Resources and Activities
Download your free copy of The Matthew Visitor Information Guide and find out all about:
the different areas of the ship
the ship’s features
the original 1497 voyage
the 500th-anniversary voyage in 1997
Download our series of free printable factsheets and learn all about The Matthew!
Explore the different areas of the ship, get a glimpse of what life on board would have been like in 1497 when John Cabot set off on his voyage of exploration, and discover what it was actually like on board The Matthew during the 1997 anniversary voyage to Canada!
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The Main Deck
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The Fo'c'sle
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The Aftercastle
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Below decks
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Building The Matthew
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The Ship's Bell
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The Figurehead
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Clothes and Food
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Medieval Navigation
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The 1997 Voyage
In celebration of the modern Matthew’s 25th anniversary in 2022, The Matthew of Bristol Trust embarked on a year-long project to further advance the educational aims of the ship and the Trust.
In May 2023, The Matthew of Bristol Trust launched the results of this project – a cross-curricular learning resource exploring the history and stories associated with both 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.
Get a sneak preview of The Matthew ahead of your visit…
Quiz time!
Test your knowledge of the matthew
Do you know what type of ship The Matthew is? How about when John Cabot set off on his voyage of discovery from Bristol?
Have a go at our short quiz about the ship and its history – there’s something for all ages! If you’ve joined us on one of our school trips recently, you should have no problem answering the questions…
Spot the Hazards
This illustration by local artist Esther Pilling shows some people enjoying a visit to The Matthew. However, not everyone is behaving sensibly!
Download the picture and identify the five dangerous activities – can you spot them all?
Spot The Hazards: Illustration by Esther Pilling
Creative activities
Build your own model CARAVEL
Howard Shirley designed this brilliant template for making your own 15th century English caravel (ship), based on The Matthew of Bristol. The Matthew is a double-ender, but otherwise, the model and the replica ship match very closely.
Download the template and instructions for building your model here. Howard recommends printing the template onto card and using a gluestick or white glue for best results.
Colouring sheets
Some of Bristol’s talented artists have created a selection of striking colouring-in sheets featuring iconic Bristol scenery and attractions, including The Matthew!
The Matthew by Dona Bradley
Pirate fun!
If you’re looking for activities to do with children of all ages, head on over to the Twinkl website. Here you’ll find a huge selection of educational resources and things to do, including puzzles, colouring-in, and even designing your own pirate flag!
Sea Shanties
Be a pirate or sailor for the day and learn some hearty sea shanties. Donkey Riding is a good one to sing with children – you can learn it here or have a watch and listen here – two minutes in.
The English Folk Dance & Song Society's Sea Songs and Shanties Pack by Carolyn Robson
This pack was devised for Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 pupils and brings together sea songs and shanties collected in and around Bristol. It is the result of a partnership between The Full English learning programme and Bristol Sings Music and was put together by Carolyn Robson, a professional singer and musician specialising in traditional folk song and dance.
The Matthew on film
Visit our YouTube channel to watch videos of our voyages and adventures and subscribe to get notified about new uploads.
Featured video
Over an 18-month period between 2021 and 2022, filmmaker Grace Fox 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 our 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 us on a journey from the design and build in the 1990s, right up to the present-day 25th anniversary celebration weekend in May 2022.
Find and follow us on social media!
Located at B Bond Warehouse (via Create Centre) at Cumberland Basin, Bristol Archives look after the archives of the city of Bristol and surrounding areas, as well as the British Empire & Commonwealth Collection.
The Archives hold a wealth of documents relating to The Matthew and have recently added three new collections:
Records relating to Bristol International Festival of the Sea and The Matthew
Records of the International Festival of the Sea and The Matthew (bristol.gov.uk)
Please visit bristolmuseums.org.uk/bristol-archives for details about visiting Bristol Archives and viewing their collections.
If there's anything you’d like to see on this page or if you have a relevant free resource or activity you’d like us to share, let us know!
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Our History
The Matthew that you see in Bristol today is a modern reconstruction of the original Matthew that John Cabot sailed to Newfoundland in 1497.
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Who was Cabot?
A short history of the Venetian explorer by Evan Jones and Margaret Condon of The Cabot Project.
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School Trips
The Matthew is a great choice for your school trip. A unique space to learn more about Bristol’s maritime history, The Matthew caters for children of all ages.