National press, businessmen and supporters piled into the grand opening of 78 Derngate House and Galleries yesterday to see the final fruition of a £2.5 million project.

A modest Georgian terrace, 78 Derngate was remodelled by Mackintosh in 1917 who was commissioned by owner and train model maker Wenman Bassett-Lowke.

The project, Mackintosh's final commission and the only house he designed outside Scotland, first opened to the public three years ago, with a museum in next door 80 Derngate. But it had limited opening hours, restricted numbers and operated for eight months a year.

Now, almost a decade after work started, the property is to be open year-round, with the addition of 82 Derngate, which has provided space for a gift shop, restaurant, educational area, galleries and atrium.
Les Patterson, the secretary of the 78 Derngate Northampton Trust, said: "It has been a long haul, but we have had lots of support.

"If you had said we would spend £2.5 million in 10 years, I wouldn't have believed it. Our bid was rejected the first time because we included 82 Derngate; it was seen as a step too far. Now it is the last piece of the puzzle."

One of the crucial parts of the new space is a gallery with a rolling schedule of exhibits.

There is an exhibition of paintings by Thurston Laidlaw Shoosmith and his sister, Fanny Violet, in the gallery space, an established water-colourist and member of the family firm of solicitors. Thurston Shoosmith lived at 82 Derngate in 1921, giving the property another piece of history.

Alongside these works are contemporary sculptures by Rebecca Newnham.
Mr Patterson said: "We have had a lot of encouragement from the Arts Council for a pilot project to have regional and national exhibitions. We want it to be nationally renowned and it needs some cutting edge contemporary artists and that is what we are going to build up over the next two years.

"Northampton is a cultural wasteland. The East Midlands is poor, but we are the poorer relative. The aim is to reverse that."

The restaurant is also tipped for success with a diverse breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea menu. Most of the dishes can be served gluten- free and, where possible, the food is seasonal and locally sourced. It is decorated in a black and white minimalist style, to complement the adjacent Mackintosh-designed house.

All the Derngate properties (78 to 80) were owned by Northampton High School until 1996, when Northampton Borough Council
bought a 999-year lease on 78 and 80, with financial support from Northampton Saints owner Keith Barwell and his wife.

Two years later, the 78 Derngate Northampton Trust was formed, taking a 90-year sub-lease and embarking on a £1.5 million restoration on the house, using the adjoining house at number 80 as an exhibition and museum space.

The 78 Derngate restoration went on to receive several national awards.
Keith Barwell bought 82 Derngate in 1998, for £225,000. The 78 Derngate Trust bought it from him in 2001.

He said: "About 11 years ago, Maggie said to me, 'stop wasting your money on those rugby players; we must make sure 78 Derngate is not pulled down'.

"We have started things off, it's about people trying to raise the bar and trying to improve things, but it's not going to happen overnight. 78 Derngate has made a profit since it opened and that's how we want it to continue and there are all sorts of opportunities.
"We have people coming to Northampton to visit here, flying in from Japan and America."

Eric Knowles, host of BBC One's The Antiques Roadshow and a leading authority on 19th and 20th century decorative arts, was involved in the original valuation and subsequent restoration of 78 Derngate.

Returning to the finished house and gallery yesterday, he said: "I feel a real sense of joy here. When I look back to that very grey day in November 1997 when I was first called in to value the fixtures and fittings of 78 Derngate.

"I came through the door of 78 Derngate and the entire floor was covered by dead leaves and the brown and yellow wallpaper was peeling off.

"The one thing about Northampton is that you are blessed with some great architecture. I would visit Northampton just to look at your Guildhall.

"This is a gem of a building in a jewel of a town."