In this section
Press releases
- The Museum of London celebrates city's sporting hero with new display on Harry Kane
- The Museum of London presents 'Grime Stories: from the corner to the mainstream', opening 17 June 2022
- Statue of Robert Milligan joins Museum of London collection
- 300 year old love message embroidered in human hair to go on display at the Museum of London Docklands
- Museum of London begins countdown to West Smithfield relocation
- Douglas Gilmore appointed Managing Director of Museum of London Docklands
- The Prince of Wales becomes Museum of London Patron
- The Clash’s Paul Simonon’s famous Fender Precision bass to go on display
- Stanton Williams and Asif Khan to design new Museum of London at West Smithfield
- Museum of London acquires ensemble inspired by the creativity of the Windrush generation
- Feeding Black: Community, Power & Place opening 16 July at Museum of London Docklands
- Museum of London acquires NHS sign from ZSL London Zoo’s Giraffe House as part of Collecting COVID
- Museum of London sites set to reopen 19 May with extensions of Dub London: Bassline of a City and Havering Hoard: A Bronze Age Mystery
- Museum of London acquires Mayor of Lambeth’s homemade ceremonial chain as part of Collecting COVID project
- Museum of London acquires ‘viral’ Tweets for Collecting COVID
- Weavers’ Company donate £100,000 to the Museum of London’s move to Smithfield
- Museum of London receives Trump Baby blimp ahead of the Presidential Inauguration
- Museum of London to collect COVID dreams
- Arsenal’s captain donates Black Lives Matter shirt to the Museum of London
- Dub London: Bassline of a City opening 2 October at the Museum of London
- Public statement October 2020
- London Sugar & Slavery gallery
- New major exhibition Havering Hoard: A Bronze Age Mystery opens 11 September at the Museum of London Docklands
- Robert Milligan statue statement
- Museum of London sites to reopen 6 August with four-week extension of The Clash: London Calling display
- Public statement
- Museum of London releases first ever recorded soundscapes of London alongside new recordings of London in lockdown as part of Collecting COVID project
- Design concepts for new museum at West Smithfield revealed
- The Museum of London collects shared experiences of Ramadan in lockdown as part of Collecting COVID project
- Unheard oral histories are released by the Museum of London to mark Windrush Day
- Collecting Covid: the Museum of London seeks to mark unprecedented pandemic for the future
- Millicent Fawcett’s ‘Steadfastness and Courage’ brooch to go on permanent display for the first time
- Museum of London submits plans to create a new world-class cultural destination in West Smithfield
- King Charles I’s execution vest to go on display in new major exhibition
- Museum of London to celebrate Dub Reggae and its influence on the capital
- East End bastion Syd’s coffee stall to be donated to the Museum of London
- Free exhibit celebrating the making of The Clash’s ground-breaking album ‘London Calling’ now open
- Museum of London acquires extremely rare plate that belonged to Samuel Pepys
- The story of the Krios of Sierra Leone to be told in the Museum of London Docklands’ latest display
- Museum of London to host The Clash: London Calling exclusive free exhibit of over 100 personal items
- The largest ever Bronze Age hoard in London has been discovered
- Designs for Museum of London’s new West Smithfield home revealed
- Smithfield Street Party
- Museum of London hopes to acquire both the Trump Baby Blimp and the Sadiq Khan Blimp as part of their permanent collection
- Secret Rivers
- Beasts of London
- Recently acquired panorama goes on display for the first time at the Museum of London
- Museum of London appoints leading names to Board of Governors
- Earliest skull ever mudlarked from the Thames to go on display at the Museum of London
- Museum of London acquires beautiful panorama of lost Houses of Parliament
- Bengali arts and culture on show at the Museum of London Docklands family festival.
- Young Londoners to take over Museum of London this March
- Treasured children’s author Jacqueline Wilson’s latest book Wave Me Goodbye inspires family day at the Museum of London Docklands
- Adventures in Peter Pan’s Neverland at Museum of London Docklands
- Photography of Londoners and their pastimes on show at Museum of London
- Museum of London Docklands celebrates Chinese New Year this February half term
- Museum of London Docklands to showcase rare Roman sarcophagus in first public display
- “Reputational whitewashing” investigated in latest display at the Museum of London Docklands.
