In Cirencester, we have begun a two-phase refurbishment and remodelling of the Corinium Museum - one of the top visitor attractions in the South West - to create a new Discovery Centre that will be an inspirational learning space for a wide range of activities. The Museum will remain open to visitors during the refurbishment programme.
Amanda Hart, Corinium Museum director says: “We are very proud of our multi-award winning Museum, and this wonderful new project will provide all visitors with access to a much wider range of exhibits for the very first time. There will also be opportunities to work more closely with schools and allow the public to see the work of conservators and other support staff at close quarters.”
The project which is due for completion in January next year, will provide a dedicated space for a host of engaging museum activities, including school workshops covering the new curriculum’s Stone Age, Bronze Age and Iron Age topics; archaeological workshops and practical demonstrations of ancient crafts; a research area for staff and volunteers working with museum objects; and a space for popular holiday activities.
The award-winning Corinium Museum which houses one of the largest collections of Roman British artefacts and mosaics, is owned by Cotswold District Council and operated by leisure management contractor SLM. It takes its name from the Roman British settlement at Cirencester - Corinium Dobunnorum.
We are very proud of our multi-award winning Museum, and this wonderful new project will provide all visitors with access to a much wider range of exhibits for the very first time.
Beard is highly experienced in delivering specialised heritage and cultural projects which require working sensitively in very delicate spaces around extremely fragile and priceless ancient artefacts.
This is the second specialised construction project for us at the museum. The 127-year-old firm which has helped shape Cirencester’s townscape for many years, carried out a significant remodelling, visitor facilities modernisation and extension of the museum in 2002 which doubled the exhibition space. The project was led by Beard site manager Richard Summers who is also overseeing the new refurbishment and remodelling works.
“We’re delighted to be working with the Corinium Museum and the Council again on this fantastic new Discovery Centre which will significantly enhance the visitor experience,” says Richard Summers. “Beard is highly experienced in delivering specialised heritage and cultural projects which require working sensitively in very delicate spaces around extremely fragile and priceless ancient artefacts. On a building project like this, even straightforward tasks of unloading, removing excavated materials and moving goods, are complex logistical exercises.”
The start of works follows an extensive fund-raising programme by the Corinium Museum which raised £539,000 for the project, securing a further £677,000 in grant-funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and £150,000 from Cotswold District Council. The project is set to transform the front part of the museum, creating a warm welcome for visitors and exciting new galleries which will highlight the star objects from the prehistoric Cotswolds.
Amanda Hart, continues: “After years of careful planning and fund raising, it’s marvellous that the project is now underway and we can actually see progress on a daily basis. This project will transform the front part of the Museum, creating a warm welcome for visitors and stunning new galleries which will highlight amazing objects from the prehistoric Cotswolds. The Discovery Centre will be an inspirational learning space for a diverse range of activities to be enjoyed by all our visitors.”