THE ROCK ON WH ICH OUR REC ORDS RE S T HERMOUNTAINITAGE TRUST
From the first rock climbs on Napes Needle, to daring first ascents in the Greater Ranges, and incredible feats of competitive athleticism; the Mountain Heritage Trust’s archive of films, images, books and artefacts echoes with some of Britain’s most iconic achievements and its boldest personalities.
What is the Trust? The Mountain Heritage Trust (MHT) is the only organisation of its kind in the UK. It was founded in 2000 to record and preserve Britain’s rich heritage in the fields of climbing, mountaineering and mountain culture. Second to none in terms of breadth, Britain has a proud legacy in the Alps, the Himalaya and the other great mountain ranges, as well as closer to home on British rock. The Trust preserves and encourages access to its own collections, provides curatorial support, sources artefacts for new exhibitions and sets up gallery exhibitions. Among its early successes was the establishment of the National Mountaineering Exhibition at Rheged Discovery Centre, near Penrith. MHT provided curatorial support, sources artefacts for new exhibits and sets up gallery exhibitions; e.g., a major two part exhibition of John Ruskin’s paintings and a unique collection of Abraham photographs reproduced from the original glass plates, with the original camera as part of the exhibit.
MHT also led on the creation of the Everest ‘Top of
the World Exhibition’ at Rheged to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first ascent of Everest – the only exhibition to celebrate this achievement in the UK and, in 2005, an exhibition to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first ascent of Kangchenjunga in 1955.
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Six things you didn’t know about the Mountain Heritage Trust 1 The Mountain Heritage Trust is part of the BMC family 2 MHT looks after more than 100,000 items relating to
of charities along with the Access and Conservation Trust and the Mountain Training Trust
British mountaineering, rock climbing and indoor climbing. Collections range in size, from one or two items like the Wild Country original prototype Friend, to almost 70 boxes, such as the Sir Chris Bonington Archive.
3 MHT collections are very varied. The Trust takes care of:
photographs, documents, digital files, book manuscripts, diaries, films, books, posters, climbing wall plans, artwork, clothing and equipment – everything that helps tell the story of British mountain heritage.
4 Research into MHT collections is free – the office is based 5 MHT goes out to events and has an exhibition every year
at the Blencathra Centre in Cumbria, just call or email first to make sure they are in.
at Keswick Museum. 2020’s exhibition, Peak Preview, gives a first look at collections that have been donated over the last few years.
The BMC provides MHT with a grant to pay their Collections Manager but every year it needs to raise around £30,000 to cover its core operating costs. Visit
mountain-heritage.org/donate to make a donation.
VIEW:
ALL MHT ONLINE EXHIBITIONS:
mountain-heritage.org/exhibitions
Digital discoveries
Ever since MHT’s first National Mountaineering Exhibition at Rheged in 2000, the Trust has crossed continents, scaled mountains and discovered Britain’s most colourful climbers. Now the Trust is bringing those exhibitions online for all to enjoy:
Man + Mountain: The Life of Chris Bonington
Celebrating the lifetime achievements of Sir Chris Bonington, one of Britain’s foremost mountaineers. For the best part of 30 years, beginning in the 1960s, Chris was a leader of the British climbing scene, involved in some of the era’s most ambitious expeditions. These are displayed in their international context while retaining their rightful beginnings in Britain. Chris made his home in Cumbria forty years ago and has played a major role in many aspects of Lake District life.
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