Bressingham Steam Museum blown away after winning £429,719 grant

Delighted staff at a popular steam museum are overjoyed after being awarded a grant for £429,719

Bressingham Steam Museum has been awarded the money by the Museum Estate and Development Fund, part of the Government’s long-term plan to support local economies.

It will use the money for repairs to the deteriorating roof of its locomotive exhibition hall for its nationally significant collection – and improving visitor experience.

Rob Ellis, a trustee at the museum, said: “When we found out our bid had been successful, we were blown away.

“When the email came through to the office and then went round the network of people’s messaging, it was absolutely fantastic.

“It’s our biggest building, originally erected in 1967 by Alan Bloom. When he put it up it was a bit of a gamble because he built it with the express purpose of trying to get big steam engines that were, at that time, being withdrawn from British Railways.

“The British Railways Board was trying to find places where they could send individual members of particular classes.

“He built it on the hope that they would grant it and they did. We’ve still got national railway collection engines there even now.”

The Museum Estate Fund is designed to support projects at museums, important repairs and improve the visitor experiences around the country.

Awards have ranged from £50,000 to £5 million.

Rob added: “The roof of the exhibition hall is old-fashioned, kind of agricultural and, really, approaching the end of its life.

“At some point the current roof will fail. It hasn’t failed yet, but it’s at the point it becomes problematic.

“The money is to remove all of the roof and replace it with a new one, to prevent water damage and to create a safe and more comfortable environment for visitors and staff.

“The new roof will safeguard irreplaceable exhibits and also help strengthen our partnerships with the National Railway Museum and North Norfolk Railway.

“North Norfolk Railway sent their big engine, Black Prince, to us last year and it’s just making sure that we can display them in very much the right way.

“The money means we will be able to protect our assets, display them better and enhance our visitor experience. It will also give our staff and volunteers a nicer environment to work in, particularly in the workshop.

“This will help future-proof the building.”

Bressingham Steam Museum currently has around 30 locomotives.

In the exhibition hall are six steam locomotives and two royal coaches alongside stationary engines as well as a workshop and restoration area.

The engines range from the 1880s through to the most modern one, the Black Prince from the North Norfolk Railway, which dates from the late 1950s.

The museum put the bid together with the help of English Heritage and the Arts Council.

Some 29 museums around the country have been granted a share of almost £25 million to upgrade their buildings. In the East of England, more than £3.5 million has been awarded across five museums.