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Bann Valley Museum & Historical House Project
The museum and historical house will be situated in Church Square Banbridge County Down Northern Ireland.
Bann Valley CIC is presently developing its project plan and applying for funding for restoration, site development, museum design, fit out and exhibition design. The project is important to the built heritage of Northern Ireland and Banbridge as it will preserve the interior and exterior of a early 19th century building located in the historical sector of the town. Unlike many of the buildings in this area the barracks and constables house still has many of their original architectural features. The project is also important to the community of Banbridge as it will provide access to a museum portraying local, national and world Pre-history and history. It will also provide a community educational facility for schools, colleges and members of the community housed in the first of two proposed new builds. The ground floor of the second build (the community complex building) will be used by the community, community groups, schools and independent local and national community artist's. Within the barracks building there will be a community exhibition room where people can display their own collections from 1-6 months. The project will not only provide a museum but will help to regenerate the economic well being of the town and upgrade the urban townscape.
The heritage at present is not being preserved, renovated or conserved, however through the proposed project the heritage will be restored, reused and managed as a museum and a historical house with universal access. At present access to the buildings is not permitted due to their poor state of disrepair. In 2003 a D.O.E. Officer for the environment and heritage sector, Building's at risk Department stated that the R.U.C barracks 'preservation is poor' and that its 'degree of risk is high'. He also quotes that this is 'the first time that this building as ever been placed on the at the risk register'.
The Museum will provide both semi-permanent and permanent exhibitions. The exhibitions will tell the story of Banbridge, Down and the Bann valley regions, through the collections and use of important local and regional collections. Additionally the museum will display collections from around the world which correspond to the relevant time periods on display of Banbridge, Down and the Bann Valley regions. This will be done to highlight the cultural and technological similarities and difference's between the country of origin and island of Ireland. The constables house will represent a living history of c1832-1890 and will display genuine and replicated domestic furnishings relevant to the time period of the lower middle class. The outbuilding attached to the constables house will be converted into a Bistro and incorporated into the old barracks by a glass extension. Bannview Bistro will provide free Internet access with a purchase. The project will provide educational visits to the museum, an outreach program, acquire artefact's, archives, restore, conserve and preserve the appearance of two early nineteenth century buildings and 3 early 20th century outbuildings.
On the opening of Bann Valley Museum you will be able to sample the rich heritage of Banbridge, County Down and the Bann Valley region which will be brought to life in fascinating exhibitions, lively events, hands-on activities and education programmes. The museum will be located in a early nineteenth century historical building which was once the estate office of the 3rd Marquis of Downshire and the old RIC/RUC barracks. In addition to walking through the restored complex, visitors can learn more about 10,000 years of human, animal, plant and geological history of County Down and other cultures from around the world.
Fundraising and DonationsBann Valley CIC would like the local and wider community of Banbridge the Bann Valley Regions and those of you further afield to help by Donating Artifacts, Volunteer time and or Financial Donations. Financial Donations will help raise the 5% needed for each of the funding bodies to go towards the funding of Bann Valley Museum, at present the total cost of the museum project is estimated at 3.5 million pounds. The 3.5 million will be sought by at least 5 different funding bodies making the total Bann Valley CIC will have to contribute being £175,000.
Monies raised and or donated by or on behalf of Bann Valley CIC, by external bodies, groups or individuals for the museum project, shall be applied to further the aims of the project namely the restoration of the buildings, site development, museum design and fitout, exhibitions, documents, artefacts, furniture, books, papers and the Victorian house project. Donate your COPPERS help restore old police barracks and associated buildings.
More about our collections, exhibitions, events and learning programs will follow.
Please feel free to sign the questbook
© Bann Valley CIC 2010 | |
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