THE Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has announced its support to establish Wrexham Museum as a major contemporary attraction.
Wrexham County borough Council has been awarded £950,000 toward the first of its four-phase Wrexham Community Heritage Project to redevelop the museum and increase the annual number of users from 15,000 to 53,000.
The grant will enable the council to open up more of the museum building and its collections to the public, increase educational opportunities, provide attractive visitor facilities and create two jobs.
Jennifer Stewart, head of HLF Wales, said: “This project will give Wrexham the museum it truly deserves and create a focal point for the town. The redevelopment will mean thousands more people will be able to enjoy the collections and learn about the rich history on their doorstep.”
The museum is located in a conservation area and based in a 19th Century Grade II listed building constructed as militia barracks and later converted into a police station and courthouse.Š
It is considered to be one of the finest buildings in Wrexham with UK-wide significance.
The collections housed in the museum consist of about 6,000 artefacts telling the story of Wrexham’s social, industrial and archaeological past, including the Welsh Football Collection.
But, due to limited space and lack of essential environmental controls, only 2% of the collection is on display.
Deputy council leader and lead member for communities and performance Cllr Bob Dutton, said the funding would give the town a museum to be proud of and would be a magnet for researchers and visitors.