- Taste not waste: Be inspired by unique recipes using your leftover food for a more sustainable future London
- Whitechapel’s famous monster fatberg is coming to the Museum of London
- An Idea for a Future London open call winner announced
- London Visions: Hypothetical scenarios of a future London
- Rare George Cross medal goes on display at the Museum of London Docklands
- Smithfield street party: Museum of London celebrates 150 years of Smithfield markets
- Technology replacing jobs won’t halt our working spirit
- Learn how to code like a pro and celebrate digital technology at the Museum of London’s free family festival
- Votes for Women programme
- All aboard for the Maritime music festival
- New display reveals complex history of British Army’s West India Regiments
- Paddington returns to Museum of London
- Bonus Levels: Artist Lawrence Lek invites viewers to re-imagine future London
- The Museum of London hopes to acquire Whitechapel 'fatberg'
- The City is Ours: A Tale of New Cities
- Tracking London’s most talked about topics and emojis
- London Nights: Museum of London unveils the city at night in major photography exhibition
- Statement on 20 May 2017
- Malcolm Reading Consultants appointed to run West Smithfield International Design Competition
- What does the future hold for London and cities around the world?
- Museum of London releases third and final Great Fire 1666 Minecraft map
- Museum of London acquires 100 menswear items worn by townscape consultant Francis Golding
- 8,000 years of human history on display at the Museum of London Docklands
- Five Museum of London apprentices appointed
- Museum of London displays recently acquired Sutherland drawings in new exhibition of Blitz artwork
- Mayor of London and City of London Corporation pledge support for new Museum of London at West Smithfield
- Museum of London uses Minecraft to recreate the Great Fire of 1666
- Rare tools give insight into working lives of Roman Londoners at the Museum of London
- Museum of London opens most theatrical exhibition ever to mark 350th anniversary of the Great Fire of London
- New display at the Museum of London traces the capital’s obsession with ice skating
- Historic vessels Knocker White and Varlet set sail to new home at Trinity Buoy Wharf
- Missing Bake Off? Take your taste buds back in time with 17th century gingerbread
- Rare Victoria Cross with mysterious story to go on display at the Museum of London
- Museum of London bolsters its art collections
- 17th century fire engine restored for Great Fire exhibition
- Museum of London boosts Great Fire collections with mysterious manuscript
- Major new gallery at Museum of London Docklands explores history of the world's largest docks
- Sir Edward Lister joins Museum of London Board of Governors
- West Smithfield Design Competition shortlist announced
- West Smithfield International Design Competition launched
- After dark at The Night Museum
- Another record-breaking year for the Museum of London
- New display about the life of ‘The Royal African’ and the slave trade
- Joe Corré, Jordan and Richard Boon to appear in an uncensored, live Punk.London debate
- People of Punk bring the year of celebration to an end
- Tunnel: the archaeology of Crossrail
- New research to shed fresh light on the impact of industrialisation
- Our statement on Fabric
- Behind the Scenes of the Museum of London
Museum of London submits plans to create a new world-class cultural destination in West Smithfield
10 January 2020
- The Museum of London has submitted a planning application to create a new, world-class museum within a series of historic buildings at West Smithfield
- If the plans are approved the new museum - one of the biggest cultural projects happening anywhere in Europe – will become one of the top ten visitor attractions in London, capable of welcoming over two million people a year
- The submission follows a comprehensive programme of public engagement, to which the Museum welcomed thousands of Londoners and visitors and demonstrated widespread support for the plans
The Museum of London has announced that it has submitted a planning application to the City of London Corporation that seeks to transform a campus of market buildings in West Smithfield into a world-class, 24-hour cultural destination.
The proposals seek to preserve much of the historic fabric of the old market buildings that make up the site, some of which date back to the Victorian era and have fallen into disrepair, by making relatively few contemporary interventions. The cavernous and atmospheric spaces that exist both above and below ground would serve as display, exhibition, learning and events space, within which the museum will host a broader and more diverse range of exhibitions and activities than ever before in order to broaden its visitor profile and redefine what a museum can be.
Designed by the architectural team of Stanton Williams and Asif Khan with Julian Harrap Architects, the aspiration for this new museum is for it to become one of the top ten attractions in the capital, capable of welcoming over two million visitors a year.
