Derbyshire museum secures more than £700,000 of funding to 'bring more stories to life'
A Derbyshire museum that celebrates vintage trams has secured more than £700,000 to support their efforts in preserving Britain's transport heritage
The National Tramway Museum has been awarded £492,880 from Arts Council England’s Museum Estates and Development Fund and £210,610 through the DCMS/Wolfson Museums and Galleries Improvement Fund.
This major investment will support essential refurbishment works at the site in Crich.
Money will be used to preserve the Great Exhibition Hall, the largest single building on site which is now 35 years old and plays a critical role in the museum’s operations.
It houses 25 tramcars and historic vehicles, forming a core part of the museum’s nationally significant collection, including some of its oldest exhibits dating back to 1873. Funds will pay for improvements to the roof, windows and lighting of the building.
Roger Shelley, Funding Manager at the National Tramway Museum, said: “The Great Exhibition Hall is central to our visitor experience, and this investment recognises the importance of safeguarding what we already have – a collection of historic trams designated for their national significance.
“As well as carrying out vital repairs to the roof and windows, these improvements will benefit all visitors by enhancing lighting and creating a more engaging and visually appealing exhibition space.”
The majority of the work will take place during the winter closure period with the project scheduled for completion by the end of March 2027.
Vital improvements will also take place at the museum’s reserve storage facilities within the Library and Assembly Rooms complex.
The project will focus on structural enhancements to key areas on the first and second floors behind the historic Georgian façade, alongside upgrades to air conditioning and dehumidification systems.
The work will mean the museum will be able to better preserve its collections.
Roger added: “This investment marks a significant step forward in how we care for and share our collections. By strengthening the structure of these important spaces and upgrading environmental controls, we can ensure that our archival and film materials are preserved in the best possible conditions.
“Just as importantly, these improvements will allow us to make greater use of these collections, supporting access for researchers and helping us bring more of our stories to life for visitors.”