Capital gains as refit reveals modern stories of London

21 February 2007

Museum of London‘s £19 million redevelopment of its lower galleries will retell the story of London and Londoners from 1666 to the present day.

The Capital City project, which is the largest the Museum has seen since opening in 1976 will revamp the galleries, with an innovative design by Wilkinson Ayre architects that opens up 25% more gallery space and creates a glass frontage overlooking London Wall.

The new galleries will open in 2009 with significantly increased access to the Museum’s objects, both in the galleries and online, and will also include a new Clore Learning Centre, a theatre and the Sackler Hall containing an information zone and coffee point.

Throughout the redevelopment work, which begins March 2007, visitors will continue to be able to discover the city's many incarnations in the London before London, Roman London, and Medieval London galleries, together with London's Burning, a special display on the Great Fire and a series of topical exhibitions. A full programme of activities and events for all ages, bringing London's past and present to life, will continue.

With the museum now 30 years old, the facelift will thoroughly modernise the galleries and create a destination that Londoners will find as enriching, diverse and inspirational as the city itself.

The logistical and technical approach to the work has taken into account the need to minimise noise, dust and disruption to neighbours, visitors and staff. Contractors, Banner Holdings, have been carefully selected for their experience of working with museums in residential areas. All building works will be undertaken during normal office hours.

The Museum's redevelopment is being supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund which has pledged £11.5 million towards the project. The campaign has also attracted support from a diversity of philanthropists, corporate contacts, trusts and foundations and individuals including the Clore Duffield Foundation, the Fidelity Foundation, the Rayne Foundation, the Weston Foundation, the DCMS/Wolfson Foundation, the City of London Corporation, the London Development Agency, Lord Foster, Lloyds of London, Johnson Matthey plc, British Telecommuniations plc, Ashurst, the John Lewis Partnership and Royal Mail.

The Museum is in its final stage of fundraising to raise £1.8 million to complete this project. Companies and individuals can make their own mark in the new Capital City displays by ‘buying a year of London's history’ - one of the fundraising schemes supporting Museum of London's landmark project to retell four centuries of London life. For more information see www.museumoflondon.org.uk/buyayear or call 020 7814 5592.

Notes to editors

1. For press enquiries and images, please contact the press office on 020 7814 5607 or  press@museumoflondon.org.uk.
2. The Museum of London is part of a wider group which includes: Museum in Docklands, Museum of London Archaeology Service (MoLAS) and the London Archaeological Archive and Resource centre (LAARC). 
3. From March 2007 to Summer 2009, the museum will be redeveloping its lower galleries to retell the story of London and Londoners from 1666 to the present day.  The £19 million project, which is the largest the Museum has seen since opening in 1976, will revitalize the galleries, open up 25% more gallery space and create a glass frontage overlooking London Wall.  The new galleries will open in 2009 with significantly increased access to the Museum’s objects, both in the galleries and online, and will also include a new Clore Learning Centre, a theatre and The Sackler Hall containing an information zone and coffee point.3. 
4. Throughout the redevelopment work, visitors will continue to be able to discover the city's many incarnations in the London before London, Roman London, and Medieval London galleries, together with London's Burning and a series of topical exhibitions.  A full programme of activities and events for all ages, bringing London's past and present to life, will continue.