mexico, carrying cargos like Guano and sugar."

Falmouth for Orders is a permanent exhibition in the museum's Falmouth, First and Last gallery.