Inside Northampton Museum as major refurbishment nears completion

Pictures have been released to mark what would have been the opening weekend of the newly refurbished and expanded Northampton Museum and Art Gallery.

The museum, in Guildhall Road, was meant to open last Saturday (June 20), but due to the coronavirus pandemic, will now open at the end of this year or the beginning of 2021.

Building works are now in the final stages, and once complete and deep cleaned, curators will begin exhibition installation.

The museum has doubled in size with the addition of a nine-metre-high glazed atrium extension, which includes a café and south-facing outdoor terrace.

The existing art and history galleries have undergone major refurbishments and new teaching facilities will also be available on site, with a dedicated schools and activity space available for visits and workshops, alongside a central hall capable of hosting major events and for corporate hire.

Jonathan Keight, director of Creative Good, the company that has designed the new galleries, central hall, shop and events space for the museum, said: “The museum fit-out is now virtually complete, and the last few elements of work which were delayed due to the pandemic will be completed imminently, so the installation of museum objects can begin.

“Our designs blend the ‘old’ and the ‘new’, respecting the nature of the historic buildings, while providing welcoming and stimulating contemporary spaces that will improve access to the museum’s collections for all visitors.

“The Central Hall has a bespoke audio-visual presentation system that can deliver spectacular immersive experiences, while the Shoe Gallery is a clean, contemporary space.

“Strong graphics and bold colours will guide visitors around the story of shoes, where they can learn how shoes are designed and made, consider the psychology of shoe buying and wearing, and explore thousands of years of shoe style history.”

Councillor Jonathan Nunn, leader of Northampton Borough Council, added: “Following this major renovation programme, we are delighted that works are approaching completion and we will soon be able to get on with the exciting task of installing the exhibitions.

“It’s a great shame that we cannot open our doors yet because of the Covid-19 pandemic, but we will continue to share photos of the completed space on the museum’s Facebook page, so the public can see the fantastic new galleries and facilities ahead of the opening.

“This much anticipated development, in the heart of our expanding Cultural Quarter, represents a significant addition to Northampton’s cultural life and is a spectacular new focal point for the town’s art, heritage and culture.

“It is set to be a major attraction, where visitors can discover Northampton’s internationally important shoe collection, explore the town’s rich history, and experience an ever-changing programme of art, activities, events and temporary exhibitions.”

A new dedicated museum website is set to launch later this year to start the countdown to the museum’s grand opening, but for now updates can be found on the museum’s social media pages.

Message from the editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the highest standards in the world. The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers and consequently the advertising that we receive. We are now more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you