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News

Stunning Plans for Museum Attract £750,000 Lottery Grant

Poole's Waterfront Museum has been awarded a Heritage Lottery Fund grant of £750,000  towards a £1,000,000 scheme to modernise the museum adjoining Poole Quay. The successful application will transform the front entrance of the existing building, redisplay the interior galleries telling the story of Poole and enable the 2000-year-old log boat found in Poole Harbour in 1963 to be displayed to the public for the first time.

Councillor Tony Woodcock, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Learning, Borough of Poole said: "This is great news for the museum and for the people of Poole. When the project is complete Poole will have a museum that it can truly be proud of.  The success of this bid is a credit to the hard work of the staff."

The redevelopment will see the demolition of the existing 1960s entrance to the Museum and the construction of a tall, elegantly-arched steel and glass building.  The new entrance will enhance the architecture of the existing building, reveal the interior of the museum and allow visitors unprecedented high level views over the town and harbour..

The application to the Heritage Lottery Fund was made earlier this year following consultations with Poole Heritage Forum and many others to ensure the future Museum would meet people's high expectations.  As part of the project Poole Heritage Forum has pledged to raise £100,000 as a Community contribution towards the cost of the work. Poole Maritime Trust has already committed £10,000 towards this sum indicating their support of the project.

Peter Burt, Heritage Forum Fundraising Group member said: "Now that we have heard that the Lottery Fund Application has been successful, the Heritage Forum will work hard to obtain every penny of the pledge that we have made."

Nerys Watts, Regional Manager for Heritage Lottery Fund in the South West, said: "The Waterfront Museum is a great local resource but in need of a facelift and we are very pleased to support work that will transform it inside and out. The rejuvenated museum will greatly improve the visitor experience, enabling everyone to explore and enjoy the diverse collections in a space that really shows them off. There are also likely to be wider regeneration benefits for Poole High Street as the re-opened Museum promotes local pride and attracts more visitors." 

Kevin McErlane, Head of Culture and Community Learning, Borough of Poole, tel 01202 262400