British Interactive Group - Newsletter Winter 1999

The Micrarium Reborn

The Micrarium was the dream of the late Dr Stephen Carter, who was a researcher with ICI Pharmaceuticals. After taking early retirement, he devoted his efforts towards making the Micrarium a reality, enlisting the help of his wife Janet and their three daughters. Together they manufactured the 44 special microscopes that form the heart of the Micrarium, which were installed in the Pump Room in Buxton. The Buxton Micrarium immediately obtained an enthusiastic following, became a regular attraction for school parties and was judged Museum of the Year in 1985. Sadly, Dr Carter died suddenly in 1987; his family carried on the tradition, with Janet as Director and son-in-law Gerben Oppermans as manager, but in 1995 closure became inevitable when the lease of the premises came to an end.

The Royal Microscopical Society (RMS) considered the Micrarium too important an attraction to be allowed to disappear, and provided funds for its careful dismantling. It has since been stored in the laboratory of a past President, Vyvyan Howard, at the University of Liverpool, with future reopening in view. It has taken several years of discussions, negotiations and disappointments, but the Micrarium finally has a new home, and the RMS will play an important part in its future. It is planned that the Micrarium will reopen early next year at Eureka, the interactive Children's Museum in Halifax, West Yorkshire.

The original Halifax railway station, dating from 1855, is on the Eureka site, now superseded as a station by a more modern structure. The old building is of considerable architectural interest; it is a Grade II listed building in the Conservation Area of Halifax, and is in the process of restoration aided by a grant of £2.5 million from the Heritage Memorial Fund. The Micrarium will be installed in the basement of the restored building, with the equipment adapted to fit this new site. The Royal Microscopical Society Council recently voted the sum of £30,000 towards reinstallation, and this will be matched by a similar sum. A charity is to be set up to run the enterprise, jointly between Buxton Micrarium Ltd, Eureka and the Royal Microscopical Society. The RMS' Education Co-ordinator Juliet Dyson has agreed to act as Manager. It is proposed that the new display will be called "The Micrarium at Eureka, in association with the Royal Microscopical Society".

All this is excellent news for the Micrarium, which is to have a new home; for Eureka, which will gain a new attraction; and for the RMS. The Society will have its name associated with a unique display of microscopy, and will have a location at which activities for young people and teachers can be held. We plan to supplement the original equipment with some new devices, and have thoughts of a scanning electron microscope too, but are determined not to lose the special attraction of the 'real images' displayed by the Micrarium microscopes.

We hope that our members will feel that, through their society, they have some interest in the Micrarium; we would like them to make suggestions concerning new displays, and offer specimens, equipment and their expertise. In return, we hope to be able to offer free admission to RMS members.

Peter Evennett is Vice-President of the Royal Microscopical Society and has been nominated as a trustee of The Micrarium at Eureka.
(This article previously appeared in the Proceedings of the Royal Microscopy Society).

Newsletter Winter 1999 Contents



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