Market Hall Museum to re-open in February 2017
IT'S all systems go for the relaunch of Warwick’s Market Hall Museum in February 2017 after listed building consent to install a platform lift was granted.
The planning permission was the last rubber stamp required to meet the February deadline. Next year’s opening will be celebrated with a major public event where for the first time ever, all visitors will have access to both the ground and first floor exhibitions.
Work on the museum began in September 2016 to remove sections of the first and second floors and now that planning conditions have been discharged, the final work on the ground floor has been completed. Due to the Grade 2* listing of the Market Hall the design is sympathetic to its historic environment. The lift has been installed during October.
The lift installation work has been funded entirely through public donations to the museum service over a number of years, and is in addition to the overall museum refurbishment funded through the Heritage Lottery scheme.
Councillor Jeff Clarke, Warwickshire County Council Portfolio Holder for Environment said: “Accessibility is a priority for the council. The addition of a lift will transform the building, providing access to all galleries for all visitors.”
While preparing the building, Archaeology Warwickshire excavated the footprint of the lift. During the dig, where the hole was taken down to around 36cm, they found a clay tobacco pipe with a very well preserved mulberry tree design on the bowl. By comparing the shape to an archaeological clay pipe key, Cathy Coutts from Archaeology Warwickshire deduced the pipe would have been made in the 17th Century, between 1660–1680. As the Market Hall was completed in 1670, it may have been dropped by one of the original workmen on the site.
Cllr Philip Johnson, Chair of Warwickshire County Council's Communities Overview & Scrutiny Committee for said “The installation of this lift is a key landmark in the history of the building and will allow more people than ever before to enjoy Warwickshire’s heritage.”
The refurbishment of the Market Hall Museum is part of the Our Warwickshire project, managed by Heritage and Culture Warwickshire and supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund. The project celebrates and promotes access to heritage within Warwickshire communities.
It is also focused on significantly improving the experience for visitors to the Market Hall Museum, making it a high quality, inclusive visitor attraction, which allows the public to explore the history of Warwickshire. In addition, the project involves the development of the Our Warwickshire website, enabling county communities and people further afield to share and celebrate our local heritage.
