A MARITIME ENTHUSIAST HAS TURNED HIS GARDEN SHED INTO ONE OF BRITAIN'S SMALLEST MUSEUMS. DEDICATED ROBERT CARTER FROM PLYMOUTH HAS TRANSFORMED HIS SMALL SHED INTO AN AMAZING WONDERLAND OF MARITIME HISTORY. THE MUSEUM, WHICH MEASURES 12ft BY 6ft, FEATURES HUNDREDS OF HISTORICAL PIECES ON DISPLAY, PERFECTLY CURATED TO GIVE A STUNNING EFFECT. CARTER DOESN'T CHARGE FOR ENTRY TO THE MUSEUM, BUT ENCOURAGES ANYONE WITH AN INTEREST VISIT AND HAVE A LOOK AROUND. HE SAID: 'IT MUST BE THE SMALLEST MUSEUM. IF THERE WAS A SMALLER ONE I WOULD KNOW IT FOR SURE. I GET A FEW HUNDRED OR SO PEOPLE VISIT EVERY YEAR JUST THROUGH WORD OF MOUTH. IT IS GREAT TO SEE PEOPLE'S REACTIONS WHEN THEY COME IN. IT IS LIKE THEY CAN'T BELIEVE WHAT THEY'RE SEEING. MOST PEOPLE WHO VISIT ARE GENUINE ENTHUSIASTS SO THEY REALLY APPRECIATE THE PIECES I HAVE AND HOW RARE THEY ARE. MY AMBITION WOULD BE TO GET A DECOMMISSIONED LIGHT SHIP PUT IT IN THE GARDEN SO I COULD TURN IT INTO A FULL SIZE MUSEUM.' ON SHOW ARE HISTORIC UNIFORMS FROM NAVAL CAPTAINS, LIEUTENANTS, DOCTORS AND A MID-SHIPMAN'S UNIFORM WORN BY A 12 YEAR OLD BOY. HE ALSO BOASTS A POWDER KEG AND A SAILORS HAT USED DURING THE BATTLE OF TRAFALGAR AND COAL SHOVELS FROM HMS BULLDOG. OTHER ITEMS INCLUDE, A SHIP'S COMPASS, DIVER'S TORCH, CUTLASSES, PIECES OF EIGHT, A RUM BARREL, A SILVER ADMIRAL'S WHISTLE DATED 1820. CARTER SAID HE HAD CONSIDERED SELLING THE COLLECTION TO AN AMERICAN FRIEND NINE YEARS AGO BUT COULDN'T GO THROUGH WITH IT. HE SAID: 'A FRIEND OF MINE DID WANT TO BUY IT AND I WAS CONSIDERING IT. YOU COULD BUY A HOUSE WITH MONEY IT IS WORTH. BUT IN THE END I COULDN'T GO THROUGH WITH IT. I'VE BEEN BUILDING THE COLLECTION FOR 42 YEARS. MY GRANDFATHER HAD COLLECTED QUITE A FEW PIECES AND I JUST CARRIED IT ON. YOU CAN'T PULL A VALUE ON THESE THINGS, TO ME THEY ARE PRICELESS.'
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