Published on Monday 13 November 2023
The initial work included repairs, re-roofing, glazing, insulation, and the installation of solar panels to make the museum more sustainable and protect its historic buildings for the future.
Poole Museum is undergoing a £7.7m redevelopment with grants from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Historic England’s High Street Heritage Action Zone alongside contributions from many other organisations.
The project aims to transform Poole Museum into an outstanding cultural centre and a modern, thriving community hub, greatly enriching the experience of Poole Quay and the Old Town.
Phase two work includes urgent conservation and restoration alongside remodelling of all three of the museum’s historic buildings, plus the creation of new displays and visitor facilities.
Other changes include moving the museum café to the ground floor of Scaplen’s Court, part of Poole Museum, where there will also be a larger public events space for weddings and events.
Building works will be completed in summer 2024 ahead the redevelopment of the museum’s three new maritime galleries, new ceramics gallery, and temporary exhibition gallery.
Cllr Andy Martin, Portfolio Holder for Customer, Communications, and Culture, BCP Council said: "We have a once in a lifetime opportunity to transform Poole Museum.
"We are conserving and breathing life into much loved local buildings restoring their historic character and providing welcoming and accessible cultural spaces that will enrich the Lower High Street and Poole Quay for residents and visitors alike."
Stuart McLeod, Director of England, London & South at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: "It’s brilliant to hear that this transformational project for Poole Museum has begun.
"This redevelopment will bring a new lease of life to the Museum, making it more accessible and conserving the building and its collections. The benefit of this investment will be felt widely across Poole and Dorset - boosting the economy and offering a place for locals and tourists alike to connect with its remarkable maritime heritage."
Greendale Construction Limited have been appointed as the main contractors on a £3.2m contract to redevelop Poole Museum. Chris Cave, Commercial Director, Greendale Construction said: "A major focus of the project is making the museum accessible for all, with new ground floor accessible WCs, level access and new lifts including one in Scaplen’s Court for the first time."
Rebecca Barrett, Southwest Regional Director at Historic England, said: "It’s exciting that work has started on the transformation of Scaplen’s Court, which, as part of Poole Museum, is at the heart of the cultural life of the town. We’re proud to support this project through the High Street Heritage Action Zone."
With the museum closed for building works, staff and volunteers have taken to the road with ‘Museum on the Move’.
This initiative is a programme of activities, events, and taster sessions taking Poole’s unique stories and heritage out into the local community to schools, libraries, other cultural hubs. Museum on the Move is supported by Poole Museum Foundation, the charity set up to support the museum.
The museum is expected to open in Spring 2025.
The redevelopment of Poole Museum is funded by: The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Historic England High Street Heritage Action Zone, BCP Council, UK Government Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, The Fine Foundation, Garfield Weston Foundation, The Wolfson Foundation, Talbot Village Trust, The Headley Trust, The Steel Charitable Trust, Pilgrim Trust, Poole Museum Foundation, The Valentine Charitable Trust, Alice Ellen Cooper-Dean Charitable Foundation, Wessex Museums, Poole BID and The Arts Society of Poole.
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Notes to Editors
For further information, images, videos and interviews please contact press.office@bcpcouncil.gov.uk
- About Poole Museum
The museum is located in the heart of The Old Town, close to Poole Quay. The Museum campus comprises the Grade I listed Oakley’s Mill, a Victorian grain warehouse and mill, the Grade I listed medieval Wool Hall, Grade I listed medieval Scaplen’s Court and Sir Anthony Caro’s impressive quayside Sea Music sculpture.
Collection highlights include a unique Iron Age log boat, internationally significant artefacts from 16th and 17th Century shipwrecks, the world’s finest public collection of Poole Pottery and a fine art collection of local artists including Augustus John and Henry Lamb.
- About The National Lottery Heritage Fund
As the largest dedicated funder of the UK’s heritage, The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future as set out in our strategic plan, Heritage 2023
Over the next ten years, we aim to invest £3.6billion raised for good causes by National Lottery players to bring about benefits for people, places and the natural environment.
We help protect, transform and share the things from the past that people care about, from popular museums and historic places, our natural environment and fragile species, to the languages and cultural traditions that celebrate who we are.
We are passionate about heritage and committed to driving innovation and collaboration to make a positive difference to people’s lives today, while leaving a lasting legacy for future generations to enjoy.
Follow @HeritageFundUK – Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly known as Twitter)
#NationalLotteryHeritageFund
- About Historic England
We are Historic England, the public body that helps people care for, enjoy and celebrate England’s spectacular historic environment, from beaches and battlefields to parks and pie shops. We protect, champion and save the places that define who we are and where we’ve come from as a nation. We care passionately about the stories they tell, the ideas they represent and the people who live, work and play among them. Working with communities and specialists we share our passion, knowledge and skills to inspire interest, care and conservation, so everyone can keep enjoying and looking after the history that surrounds us all.
Follow @HistoricEngland – Facebook, Instagram, X, (formerly known as Twitter), LinkedIn
#HistoricHighStreets
Historic England - Championing England's heritage | Historic England
Regional Historic England X handle is: @HE_SouthWest
- About High Street Heritage Action Zones
The £95m Government-funded High Streets Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ) programme, which is delivered by Historic England, will unlock the potential of historic high streets, fuelling economic, social and cultural recovery. The High Streets Heritage Action Zone initiative is funded with £40 million from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s Heritage High Street Fund and £52 million from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities’ Future High Street Fund.
Follow @HistoricEngland on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn
- About Poole Museum Foundation
Poole Museum Foundation is an independent charity formed in 2017 to support the activities, collections, and development of Poole Museum. The Foundation is currently supporting fundraising for the Our Museum Project and has sponsored Museum on the Move.
Poole Museum Foundation - Charity, History, Museum
- About Greendale Construction Limited
Established in Poole, Dorset, in 1990 by Directors, Chris Kane and Rob Hooker, Greendale Construction Limited is a highly acclaimed, client-focused Chartered Building Company with a reputation for quality, value and reliability. Sectors covered by Greendale include, commercial, education, health, private, interiors and special works, as well as an electrical division. The Company holds a gold Investors in People Award, was named FMB Britain’s Best Builder (commercial sector) 2012 and involves itself with raising funds for a number of local charities.