Repair works to begin on publicly-owned museums

Thanet District Council said work on the roof of Margate Museum would take four weeks

Work is due to start on repairing two of Thanet’s publicly-owned museums, the council has said.

Thanet District Council (TDC) said scaffolding would be installed in Margate Museum, as well as the adjoining Old Town Hall, so repairs to the roofs and joinery could be made on both buildings.

The authority said the work would take four weeks, with the pathway between the two buildings closed.

Work would be undertaken later on the roof if the Dickens House Museum in Broadstairs, it said.

The museum would be closed to the public from 4 November, with the work expected to be completed ahead of the museum's planned Christmas events, said TDC.

Repairs would also be carried out at the Tudor House in Margate, to rectify damage caused by vandalism.

TDC said a specialist contractor was needed for the work at Tudor House, which it said may not begin until winter 2024, or even spring 2025.

It added that work was also expected to start at the Ramsgate Maritime Museum in spring 2025, as part of the Levelling Up Fund programme.

'Enriching our offer'

The work needed at each of the council’s museums was identified through a series of condition surveys.

These informed the level of investment needed to carry out essential repairs and maintenance, said the authority.

Councillor Ruth Duckworth said: "Each of our museums has its own unique displays, collections and stories and together they play an important role in enriching our offer for residents and visitors.

"The planned repair works are the first step to bringing the museum buildings up to date, with the appropriate conditions for our important historical collections."