King's Own Royal Regiment Museum

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 You must seek permission prior to publication of any of our images.

*  Talks  *  Participation  *  Visits  *  Exploration Events  *  Performance & Film *

This event has now concluded.

One hundred years ago a blast rocked Lancashire.  The munitions work at White Lund in Morecambe exploded with a force that could be heard as far away as Burnley.  In order to maintain wartime morale, press reports were suppressed at the time and the incident was buried in all but the memories of the people involved.

Blasted is a project commemorating the centenary of the event  It reveals and preserves the story through a series of community events, talks and visits, culminating in a performance installation as part of Light Up Lancaster in November 2017.

Boomtown: From Front Line to White Lund
Exhibition at Lancaster City Museum, until 12th November 2017.  Admission Free.

Events

The project is now concluded and these events have now happened:

Blasted Exploration Day - we've had this event and it was fantastic!
Discover more about the explosion at the White Lund Munitions Works on 1st October 1917.  This is a Regional Heritage Centre event in partnership with the Museum.
The Storey, Meeting House Lane, Lancaster, LA1 1TH
Saturday 30th September 2017 10am - 4.30pm

Blasted Site Visit, White Lund, Morecambe - we had a great turn out at this event
Guided visit to the site of the former Munitions Works, which is now the White Lund Industrial Estate, where a small number of original buildings still survive.  This one hour tour will stick to public pavements.
Meet at the "White Lund Estate" bus stop on North Gate, White Lund
Monday 2nd October 2017 1.30 pm
Free, just turn up

The White Lund Explosion, 1917 - this talk was packed and included the grandson of one of the Edward Medal winners!
Lunchtime talk by Steve Irwin from Blackburn Museum
Lancaster City Museum, Meeting Room, access from New Street, Lancaster.
Friday 6th October 2017 1 pm
Free, please reserve your seat on 01524 64637

Visit to Lancashire Archives, Preston - the visit was great!
Explore a range of original documents relating to White Lund, its staff and the area.  Find out more about the wider collections held at the Archives and take a look behind the scenes at how they are cared for.
Meet in the reception area of Lancashire Archives, Bow Lane, Preston, PR1 2RE at 10.30 am.
Tuesday 10th October 2017 10.30 am - 12.30 pm
Free, but pre-booking is essential 01524 64637

Visit to The Greater Manchester Fire Service Museum, Rochdale - we've had this event and many thanks to the Museum and Bob Bonner for their detailed knowledge.
Fire crews from all over the North West came to White Lund to fight the fires including those from Manchester, Liverpool and Blackpool.  Alongside the wide range of museum exhibits on display, there is a splendid exhibition looking at White Lund and Ashton-under-Lyne explosions of 1917.
Meet at the entrance of Great Manchester Fire Services Museum, Maclure Road, Rochdale, OL11 1DN
Tuesday 17th October 2017 1.30 pm - 4.30 pm
Free, but pre-booking is essential 01524 64637

Visit to the Devil's Porridge Museum at Gretna
Day trip to include lunch stop and visit to Devil's Porridge Museum at Gretna.
Full details to follow
Saturday 21st October 2017.  Depart Lancaster 9.30 am. 
£10 to cover transport and museum admission.
Booking required 01524 64637 or email kingsownmuseum@iname.com

First World War Study Day
Regimental Curator, Peter Donnelly, provides a day session on the First World War which will focus on the King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment as well as happenings in the local district, using items from the museum's collection.  Ideal for anyone interested in the First World War with some useful pointers for those doing their family history.
Lancaster City Museum Meeting Room, Access from New Street, Lancaster
Thursday 26th October 2017 10am - 4 pm
£8 to cover refreshments and lunch.
Booking required 01524 64637 or email kingsownmuseum@iname.com

Gallery Tours as part of Light Up Lancaster Festival

On Friday, 3rd November, come along for a guided tour of the Boomtown exhibition at 3pm.

On Saturday, 4th November we've two guided tours of the Boomtown exhibition at 2pm and 3pm, each free tour lasts around 45 minutes. 

Blasted Installation at Light Up Lancaster
Artists Adam Gregory and Gillian Lees draw parallels between the women workers of the munition works and their modern counterparts through performance and film.  Made with local women and school children
Lancaster City Museum, Market Square, Lancaster, LA1 1HT
Friday and Saturday 3rd & 4th November 2017
Friday 5.30 pm - 10 pm
Saturday 5.30 pm - 7.30 pm
Free, just turn up.

It is expected that talks and visits will be very popular.  If you book and are unable to attend please let us know so your place may be allocated to someone else.

The Blasted project is led by the Friends of Lancaster City Museum, a group which supports the work of the City Museum and welcomes new members.  Find out more about the Friends of Lancaster City Museum

© Images are copyright, Trustees of the King's Own Royal Regiment Museum.
 You must seek permission prior to publication of any of our images.