THORNBURY Museum needs to find a new home, after “significant concerns” were raised over the condition of its current building.
The museum is based in a house on the corner of the Armstrong Hall complex in Chapel Street.
Run by a team of 35 unpaid volunteers, it has been collecting and preserving artefacts and documents from the town’s history since 1986.
However, concerns about the building have now come to a head, with the museum’s trustees told they need to find a new home by the beginning of next year.
Talks are now underway between the museum trust committee, landlord the Armstrong Hall Trust (AHT), Thornbury Town Council and South Gloucestershire Council’s heritage officer to keep the museum in the town.
The museum’s trustees issued a statement on February 20 saying their current lease, which expires next January, would not be renewed.
The statement, which was widely shared online, described this as an “unexpected turn of events”, which had caused a shock, and said the museum’s “long-term future is in doubt”.
Working party
The AHT says volunteers have long been aware of the situation, and it has formed a working party to explore the options for the future.
After the publication of the museum statement, talks between the two groups took place, which were described as “constructive”.
The museum trustees then issued a further statement, which said: “We are not out of the woods yet but between us we are exploring some viable options that might keep the museum open.”
The Voice understands that the museum’s current home has no damp proof course, and is considered not to be ‘fit for purpose’ as a site storing and exhibiting important historic items from the town.
‘Positive and productive’ talks
AHT chair Gil Gilroy said talks had been “highly positive and productive”.
He said: “We want to reassure the community that the Armstrong Hall Trust is fully committed to supporting the museum and ensuring that Thornbury remains home to this important cultural asset.
“The lease on the museum’s current building expired in November 2021, and while extensions were granted to allow time for planning, the condition of the building has raised significant concerns.
“Reports have highlighted the need for substantial financial investment to ensure its long-term safety, structural integrity, and compliance with modern regulations.
“Unfortunately, the Armstrong Hall Trust does not have access to the necessary funds for these extensive renovations.
“Our shared goal is to find the best way forward that both preserves the museum’s invaluable artefacts and ensures a safe and suitable home for them.
“We are encouraged by the spirit of collaboration and remain optimistic that, by working together, we can secure a positive outcome for the museum and the wider community.”