The submission of a planning application is the latest milestone for the project, which was formally announced in 2015. The City of London Corporation will now assess the application, before its elected Planning and Transportation Committee take a decision on whether to approve the plans later this year.
If planning consent is granted the new Museum of London, one of the biggest cultural projects happening in Europe, would become one of the highlights of the City of London’s Culture Mile. Located in the north-western part of the City, it will significantly contribute to the revitalisation of the Smithfield area by building on the opportunities presented by the new Elizabeth line at Farringdon Station.
A comprehensive programme of engagement with Londoners has been ongoing since the plans to move the Museum of London from London Wall to West Smithfield were revealed in 2015, which has demonstrated widespread support for the proposals with 96% of respondents in favour of the plans. The main phase of this public engagement revolved around a series of exhibitions of the proposals that the museum held at West Smithfield and at London Wall in July 2019, to which it welcomed thousands of visitors from across the capital and beyond.
Sharon Ament, Director of the Museum of London, said:
“This is an important milestone for the project, as we formally set out our plans to transform the West Smithfield site and in doing so transform the idea of what a museum can be. It has been four years of hard work by a dedicated and talented project team in order to get here and, while we still have a while to go and money to raise before we open the doors to the new Museum, this is nevertheless a significant step forward to turning our vision into reality.
Paul Williams OBE, Principal Director at Stanton Williams, said:
"The opportunity to help reinvent, reimagine and transform a group of existing Market Buildings into a 21st century museum is an extraordinary opportunity – especially in an area of London so rich in history. Smithfield is a perfect location for the Museum of London, the place itself has so many stories to be told, and traces of the past to engage with.”
The City of London Corporation has made an unprecedented investment into the project by putting forward £197 million of the £337 million needed to deliver the scheme. This includes an additional £5 million that was approved by the Court of Common Council in September 2019. A capped contribution of £70m has also been made by the Mayor of London, which was announced in January 2017.
The Museum of London has continued in its fundraising efforts, securing a total of £28 million so far, leaving a further £42 million to raise before the project is delivered. It has already received generous donations of £10m from the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths and their affiliated Charity, £10m from the Linbury Trust and £5m from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Global law firm, DLA Piper, is the project’s inaugural Corporate Champion.
The Planning Application covers the General Market, Poultry Market and a suite of buildings known as The Annexe, which includes the Fish Market, Red House and Engine House. A Listed Building Consent Application for the Grade II-listed Poultry Market has also been submitted.
-ENDS-
NOTES FOR EDITORS
For more press information please contact:
Laura Bates
Assistant Head of Communications
Museum of London
[email protected] 07966 990 816
Declan Bennett
Account Manager
London Communications Agency
[email protected] 07952 835
The Museum of London tells the ever-changing story of this great world city and its people, from 450,000 BC to the present day. Our galleries, exhibitions, displays and activities seek to inspire a passion for London and provide a sense of the vibrancy that makes the city such a unique place.
The Museum of London is on the move. We want to tell the extraordinary story of London and Londoners in a new museum in West Smithfield, which itself is a deeply fascinating and historic area. We want to engage Londoners with their city and its history and display many more objects from our rich collection. Further information about the move and plans so far: http://museum.london/ #NewMuseum
About the Planning Application
The Museum of London has submitted a Planning Application for:
General Market
Partial demolition, repair, refurbishment and extension of the existing building known as the General Market at 43 Farringdon Street on the basement, ground, first and roof levels; creation of a new entrance structure on West Poultry Avenue (and associated refurbishment of the existing canopy over West Poultry Avenue) with new facades to West Smithfield and Charterhouse Street; new entrances on the corner of Farringdon Street and Charterhouse Street; Change of use to provide a museum and ancillary uses and areas, together with a flexible retail, restaurant, drinking establishment and leisure (gym) use for the perimeter 'houses'.
Poultry Market
Partial demolition, repair, refurbishment and alteration of the existing building known as the Poultry Market, Charterhouse Street at basement, ground and first levels; change of use to a museum and ancillary uses and areas.
