Museum enters next phase of revamp after delays

A museum closed for a revamp has moved into the next stage of work, a council said.

Ipswich Museum, in Suffolk, will have an additional gallery, a new educational space, a new cafe, and an improved shop and toilets.

The £11.5m refurbishment of the Grade II-Listed building started in 2022, with plans to reopen the museum being pushed back to 2026.

"This next phase of the redevelopment will see Ipswich Museum's facilities improved and accessible for all future visitors," said Carole Jones, Labour councillor and portfolio holder for planning and museums at the borough council.

The reopening of the museum was delayed after the project incurred £2.7m in extra costs after rotten roof battens were discovered.

The project was funded and supported by Ipswich Borough Council, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Arts Council England, Clore Duffield Foundation, Foyle Foundation, Garfield Weston, The Wolfson Foundation and the Friends of Ipswich Museum.

The council said the next phase of renovation will include the creation of new spaces, including research and conservation rooms.

A new staircase will also be built in the north wing corridor which will join up to the south wings.

Ms Jones said she was "very pleased" with the renovation work and said it will "help us to tell the story of Ipswich and its communities, past and present".

"This phase of the project also provides the scope to support an events and activity programme that will see the Museum become a dynamic, engaging cultural hub for residents and visitors alike," she added.

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