New signs outside Ashford Museum and hung round the Church Yard when the Museum is open herald a new start for the Museum.
The Museum is now moving the functions undertaken in its Conservation Annexe at 57 High Street into the Museum as the lease for the High Street premises comes to an end.
The funds used to run the Annexe for the three years the Museum has leased it were the residue of government grants, provided to “build back better” after the Covid pandemic.
Bob Shrubb, Chair of the Museum’s Management Committee said:
“We would, of course, like to have the financial means to continue to occupy the Annexe but, during discussions last year, concluded that even if we could procure sufficient funds to maintain it for another three years, we would rather spend those funds on the Museum buildings and facilities.
“Having the space for two-and-a-half years has enabled us to develop our collections care and the Ashford People’s Library oral history project in ways that would not have been possible if we had continued to operate entirely within the Museum; giving the opportunity to rearrange the space in the Museum to accommodate these functions while also creating a Reference Library. There won’t be as much space as in the Annexe but will be an improvement on that provided for collections care previously.”
The Museum has also used the opportunity to create a Temporary Exhibition Space that has already housed an exhibition relating to Ashford’s railway history and is currently showing an exhibition by the Chilmington Green Archaeology Project regarding RAF Ashford.
The work in the Annexe has enriched existing displays with new insights and connections to Ashford. There are new discoveries day by day for the Museum team. If you or your friends are interested in history, Ashford has amazing stories: join in the discovery and be part of looking after Ashford’s heritage at the Museum.
The Museum is open from 11am to 2pm, Tuesday to Saturday until the end of October.
If you are interested in volunteering please contact us.
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