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British Empire and Commonwealth Museum to leave Bristol
Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2007 10:04 pm
by stumpytrain
From the
Bristol Evening Post
MUSEUM TO QUIT BRISTOL
The British Empire and Commonwealth Museum is to move from Bristol to London - and could shut within a year.Trustees say they want to move the award-winning museum from its home in Isambard Kingdom Brunel's Temple Meads station to reach a larger international audience.
The news comes less than a year after the closure of the city's Wildwalk nature attraction and Imax cinema. The station building will be available to rent and estate agents have already been appointed.
The museum, the only one in the world dedicated to the history of the British Empire, was opened by Princess Anne in 2002.
In a statement released today, museum director Dr Gareth Griffiths said it would close by autumn 2008, two years before the new Museum of Bristol was due to open.
Dr Griffith said: "Relocation to London presents a major opportunity for the museum to widen its reach and engage new audiences. We have enjoyed great success over the last five years of operation and are extremely grateful to the people of Bristol and all who have supported us."
The grade I-listed building has enjoyed a ú7 million restoration since the museum moved in, earning it a nomination as a World Heritage Site.
Details of the museum's new home in the capital have yet to be announced although trustees said they were "in negotiations over a major cultural venue in the capital".
Bristol City Council has been the museum's partner in several of its exhibitions.
Council leader Helen Holland said: "We have enjoyed working with the Empire and Commonwealth's management and board for the relatively short period they have been here.
"We are confident that our new Museum of Bristol, due to open in 2010, will continue to provide the city's nine million tourists and the region's one million residents with a fascinating insight into Bristol's role as a key player in the British Empire and Commonwealth over the centuries - in both good times and bad."
Artist and poet Baljinder Bhopal, 46, from Easton, has recently had her work on display at the museum.
She said it was a shame for the people of Bristol that the move was happening but that the size of the 75,000 artefact archive meant the premises could not do justice to the collection.
Miss Bhopal said: "It's a blow for Bristol but its probably a good thing for the museum itself.
"I always felt that Bristol didn't support it enough, which was a pity. Bristol just doesn't make enough of its cultural resources."
We could do with extra platform capacity on the upside at Bristol... perhaps Network Rail could make a return to the old station!
Alex
Re: British Empire and Commonwealth Museum to leave Bristol
Posted: Sat Nov 24, 2007 2:07 am
by AndyK
Although I vist Bristol three or four times a year I'm afraid I've never been able to summon enough enthusiasm to visit this museum, and every time I pass it I feel a pang of guilt at my narrow-mindedness; I suspect (entirely without evidence of course) that it will be well-meaning, politically correct and bland. Would someone care to convince me that a visit is worthwhile?
stumpytrain wrote:
We could do with extra platform capacity on the upside at Bristol... perhaps Network Rail could make a return to the old station!
Alex
That would be great, but I take it this wouldn't be possible without demolishing the signal box. Is it possible that this could happen in the forseeable future?
Re: British Empire and Commonwealth Museum to leave Bristol
Posted: Sat Nov 24, 2007 2:56 am
by stumpytrain
AndyK wrote:I suspect (entirely without evidence of course) that it will be well-meaning, politically correct and bland.
Funnily enough I share your fear which is why despite working next to the museum I've never visited! I think I probably also boycott it because of their use of the trainshed for exhibitions; the vans clogging the car park entrance so I canÆt get in to work really frustrates me!
My suggestion about the railway making a return to the old station was with tongue firmly in cheek but it is a shame that this would never happen. You are correct that it would involve the demolition of Bristol Panel (though resignalling surely canÆt be that far off). But sadly even if this obstacle could be overcome the operational benefits of an additional bay platform and the lengthening platform 1 would never be greater than the financial rewards of developing the car park trainshed into retail space which is apparently on the cards...
Alex
Posted: Sat Nov 24, 2007 7:46 pm
by Roger
I also share your views about the museum - I have not been there either. But doesn't this sum up all that is wrong with Bristol? The awful bus service, the overcrowed train services, the possibility of not having a decent concert hall, traffic chaos - I could go on and on!!!!!!!
Posted: Sat Nov 24, 2007 9:04 pm
by stopblock
Now that would be such a good idea to demolish bristol panel and keep some of your fellow siganllers in there while doing so
. At least the door at St andrews is always open for a cuppa
Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2007 6:02 am
by stumpytrain
stopblock wrote:At least the door at St andrews is always open for a cuppa
Have you ever been refused a cup of tea from Bristol panel? We regularly have EWS and Freightliner up here, though I have to admit not normally mere shunters...
Alex
Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2007 10:12 pm
by stopblock
I've been up there for a cuppa in the glory days of RES .Got to come and collect donations from your senior signalman up there for a retirement gift for mr breaky.
Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2007 3:01 am
by Agency_Scum
I had a really good look around when the caretaker gave me a tour of I.K.B.'s offices. To be honest.....you weren't missing much. A bit.........dull. Static glass displays and piped " MacHistory "Ö over the tannoys. Looking up was much more facinating as the original vents for the steam engines are still there! Preserved in all their oak glory.
Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2007 8:50 am
by stumpytrain
It would make an excellent museum of the Broad Gauge!
Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2007 2:02 pm
by Agency_Scum
Good idea. Plus, Bristle don't have an I.K.B. museum. The PC mafia are always banging on about Bristol's shameful slave-trade past ( it's a very good point but it's the way they do it that makes them borish buggers ). Well we've got the man who was one of the few who made Bristol, no; THE COUNTRY, Great....Brunel. What a monument!
Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2007 3:51 pm
by stumpytrain
Agency_Scum wrote:Good idea. Plus, Bristle don't have an I.K.B. museum. The PC mafia are always banging on about Bristol's shameful slave-trade past ( it's a very good point but it's the way they do it that makes them borish buggers ). Well we've got the man who was one of the few who made Bristol, no; THE COUNTRY, Great....Brunel. What a monument!
A museum of Brunel and his engineering achievements would be excellent. Sadly I don't think it would ever happen! It would be an excellent way to use the Old Station though. Where better to have a museum than in one of his creations?
Alex
Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2007 11:00 pm
by Shazz
This isnt something to do with the huge revamp Network rail plan to do to BTM and using the old station etc as well is it?
Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2007 11:24 pm
by Agency_Scum
Ooh. That would be agreeable.......I think.
Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2007 1:09 am
by stumpytrain
Shazz wrote:This isnt something to do with the huge revamp Network rail plan to do to BTM and using the old station etc as well is it?
If only! The Digby Wyatt extension to the old station (currently a car park) is currently earmarked as a retail area.
Alex