THREE Cumbria museums have been selected to be part of an innovative online exhibition.

Nominated by staff from museums and galleries across northern England, the A History of the North in 100 Objects is a web-based project intended to showcase the pioneering spirit and impact of the north of England’s inventors, artists, scientists and designers.

Among the 100 objects is Kendal Museum's assemblage of five stone roughout axes. The axes were found in the Central Fells in 1988, discovered in a hoard at the end of the manufacture process, and only needing grinding and polishing.

Also included and under the exhibition's Inventions and Innovations category are the Musical Stones of Skiddaw, 1840, on display at Keswick Museum.

The eight octave lithophone was built by Joseph Richardson in 1840 from hornfels, a type of stone quarried from Skiddaw mountain.

Created using only basic tools, its innovative design allowed it to be dismantled for transportation to various concerts across Europe, including a trip to Buckingham Palace to be played for Queen Victoria.

It is not actually the first lithophone built in Keswick; a number have been produced over the last two centuries. The first was made in 1785 by Peter Crosthwaite, an eccentric inventor, to test the musical properties of the local stone.

Also featured are two items from Carlisle's Tullie House Museums collection: an impressive painting by Ulverston-born 2002 Turner Prize, Keith Tyson, Nature Painting. One of a major series, Nature Painting explores how making art can communicate the complex nature of the world. The second object is J D Carr's brown velvet double-breasted waistcoat overprinted with ears of wheat and tiny slogans. It belonged to Jonathan Dodgson Carr, who founded Carr's of Carlisle in 1831, which became the largest baking business in the country. He wore it at a celebratory tea he gave for workers at Carr's factory after the repeal of the Corn Laws.

Under the Great Exhibition of the North heading, A History of the North in 100 Objects is funded by the National Lottery and developed by Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums (TWAM).

TWAM director Iain Watson said that the north of England was a hub of creativity and innovation. He added: "It’s where railways were born, it’s been home to some of our most creative inventors and now it’s a hub of scientific and industrial innovation. These 100 objects, selected by, and displayed in, museums across northern England reflect some of these stories. We won’t have everyone’s favourite object, but hope people will think about what objects tell stories they recognise as representing the north to them. Thank you to National Lottery players who have made this project possible."

Objects are on show in the respective museums but collective online in an interactive and engaging website at www.100objectsnorth.co.uk.

Visitors to the website are invited to curate their own collection by saving up to 10 objects into a personal 'exhibition,' which can then be shared via Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn or email. Users can vote for their favourite exhibitions and the most popular will be displayed prominently on the website. A key feature of Great Exhibition of the North, A History of the North in 100 Objects is also intended to act as a legacy for the exhibition, as the website will stay live for the foreseeable future.