Issue 46 April 25 web - Flipbook - Page 81
Above, Scaplen’s Court, rear fire exit staircase – Image credit, Poole Museum. The new fire exit from the upper floor of Scaplen’s Court is a
major component of the new fire strategy that allows occupancy to increase from 60 people to 280 people
openings. These works reduced the museum’s existing
carbon footprint by 25%, ensuring that the buildings are
energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable.
and cultural venue in the local area. Thanks to the tireless
work of the museum team and volunteers, dedicated
funders, and specialist contractors, Poole Museum is
poised to take a role as a major cultural destination that
celebrates and shares the town’s rich maritime history.
Transforming the visitor experience
Six new galleries over five floors transform the visitor
experience. Four high-specification permanent galleries
over three floors showcase Poole Museum’s maritime
collections, maritime archaeology, ceramics, design and
art. Two flexible galleries will support a first-rate cultural
programme of touring and temporary exhibitions.
This transformative project highlights that historic
buildings can be sensitively restored and repurposed to meet
modern needs while retaining their authenticity. Poole
Museum is an example of how cultural and heritage conservation can seamlessly integrate with cultural innovation,
ensuring that the past informs and enriches our future.
New facilities, including a larger ground floor café and
new museum shop, enhance the visitor experience,
offering amenity spaces for visitors and the local community and will support a vibrant cultural programme that
will see the museum transform into an outstanding
museum, gallery and cultural centre. The use of all these
spaces has been carefully integrated with the galleries,
ensuring the visitor experience is prioritised.
* Funders for this transformational project, which the
Poole Museum team are incredibly grateful to, includes
(in alphabetical order): The Alice Ellen Cooper
Dean Charitable Foundation; Arts Council England;
BCP Council; Fine Family Foundation; The Finnis-Scott
Foundation; Garfield Weston Foundation; The Headley
Trust;The Hendy Foundation; Historic England; The
National Lottery Heritage Fund; Pilgrim Trust; Poole Arts
Society; Poole BID; Poole Museum Foundation; Poole
Museum Society; The Steel Charitable Trust; Talbot
Village Trust; UK Government; The Valentine Charitable
Trust; Wessex Museums; The Wolfson Foundation.
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Poole Museum is scheduled to reopen in summer 2025,
marking the completion of this ambitious redevelopment
project. The work undertaken is a testament of the growing recognition of the museum as an important heritage
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Conservation & Heritage Journal
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