Lottery grant 'hugely important' for closed museum

8 hours ago

Danny Fullbrook

News image — The Manor House Museum in Kettering remains closed for repairs

Peter Cooper/BBC A view of the front of Manor House Museum, which features a large glass apex window and is constructed of pale stone and red bricks. — The Manor House Museum in Kettering remains closed for repairs

A lottery grant worth almost £200,000 has been hailed as "hugely important" for the future of a museum that has been closed for three years.

North Northamptonshire Council said the £196,896 National Lottery Heritage Fund award would help it safeguard Manor House Museum in Kettering and appoint a collections manager.

The role will oversee the day-to-day care and management of the museum's items, while a new masterplan will guide its long-term development.

Councillor Greg Wilcox said: "We know there have been a lot of questions locally about the future of Kettering museum and this announcement is a hugely important step".

The Reform UK executive member for communities and rural affairs added: "This grant will help provide a strong foundation for the future - the project will protect heritage assets and rebuild the site, ensuring resilience for many years to come.

"This funding... will mean we can plan for the future, while preserving the town's history."

Cornerstone had been the collective name for the town's library, art gallery, museum and garden since 2022, but the complex's different sections reverted to their original names of Alfred East Gallery, Kettering Library, Manor House Gardens and Manor House Museum earlier this year.

The gallery and museum have been closed since the roof was damaged by heavy rain in October 2023, while the library has since reopened,

North Northamptonshire Council The outside of a large brick and stone building, with a church spire to the left, behind the building. There is scaffolding up outside the building. Trees are to the left and behind the building to the right, and the sky is blue. — Kettering Library reopened in July after its roof was replaced

Restoration work costing about £4.8m started in June 2025.

The art gallery is due to welcome visitors back later this month.

But the council said the museum remained closed as surveys revealed significant structural issues throughout the building.

"These issues do not have a quick and easy fix," it said.

"The fabric of the building has deteriorated to the point that it is unsafe to open to the public."

According to the council, the new collections manager will be employed on a three-year fixed-term contract.

North Northamptonshire Council A yellow stone two-storey building, with a white wooden door and white-framed windows, which have their blinds down. A brick weaved paving area and bushes are in front of the building. — The council has said the masterplan to guide the museum's reopening will take about a year to complete

Council leader Martin Griffiths said: "We know the museum is in need of a lot of work and this funding will enable us to come up with a plan for this important heritage building and look at next steps."

The council has said the masterplan will take about a year to complete and a timeline for the museum's reopening will then be shared with residents.

A spokeswoman said: "We know how much Kettering's museum means to local people, and we want to see it back open as soon as possible.

"Before then, there is a lot of work to do: setting a clear direction for the museum, getting to know our collections in detail, and designing a space that does them justice."

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