Nothing Great is Easy: Celebrating the Extraordinary Life of Captain Matthew Webb (1848-1883)

This talk by our Acting Head of Interpretation, Kyla Hislop, and our Collections Curator, Kate Cadman, is one of our Tuesday Talks, an exciting series of talks focusing on stories that aren't currently told in museum displays. 

This talk will celebrate the 150th anniversary of local hero, Captain Matthew Webb’s, success as the first person to swim the English Channel.  

Born in nearby Dawley, Webb’s life was defined by courage, from heroic rescues at sea to his daring Channel swim in 1875.

The museums’ curators will explore Captain Webb’s legacy and share some of the commemorative objects in the Trust’s collections as they reflect on his indomitable spirit.

As his brother’s memorial to him reads: “Nothing great is easy.”