The museum is located in a row of old fishermen's cottages. © Norfolk Museums and Archaeology Service
Cromer Museum is set to become a more exciting place to visit thanks to a £500,000 award which will improve access to the site, develop education facilities and create a more visible and customer friendly entrance.
The builders moved in on March 29 to begin the revamp and it is anticipated the transformed museum will reopen to the public before the end of 2005.
"It is tremendous to see the start of the redevelopment of Cromer Museum which is an important part of the wider improvement programme of the Norfolk Museum Service,” said Shaun Murphy, Cabinet member for Cultural Services, Norfolk County Council.
The improvements are being funded by Norfolk County Council, the Heritage Lottery Fund, European Objective 2 Funding, North Norfolk District Council, and the Friends of Cromer Museum.
Access within the museum will be improved as part of the redevelopment. © Norfolk Museums and Archaeology Service
The funding will develop the new entrance through the Henry Blogg Garden and will include a lift, shop and reception area. Inside the museum will be improved displays and storage of the collections and an Education Room. Underused outbuildings will be converted into a Geology Gallery.
Staff facilities will also be improved with new offices and toilets, while the appointment of an Education and Access Officer will help promote the museum.
Cromer Museum is included in the redevelopment programme of Norfolk Museums along with King’s Lynn, Gressenhall, Thetford, the Anglo Saxon and Vikings Gallery at Norwich Castle and the Gulbenkian shortlisted Time and Tide at Great Yarmouth.
“When all the planned work is complete, Norfolk will have a very fine set of public museums of which residents can be proud", said Shaun.
Catherine Rose is the 24 Hour Museum Renaissance student journalist for the East of England region. Renaissance is the groundbreaking initiative to transform England's regional museums, led by MLA, the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council.
