In 2022, to celebrate the modern Matthew’s 25th anniversary and the 525th anniversary of John Cabot’s voyage across the Atlantic on the original Matthew in 1497, The Matthew of Bristol Trust embarked on a year-long project to further advance the educational aims of the ship and the Trust.

One year on, The Matthew of Bristol Trust is delighted to present the results of this project – a cross-curricular learning resource exploring the history and stories associated with the modern and the original Matthew ships and Cabot’s voyage of exploration, and a new 30-minute documentary following the history of the modern Matthew from its design and build in the 1990s right up to the present day, narrated by broadcaster and journalist Sally Challoner.

The Learning Resource

The Matthew 525 Project is a truly local collaboration. The Matthew of Bristol Trust, in association with Historic England’s Heritage Schools initiative, worked closely with Ruth Myers and Pete Insole of Myers-Insole Local Learning CIC, historian Clive Burlton of Bristol Books CIC, and students and staff from City of Bristol College to produce a fascinating online resource aimed at Years 7–9.

The resource introduces students to 15th-century Bristol using interactive maps, contemporary images and accounts describing how Bristolians would have lived, worked and dressed during the time of John Cabot. Warwick Moreton, one of the shipwrights on the modern Matthew, also takes us through a step-by-step activity showing how medieval shipwrights went about building a ship.

This is a hands-on learning resource with all activities developed with staff and students from the City of Bristol College. The activities can be used within and beyond the classroom.

Matthew volunteers, trustees, shipwrights, crew and members of the public also shared their memories with Level 3 media students from the City of Bristol College to provide a fresh perspective about the ship and their connection to it. Audio clips and transcripts from these interviews can also be found in the resource.

The Documentary

Over an 18-month period between 2021 and 2022, filmmaker Grace Fox from Empica was on hand to film a ‘year in the life’ of The Matthew, capturing stunning footage of the ship from coming out of the water on the Patent Slip at Underfall Yard and at Albion Dry Dock (where the main mast was taken out for inspection and repair for the first time since it was originally made and fitted in 1996 – a huge undertaking!) to taking passengers out on trips around Bristol Harbour and out along the River Avon.

Viewers are treated to interviews with the captain, Rick Wakeham, some of the colourful characters who make up the volunteer crew, and members of the public sharing their memories of The Matthew’s 1997 sailing to Newfoundland.

The documentary also features archive footage, taking the viewer on a journey from the design and build in the 1990s right up to the present-day 25th anniversary celebration weekend in May 2022.

Lead Photo: The Matthew, Cumberland Basin by Nick Greville