Extinct species visits Kendal Museum at special book launch

23 October 2009

Kendal Museum was visited by an extinct species today, in the form of a dodo. The creature, created by taxidermy expert Carl Church, was being exhibited as part of Kendal Museum's lastest book launch, its second volume in a series of three: The Kendal Museum Collection of Fine Art Taxidermy by Henry Murray and Son Volume 2,
at a special event hosted by the museum,

From left to right Deanna Taylor, British Historical Taxidermy Society; Graham Wilkinson, Principal of Kendal College; Carol Davies, Curator of Natural History, Kendal Museum; Andrew Sage, British Historical Taxidermy Society; Martin Dunne, Chairman British Historical Taxidermy Society; Carl Church, creator of the Dodo in the foreground. (ie the three authors of the book from the British Historical Taxidermy Society in partnership with Kendal Museum.

Guest speakers included: Martin Dunne, Chairman of the British Historical Taxidermy Society; Steven Hewitt,  Keeper, Natural Sciences, Tullie House Museum, Carlisle and Taxidermy expert Pat Morris.

The event was attended by taxidermists and local natural history and wildlife enthusiasts, as well as local dignitaries and residents.

Curator of Natural History, Carol Davies said: “Following the highly successful publication of volume one in June, this second publication illustrates the superb quality of the work by Henry Murray, a taxidermist who lived and worked in Carnforth. This collection is arguably the finest in the UK, is a real jewel in the crown of Kendal Museum and is of national significance.

“Kendal Museum has been delighted to welcome researchers from the British Historical Taxidermy Society who, over a period of three years, have compiled this book.”

Curator, Jamie Barnes said: “We are delighted to see a second fabulous volume being published. Activities at the museum have been going from strength to strength this year, with admissions to the museum up by over a third compared to last year, and over the summer we had the third busiest day since records began.

“We are introducing a pay and display system to the museum car park, which will allow the general public to use the museum car park and they can even redeem the cost of the parking ticket against museum entry, so we hope that people who come into Kendal to do a spot of shopping might call in at Kendal Museum as well and find out about some of the fantastic cultural heritage that we have on show.”

Kendal Museum is open to the public on Thursday, Friday and Saturday afternoons between 12 noon and 5pm and hosts an ever-increasing range of courses, exhibitions, events, walks and talks for young and old alike. For more information call 01539 815597  or email jamie.barnes@kendal.ac.uk

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