Consultants have been appointed to support plans to redevelop Monmouth’s Shire Hall and integrate its museum and contents.
Purcell and their team of consultants will support the successful Heritage Fund grant application for the development phase of the Shire Hall.
The current brief being developed is to reconfigure the existing external and internal spaces to reinterpret and display the museum collections to tell the town's stories, including the role Shire Hall played in this history through notable events such as the Chartist uprising and the history of local and national democracy.
The museum move also provides an opportunity to explore the life and passions of Lady Llangattock, whose own gift forms the basis of an internationally significant yet relatively unknown and unpublished collection relating to Admiral Lord Nelson.
The museum's object collection relates to the social history of the town and surrounding area and, using loaned items, it has developed more contemporary modern themes such as the Rockfield recording studio and local artists.
Following the completion of work over the summer, plans will be formally submitted for building consent later in September.
Monmouthshire County Council is inviting the public to view the designs and share their feedback during the week commencing Monday September 23 at the Shire Hall.
It says the proposals will complement other improvements in Monmouth, adding that creating a venue with a shared community/learning space will enable the local authority to ensure future services' sustainability.
Monmouthshire County Council's Cabinet Member for Equalities and Engagement, Cllr Angela Sandles, said:
“It's very exciting to see the plans for the Shire Hall Museum coming into fruition. Creating a new modern space to showcase our history will attract more visitors and allow residents to learn more about the amazing local history here in Monmouth.”
