Future developments: restoration of the Long Shop

The museum is about to embark on the exciting adventure of restoring and developing the Long Shop - helping us to become an attraction of national significance.

The significance of the Long Shop

The Long Shop is the museum's most significant building. It is Grade II* listed, defined by English Heritage as "particularly important buildings of more than special interest" and today it is considered to be one of the most important industrial heritage buildings in the country. Construction started in 1852, following the success of Garretts' stand at the 1851 Great Exhibition. The Long Shop was first purpose-built flow-line assembly hall for portable steam engines in the world and its impressive scale and proportions led workers to name it affectionately "The Cathedral".

Original features such as the gantry crane, wooden floor blocks, intended to cushion falling cast iron parts, and the remains of drive shafts in the walls surrounded by oil staining make it easy to understand this space and imagine it in use. In the centre of the gallery is a large light-well which, together with the huge arched Victorian windows, throws lots of light into the building, creating a wonderful atmosphere and a superb space for visitors.

What do we plan to do?

Restoration and improved access The Long Shop is in need of considerable repair and restoration work. Large parts of the roof are failing and much of the historic brickwork needs replacing; windows are rotting, the walls are suffering from damp and much of the internal timber work is in need of replacement. We will fully restore this important piece of industrial heritage, protecting it for future generations. We will also improve access, creating for the first time a level entrance into the building and installing a lift that will give everyone the chance to appreciate this wonderful space.

Displays for the 21st century To help bring to life the history of the Long Shop and its workforce, we are going to commission new, professionally designed, displays, with an emphasis on the human stories behind the machinery. And we will bring the story bang up to date by looking at the topics that most concern people today: the future of fuel and power production, environmental protection and how individual communities can sustain themselves in a globalised world.

Education and participation The restoration of the Long Shop should be a two way process, providing an ideal opportunity for both the local and wider communities to get involved. They might participate by learning about and helping to protect their industrial heritage, or by acquiring useful practical or communication skills, benefiting both themselves and the museum. In addition, there will be opportunities for vulnerable, disadvantaged and young people to take part.

We intend that the restoration project should form a valuable ongoing resource for educational groups across a wide age range and we are planning to employ a professional to help us create a suitable programme and materials.

Restoration Project News

In March, the Heritage Lottery Fund announced that the Museum had been successful in its bid for a 'Stage One' Grant for the Project - which will help us to develop an exciting project, to be delivered if it get further approval from HLF at stage two. 

During the Summer, the Museum appointed a Project Director - Anna Mercer and a Participation and Outreach Officer for the Project - Bernadette Bidmead - both of whom have previously worked with other museums in the Region. Bernadette is building up contacts with a variety of local groups, and will be working both with existing volunteers and recruiting new volunteers, to ensure that the Museum - and the Restoration Project - are supported by and respond to the needs of the local community. More work on consulting the local community to help shape the project will be done by an Audience Development Consultant. In the meantime, Anna has been busy recruiting the team of specialists who will work on the project - including Architects and Museum Designers. Anna and Bernadette are working alongside existing Museum Staff to ensure that the museum's existing strengths are built on. 

We will add further information here as the Project develops.