Trowbridge Museum is due to reopen on 27 March following the ‘Onwards and Upwards’ project which has seen the popular attraction renovated and expanded. The project will see the museum double its previous size, including expanding up into the previously empty floor of Grade II listed ‘Home Mills’, above the original museum.
The restoration work has been supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Trowbridge Town Council, The Friends of Trowbridge museum and others.
The new museum will tell the story of Trowbridge, and reveal the heritage of its residents through new displays featuring never before seen objects and interactive activities for all ages. The redevelopment journey started in 2019 with designers Smith and Jones, and architects Architecton, bringing Salter’s Home Mills back to life. The museum team has since watched on as Beard Construction made their plans a reality. They have uncovered original gnarled brickwork that has survived mill fires, and sympathetically restored the mill windows, which have flooded the space with light and made way for the innovative displays.
will be ready to reopen on 27 March 2021
At the heart of the redevelopment is the newly built Learning Hub, which will enable the Learning and Outreach team to continue its outreach work within the Trowbridge community. This will allow the team to develop its Lifelong Learning programme with schools, hold history and craft workshops, and host history talks. With the improved facilities and larger space, the team will be able to increase its programme and reach even more of the community. The Hub will also serve as a meeting space, available for hire to the public.
The new-look museum will also be the home of a brand new Research Library, hosting over 1,700 books relating to the social history of Trowbridge and the development of the woollen cloth industry in the area. This is a unique resource that alongside an online database on the museum website, will ensure that the town and wider region’s heritage is available to everyone.
From Saturday 27 March, visitors will be able to return and discover the new museum, as well as explore the brand new exhibition space and shop featuring Trowbridge Museum products, history and craft books, and a fantastic range of gifts.