Ambitious £6m plans revealed to revamp Lancaster museum
Ambitious plans have been drawn up for £6m of funding to completely redevelop Lancaster City Museum.
Work would be completed by 2033 in time for the 250th anniversary of the building, which opened as the town hall in 1783.
A glimpse of the future was given to the Friends of Lancaster City Museum by Carolyn Dalton, Lancaster City Council’s museum development manager, at their annual meeting on Saturday November 29.
Following a successful expression of interest to the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the council has been invited to submit a full-scale application by next August.
This would be for a two-year development phase with a grant of £650,000, followed by a delivery phase worth £4.3m.
The council has allocated £95,000 for an architect firm to undertake a thorough condition survey of the museum, including plans for a lift and visitor toilets, as well as public and business consultations and initial concept work on new museum displays.
A £40,500 grant from the national Museums Renewal Fund is being spent on:
- A business plan for all the city council’s museums to be drawn up by consultants
- Promotional work
- Events and activities, and
- Display work at the Cottage Museum
Work is under way to improve the accessibility of the museum venues.
The City Museum staircase is to be redone with most of the paintings removed and new boards to change the artwork and showcase more of the city’s art collection.
A medieval ring, found by a metal detectorist in Slyne-with-Hest, will go on display next spring as part of a “Hidden Hoards and Fascinating Finds: Lancashire’s Archaeological Treasures”exhibition.
The Friends have given £500 towards the purchase of the late 14th/early15th century ring.