Newly conserved Bronze and Iron Age log boats go on public display
Three rare log boats, among nine that were discovered in the riverbed of an ancient, silted-up creek in Cambridgeshire in 2011, will today go on public display at Flag Fen Archaeology Park.
The Bronze and Iron Age vessels shed insight into prehistoric craftsmanship and transportation methods. Since their excavation, the log boats have been part of a 13-year conservation project and have been carefully preserved in climate-controlled conditions using a specialised wax and water solution.
Visitors can now see a Middle Bronze Age 6.3m oak vessel, which has areas of charring inside, alongside a 2.2m fragment of a Middle Bronze Age oak boat featuring an intricate repair within the hull and a 0.8m fragment of an Early Bronze Age boat made of field maple.
The Bronze Age Boat Discoveries at Must Farm exhibition at the Flag Fen Archaeology Park also includes replica Bronze Age tools, interactive displays with expert interviews, and demonstrations of ancient crafting techniques.
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Jacqueline Mooney, general manager at Flag Fen Archaeology Park, said: “The Must Farm boats have lain undisturbed for over 3,000 years, preserved in the peaty silence of time. Now, through our new exhibition, they emerge to tell their story.
“This is more than an archaeological display—it’s a powerful reconnection with the people who once lived, worked, and journeyed through this landscape. At Flag Fen, we are proud to share this extraordinary chapter of our shared human past, brought to life through meticulous excavation, conservation, and storytelling.”
Lifetime Achievement Awards for Lucy Worlsey and Geoff Pick
Historian Lucy Worsley and archivist Geoff Pick have been honoured with Lifetime Achievement Awards by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Archives and History.
Worsley was chief curator of Historic Royal Palaces for 21 years, overseeing the curatorial team and directing visitor experience alongside a number of broadcasting and literary projects. She is the host of the podcast series Lady Killers and Lady Swindlers, which investigate the crimes of Victorian women from a feminist perspective and are among the BBC’s most downloaded podcasts.
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Pick worked at the London Archives for 35 years, joining in 1986 to work on the archives of London’s metropolitan government and eventually progressing to director of the organisation from 2013 to 2021.
Worsley was recently appointed to lead the judging panel for the newly launched Inspiring History Teaching Awards. Run by Historic Royal Palaces, the awards will recognise teachers who inspire an appreciation for the past in their students.
Leak forces Museum of Youth Culture to delay opening
The Museum of Youth Culture (MoYC) has pushed back its opening date due to a basement leak.
Previously a pop-up museum, the institution had been due to unveil its new permanent home in Camden this December.
In an Instagram post, the museum said: “Our new Camden home, due to open in just a few weeks, has sprung a leak in our 5,000sq ft, 8m deep basement which is set to house our youth gallery, main gallery, workshop and archive spaces.
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“After what started as a small leak, turns out to be a much bigger problem which is most likely caused by road works that have recently taken place adjacent to our building. To say the least, this has put a dampener on things here at MoYC.
“We’re absolutely gutted, but water and museums do not mix and we have had to take the very difficult decision to delay opening until works to fix this are complete and the space has fully dried out. Frustratingly, this will mean our opening will be Spring 2026.
“Emotionally, physically and also financially the fallout is huge not just here but felt across our team, partners, contributors and community. We are sorry to bear such bad news, but it is beyond our control. For now we need your patience. We will need your help. More on that very soon.”
National Galleries of Scotland acquires Grayson Perry's culture wars artwork
The National Galleries of Scotland has acquired Grayson Perry’s The American Dream – an eight-foot-long etching made in 2020 in response to social media conflicts and the culture wars.
Visitors will be able to see the artwork, which was previously displayed in the gallery in 2023 for the temporary exhibition Grayson Perry: Smash Hits, at Modern One for free.
In his wall label for the 2023 exhibition, Perry wrote: “This is a map of the US I made in response to my experiences there when filming my television series, Grayson Perry’s Big American Road Trip. It toys with the common delusion that there is a clear and certain route out of our mess of feelings.”
Patrick Elliot, the chief curator of modern and contemporary art at National Galleries of Scotland, said: “We didn’t have a work of Perry’s in Scotland’s national collection, but it was something we had long considered.
“When the opportunity to acquire one of the prints came up after the exhibition it seemed the perfect opportunity. Perry’s prints are enormous, hilarious, full of biting satire and gorgeously coloured and detailed. We all loved The American Dream, as with so much of Perry’s work it is hilarious but bang on.”
Downpatrick & County Down Railway wins awards two years after devastating flood
The Downpatrick & County Down Railway, a heritage railway and museum that suffered devastating flood damage in late 2023, has been awarded The King’s Award for Voluntary Service for 2025. This is the highest honour a local voluntary group can receive in the UK and is equivalent to an MBE.
The award comes as the institution celebrates its 40th anniversary year, having been formally founded in 1985.
The site’s staff team has also been highly commended in the Outstanding Team of the Year category at the Social Enterprise NI Awards 2025.
The flood recovery team led a complex reinstatement programme throughout 2024, rebuilding infrastructure, repairing rolling stock and reopening the line to the public in September 2024.
Robert Gardiner, chairman of the Downpatrick & County Down Railway, said: “Every single volunteer, trustee, and supporter played their part in bringing this railway back from disaster. We went from flood damage to full reopening in under a year — that’s an incredible achievement for any organisation, let alone one run almost entirely by volunteers.”
The Social Enterprise NI Awards are Northern Ireland’s largest celebration of the social economy, recognising organisations that use business as a force for good.
GEM reopens bursary scheme
Applications have been reopened for the Group for Education in Museums (GEM) museum visits bursary scheme, which is funded by the Welsh Government’s culture division.
The scheme offers grants of up to £1,000 to help state-maintained schools in Wales take their students on visits to accredited local museums. The bursary can cover up to 100% of visit costs, including transport, admission, workshops and staffing.
Priority will be placed on museum visits in Mid and North Wales.
Ashmolean appoints new keeper of Western Art
The Ashmolean Museum has announced the appointment of John Chu as keeper of Western Art.
Chu is currently senior curator at the National Trust, where he is responsible for fine art collections nationwide – a portfolio spanning medieval panel painting to modernist kinetic art.
Over his 10 years at the trust, he has organised comprehensive rehangs at historic houses and curated high-profile public programmes linked to major acquisitions and conservation initiatives.
A specialist in 18th-century European art, he publishes, lectures, and broadcasts internationally on the subject. His recent research has focused on the transition of 20th-century private collections of modern art into today’s national heritage.
Prior to the trust, he worked in the research department at Tate and lectured at the Courtauld Institute of Art, where he also completed his PhD.
He will start in post at the Ashmolean in February 2026.
