March 2024 – Building work gets underway
The concrete plinth is removed and new flooring is put down. The wall is boarded and plastered. Electric power sockets are moved and new ones installed, there are for new display lights and digital screens. Redecoration of the walls and woodwork starts.
February 2024 – Clear up in preparation for the builders
The Museum closed to the public on the 21st February and the clear up began. Not only did the current exhibition have to be packed away, everything that could be taken down was removed and stored. With help from the volunteers the museum is now ready for the builders to start work
2023 – New scope for the Museum Refurbishment project
In September 2023 we decided to change our project scope when the museum in Tring donated four professional quality display cases.
By this time it was clear we wouldn’t be able to obtain a large enough capital grant to cover the full scope of our project. Most of the grant funds were still focused on post Covid recovery activities.
The new entrance was put on hold and we began to formulate plans to refurbish the Museum.
2022 – Grant applications
Several grant applications were made to raise funds for the project. Initially these focused on various Lottery funds but unfortunately we were not successful. At the time our project was not fully aligned to the selection criteria for capital grants.
2021 – Planning permission for the entrance
The Museum Refurbishment project has always been part of our strategy. We envisaged a new entrance replicating the old Fire Station doors leading into a foyer containing updated museum displays, cabinets and audio visual exhibitions.
Under the guidance of our architect, structural engineering survey work was undertaken, designs were prepared and we were granted planning permission in August 2021.
2020 – Decorating and new floor coverings
In late 2020 the Hitchin Street windows and those on Bell Row were repaired and painted.
The Theatre was redecorated and a new floor was laid in June 2021. We also had a new stair carpet fitted.
2019 – Grand Re-opening
We had our Grand Re-opening on the 11th May 2019, after we finished the first refurbishment phase.
During this phase we opened up the museum area to integrate the heritage space with the rest of the building but this phase didn’t stretch to a complete Museum refit.
Please click here for more details about our first refurbishment phase.
Connecting the Heritage space to the rest of the building.