The possessions of the 'Father of Bermuda' go on display this weekend in an exhibition to mark the Island's 400th anniversary.

Admiral Sir George Somers founded the settlement of Bermuda following the wrecking of the Sea Venture in a hurricane in July, 1609.

Now Islanders have an opportunity to view historic artefacts belonging to the ship's commander, which include a sea chest and a lode stone for magnetising compass needles.

The Museum of the Bermuda Historical Society is to place the treasures on public display in the foyer of Par-la-Ville, Hamilton.

Andrew Bermingham, Bermuda Historical Society (BHS) president, said: "We have several items owned by Sir George Somers plus the famous portraits of him and Lady Somers.

"These items are now on display and we invite all residents and visitors to drop by the Museum to see the beginnings of Bermuda's history.

"Please drop by to see these priceless artefacts and read the story of the man behind the shipwreck. We have made them the centrepiece of the Museum for 2009."

The sea chest belonging to Sir George is of early 17th century Italian origin.

The wooden chest is thought to be Venetian and has a scene from Greek mythology showing Artemis, Goddess of the Hunt, surprised by Acteon, a hunter, while bathing.

To punish him she turns him into a stag, whereupon his own dogs attack and kill him, no longer recognising him as their master.

The chest was sold to BHS by the Bellamy family of Plymouth, England, in 1937. The Bellamy family, direct descendants of the Admiral, also sold Sir George's Lode Stone. This was used to magnetise his compass needles during his earlier seafaring voyages.

The Lode Stone is thought to date back to 1600. Egg-shaped and banded by strips of iron, it is mounted on an oak plinth with a plaque which states 'Lodestone, Sir George Summer, obit 1610'.

Also on display is a freehand sketch of the 1609 Somer's Map a hand-painted reproduction of the original map of Bermuda charted by Sir George.

The original map is in the Bermuda Archives.

The oil paintings of Sir George and Lady Somers by 17th century Dutch artist Paul van Somer can also be viewed at the Museum.

Sir George was born in Lyme Regis, Dorset, in 1554. A friend of Sir Walter Raleigh, in 1600 he commanded HMS Vanguard which captured a Spanish treasure ship.

The following year he captained HMS Swiftsure during the attack of the Spanish fleet off Kinsale.

Sir George was knighted in 1603 by King James I, and in 1606 was one of the founders of the Virginia Company.

In 1609 he became Admiral of the Virginia Company's nine-vessel Third Supply Relief Fleet which sailed from England to bring colonists to the first English Colony in the New World.

Caught in a hurricane however, the Sea Venture was blown off course and was wrecked off the reefs of Bermuda, in what is now known as Discovery Bay.

Sir George was the first to explore and map the Island, which became known as the Somers Isles.

The castaways colonised the Island, building a church and houses.

Sir George also supervised the construction of the Patience and the Deliverance, from Bermuda Cedar and the spars and rigging of the wrecked Sea Venture.

In May, 1610, he commanded the two vessels and 142 castaways to Jamestown, Virginia. However, with food supplies running out and the colony in peril, Sir George returned to Bermuda to collect provisions.

Shortly after his arrival he became ill and died on November 9, 1610, aged 56.

The wrecking of the Sea Venture is believed by many to be one of the inspirations behind William Shakespeare's play The Tempest.

You can see a model of the Sea Venture, the Deliverance and the Patience, in the Museum exhibition. The models are by P.M. Wright, and there is a second model of the Patience by the late Cyril H. Smith.

The Museum of the Bermuda Historical Society is open this Saturday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. ahead of the start of the 400th anniversary celebrations in Front Street.

During the winter months normal opening hours are 10.30 a.m. to 1 p.m., except for Sundays and Thursdays when the Museum is closed. Admission is free, with donations welcome.