Plans unveiled to 'revitalise' museum

New plans for Rutland County Museum are hoped to "revitalise" the attraction, Rutland County Council has said.

Plans submitted by the authority will see an extension to the current site in Catmos Street, Oakham, house a multi-purpose hall, café, shop and two new galleries.

New digital interpretations of the Rutland Sea Dragon and Ketton Roman Mosaic and enhancements to the museum's educational provision are also part of the wider scheme.

Christine Wise, leader of Rutland County Council, said: "This is a hugely exciting and important project – one that will preserve Rutland County Museum long into the future by turning it into a first-class visitor attraction and multi-use community space."

"The completion of this project will mean we can tell Rutland's story in exciting new ways, using immersive exhibitions and flexible spaces for culture and the arts."

The project would be funded by £6m from the council, including £1.5m of local regeneration funding (LRF) from the government.

Renovation of the museum's Grade II listed riding school building, which dates from the late 18th Century as a training centre for the Rutland Fencible Cavalry, is also planned, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

The building is due to have a doorway filled in and a new window inserted, alongside repairs.

Certain elements of the courtyard and external walls would be demolished, which, although connected to the listed building, are not themselves listed.

The existing poultry hall is also set to be demolished as utilising the space for exhibition or multi-purpose uses was "going to prove impractical" and "costly", documents said.

An exhibition of the 180 million-year-old Rutland Sea Dragon fossil was suggested for the museum renovation, but the project was abandoned for financial reasons in favour of a digital interpretation.

In February, the council backed a plan to incorporate the fossil, which is owned by Anglian Water, into the renovation of the museum, but by May this was abandoned after estimated costs rose by £1m.

Listen to BBC Radio Leicester on Sounds and follow BBC Leicester on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.