Museum marks anniversary with gallery reopening

The Shipyard Gallery is reopening to the public after undergoing renovation

A museum is celebrating its 30th anniversary with a host of events and the reopening of a refurbished gallery.

The Dock Museum in Barrow is holding a weekend of family-friendly activities, in additions to reopening the Shipyard Gallery, to mark its 30th birthday.

The gallery opening marks the completion of the wider Shipyard Town project, funded by the National Lottery and other partners, which tells the story of the town's shipbuilding industry.

Charlotte Hawley, collections manager at the Dock Museum, said there would be "something new for everyone to enjoy".

"We are so very proud of our museum, telling the stories about the people who have made Barrow great and its industrial past, present and future, on a global scale," she said.

The museum, owned by Westmorland and Furness Council, was partially closed over the summer while work was carried out.

The Shipyard Gallery was reopened by His Majesty’s Deputy Lieutenant for Cumbria, Commander Philip Burns MBE, during a private ceremony on Friday.

Events will take place throughout the weekend to celebrate the museum's 30th anniversary

It reopened to the public on Saturday, offering children’s workshops, such as how to construct a hovercraft, and printmaking, which are scheduled to run throughout the weekend.

The Shipyard Town project has also seen the creation of a new research pod and a number of new staff have been recruited.

Councillor Virginia Taylor, member for sustainable communities, said the town was "rightly proud" of its shipbuilding heritage.

"Now the Shipyard Town project is complete, we have more exciting exhibits to showcase and share our long and important history," she said.