The changing face of Warwickshire Museum!
A new chapter in the history of Warwick Market Hall, part of the Warwickshire County Council's Museum Service, will be added over the next few months.
After careful consideration of the historic nature of the building, Listed Building Consent has been given for internal and external works which will significantly improve ground floor access and also aim to increase visitor numbers and provide a welcome boost to tourism in the current troubled business climate.
Works will include a new, more accessible, main entrance which is moving from the current location to face up Swan Street and which will provide easy street level access for visitors. On entering, visitors will be greeted by staff in a new reception counter & shop area which will be compliant with Disability Discrimination Act standards.
External improvements to the glazed arches will also improve the welcome and encourage tourists. The old entrance will be infilled to match the other existing arches.
Care has been taken to minimise the impact on the historic fabric of the Market Hall and proposals have been informed by thorough historical research into the building and consideration of alternatives, including consultation with Warwick Society.
The relocation of the main entrance to face Swan Street will necessitate the movement of some of the stalls which form the Warwick Charter Market. However plans are being put together to produce an all year round market layout which will benefit regular customers, traders and the market operator E G Skett & Company who will be celebrating 50 years of operating the Saturday market in Warwick in 2009.
Simon Robson, Interim Head of Libraries, Learning & Culture for Warwickshire County Council, said “Market Hall is a well-known and well-loved building, and we are delighted to be making improvements which will make it more accessible to visitors. The improvements will continue to allow appreciation of the history of the building itself together with excellent displays about the county’s heritage contained within.”
The Market Hall will close for about 2-3 months for the works probably during March. The museum hopes to re-open in time for the peak holiday season.
During the closure, members of the public are still welcome to contact museum staff by telephoning 01926 412500, emailing museum@warwickshire.go.uk or by visiting St John’s House during opening hours.
Updates about the work to Market Hall and the re-opening of the building will be available on the Warwickshire County Council website http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk and further information will be available at St John’s House and on information boards outside the Market Hall.
St John’s House will remain open as normal to the public during the works and in addition is opening two new exciting exhibitions!
A new exhibition of intriguing items from the costume collection will open by the end of January and an exhibition of hand-made wooden toys, acquired by the museum from local toymaker Cyril Hobbins, will be open by the end of February. Current opening times are Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm.