The Maritime Archaeology Trust have announced the short-term loan of the ship’s bell from SS Mendi, which was wrecked off the Isle of Wight in 1917.
The bell will be on display at the Shipwreck Centre and Maritime Museum at Arreton Barns for 1 week only from Monday 25th to Friday 29th September 2017.
In 1974, the resting place of the Mendi was discovered off the Isle of Wight by local diver and Shipwreck Centre founder Martin Woodward. But it wasn’t until June of this year that the bell was handed over to officials.
Following media coverage marking the centenary of the sinking of the Mendi, a BBC South Today reporter received an anonymous phone call inviting him to Swanage Pier in the early hours, where he found a bronze ship’s bell inscribed with the name ‘MENDI’, wrapped in plastic. An accompanying note seemed to imply that the anonymous donor did not hold the bell legally and, following the Mendi coverage, wished to remedy the situation by handing it in for official preservation and safekeeping.
In accordance with maritime law the bell was handed over to the Receiver of Wreck who placed it in the safekeeping of Southampton City Council Museums pending a decision as to its future. It has since been on display at Southampton’s Sea City Museum and will be returned there at the beginning of October, in time for the Museum’s plans to mark Black History Month.
Island residents approached the Maritime Archaeology Trust several months ago, to see if the Trust might be able to borrow the Mendi bell to bring to the Island for a week of activity planned at the Shipwreck Centre as part of their Heritage Lottery Funded Forgotten Wrecks of the First World War project. The Receiver of Wreck, who holds the bell on indemnity while assessing its ownership and long-term security, agreed, enabling a unique opportunity for Island visitors and residents to see the bell at the Shipwreck Centre.
Martin, who is also the former coxswain of Bembridge Lifeboat has said:
“I am really delighted that the ship’s bell from the Mendi will be coming to the Shipwreck Centre for temporary display this coming week.
Article continues below this advertisement “As we have a large display of artefacts from the Mendi in our exhibition, and have done since I found and identified the wreck back in 1974, it seems particularly fitting that the bell should be included with the other items from the wreck.
“We would love to see the bell come to us permanently in the future, but that remains to be decided and discussed with the relevant authorities. In the meantime, we very much appreciate it being loaned to us, as the Mendi will always be one of the most significant and poignant finds in my many years of diving.”
On Thursday (28th September), there will be an extra opportunity to see the Mendi bell at the Shipwreck Centre during the Maritime Archaeology Trust’s evening event. For further information and to book a place, please see: https://bit.ly/2jNzixA.
