Multi-million pound project at Salisbury Museum to open to the public next week

Multi-million restoration and redevelopment work at Salisbury Museum has been completed and will open to the public next week.

The National Lottery funded "Past Forward: Salisbury Museum for Future Generations" restoration and redevelopment work, will see the unveiling of three new galleries, open to the public for the first time on Saturday, July 13.

The £5.1 million project is the culmination of plans to redevelop the museum, delivering new permanent galleries, a flexible learning and events venue, along with new activities and the staff to run them.

Read more: Salisbury Museum reveals details of £4.4million revamp

Salisbury Museum

Chief Operating Officer Lucy Bridal said: "We are very excited to invite our local community and visitors to the city to come and celebrate with us on July 13 and see the new galleries, not forgetting the 500-year-old Salisbury Giant in his new spacious setting.

"He’s a little bit delicate given his age and has to stay in the museum, so we are bringing the party to him!"

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Salisbury Museum (Image: Newsquest)

The new galleries feature objects and artefacts that have not previously been on public display, such as a Ichthyosaur vertebrae, 1912 scout motor car, and treasured 13th century chess piece.

The museum displays have been co-curated with local community groups, schools, and colleges to tell the story of Salisbury together.

A spokesperson from Salisbury Museum said: "It is with thanks to the money raised by National Lottery players, that we can open our Devenish Bradshaw Salisbury history gallery, ceramics gallery and natural history gallery to our local community and visitors from further afield to discover the extraordinary everyday of our city’s history, people, landscape and beyond.

"The museum is hugely grateful to The National Lottery Heritage Fund Board and National Lottery players for their support.

"Alongside the grant from the Heritage Fund, the museum is grateful to the many individuals, trusts and foundations who have contributed towards the £1.2 million needed in match funding.

"This includes the Devenish Bradshaw family, The Foyle Foundation, Garfield Weston Foundation, The Headley Trust, Roger Wadey, Wolfson Foundation, the Charles Hayward Foundation and the Linbury Trust."

The Salisbury Museum grand opening event takes place on Saturday, July 13 from 10am – 5pm. Entry will be free to all with an official placement of the last object in the Salisbury gallery at 2pm.