Museum of Gloucester to celebrate Charles Wheatstone with a day of activities, 221 years after his birth…

The Museum of Gloucester is delighted to announce a day of activity for schools and public alike, on Monday 6 February 2023, to celebrate the forgotten genius of Gloucester born scientist and inventor of many scientific breakthroughs, Sir Charles Wheatstone. Sir Charles was born in Barnwood, Gloucester on 6 February 1802, but it is fair to say his accomplishments have not elevated him to the status that we may afford other great minds of his time such as Newton, Faraday and Brunel and so on…

Wheatstone’s many achievements include the English concertina, the stereoscope (a device for displaying three-dimensional images), and the Playfair cipher (an encryption technique). He is best known for his contributions in the development of the Wheatstone bridge, originally invented by Samuel Hunter Christie, which is used to measure an unknown electrical resistance, and as a major figure in the development of telegraphy.

The Museum is seeking to engage school and public groups in the first of our proposed yearly Charles Wheatstone Day to celebrate this great man and the difference he has brought to the world we know. Please see the timetable for the day below along with links to book for public events at the Museum on this day as follows:

Charles Wheatstone Day Programme

• 9.30am-2.3pm: Schools workshops – Steve Rowley and Elizabeth Roper
• 4-5pm: How to make 3D photos workshop with Rebecca Sharpe and Denis Pellerin, from the Brian May Archive of Stereoscopy
• 5.30-6.15pm: Wonder Working Wire talk (introduction to Sir Charles Wheatstone, the man, his inventions and events from his life.)
• 7-8.30pm: Celebrating Charles Wheatstone in glorious 3D talk, a three-dimensional journey to discover the inventor of Stereoscopy…with Denis Pellerin, from the Brian May Archive of Stereoscopy

Cllr Andrew Lewis, cabinet member for Culture said: “It is quite implausible that this great man should go so unrecognised and stay under the radar for his many talents, inventions and discoveries that have helped shape our modern word as we know it. I am delighted that the museum is choosing to work with experts in the field, with such incredible passion and knowledge to, to promote and celebrate the achievements of this great man and help to put him back in his rightful place on the map again.

Gloucester is very lucky to have a character of is pedigree as one of their alumni and I hope all our audiences will take this opportunity to discover the many hidden stories that the Museum has to share on this day and beyond…”