Annexe Site (Red House, Iron Mountain, Fish Market and Engine House)
Partial demolition, refurbishment and extension of the existing buildings known as the Annexe Site at 25 Snow Hill and 29 Smithfield Street at basement, ground, first, second and third levels; creation of a triple height canopy above a public realm space; change of use to a flexible museum, offices, retail, restaurant, drinking establishment, events and functions use. Refurbishment of and minor alterations to the existing building known as the Engine House at West Smithfield at basement and ground levels; Change of use to a flexible retail and museum use.
The Museum of London has submission a Listed Building Consent Application for:
Part demolition, repair, and refurbishment of the building known at the Poultry Market, Charterhouse Street at ground, first and basement levels, associated with a change of use of the building to provide a museum and ancillary uses and areas; including: works associated with an entrance structure on West Poultry Avenue; internal alterations including creation of a part new first floor; fabric removal and refurbishment on all floors; replacement glazing; facade cleaning and other façade repair; levelling of ground floor; works of repair to the roof; installation of new heating and cooling equipment; new M&E services; repurposing of the south service bay and associated infill structure; remodelling of the north service bay; internal decoration; replacement balustrade; and other associated works as shown on the submitted plans and drawings.
About the City of London Corporation:
The City of London Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile dedicated to a vibrant and thriving City, supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally-successful UK. www.cityoflondon.gov.uk
About Culture Mile
Led by the City of London Corporation with the Barbican, Guildhall School of Music & Drama, London Symphony Orchestra and the Museum of London, Culture Mile’s five core partners are leading the transformation of the area, improving their offer to audiences with imaginative collaborations, outdoor programming and events seven days a week. Stretching just under a mile from Farringdon to Moorgate, Culture Mile has creative exchange, cultural collaboration, and learning at its core in an area where 2,000 years of history collide with the world’s best in culture.
About the Goldsmiths’ Company
The Goldsmiths’ Company received its Royal Charter in 1327 and celebrates its 700th anniversary in 2027. One of the twelve major Livery Companies of the City of London, today the purpose of the Goldsmiths' Company is to contribute to national life by supporting its related crafts, industry and trade and through wider charitable and educational activity. The Company’s Assay Office has been responsible since 1300 for testing the quality of precious metals. The Company is the principal patron of contemporary jewellers and silversmiths, continuing to play an important role in support of the craft by funding apprenticeships and assisting with the technical training of aspiring designer-makers. In 2012, the Goldsmiths’ Centre in Clerkenwell was opened, a state-of-the-art facility comprised of workshops, exhibition space and conference facilities.
In addition, The Goldsmiths’ Company Charity supports a range of charitable causes and educational projects with schools and teachers. Read about some of our most recently supported charities here. The Goldsmiths’ Company’s private collection of silver is one of the largest of its kind in the UK, comprising 9,000 items dating from 1300 to the present day. Its contemporary collections are world renowned.
About the design team
The design team comprises of Stanton Williams and Asif Khan, working with the conservation architect Julian Harrap. They won the international design competition to design the new museum at West Smithfield. Their proposed scheme was an outstanding example of London creativity and showed innovative thinking, sensitivity to the heritage of the existing market buildings and an understanding of the practicalities of creating a great museum experience.
Stanton Williams Stanton Williams is an award-winning architecture practice, with a reputation for carefully crafted architecture. Founded by Alan Stanton OBE and Paul Williams OBE in 1985, it has successfully completed over 350 architectural, urban design, master-planning, exhibition and interior design projects, winning more than 150 prestigious industry awards including the 2012 RIBA Stirling Prize for the Sainsbury Laboratory in Cambridge. Recent London work has included the ‘Open Up’ transformation of the Royal Opera House and the new Zayed Centre for Research into Rare Disease in Children at Great Ormond Street Hospital. www.stantonwilliams.com
Asif Khan is a research and development-led architecture studio who design buildings, landscapes, exhibitions and installations, amongst other things. The practice explores how material and social innovations can fundamentally alter the way people experience and shape their environment. Asif Khan was awarded an MBE for services to Architecture in 2017 and his studio was named ‘Architects of the Year’ by the German Design Council in 2018. He designed the award-winning UK Pavilion at Astana Expo in 2017, the Hyundai Pavilion at the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics and is currently working on the Tselinny Centre of Contemporary Culture in Almaty and the Dubai Expo 2020 public realm. www.asif-khan.com
Julian Harrap Architects is a distinguished medium-sized architectural practice specialising in the repair and restoration of historic buildings, estates and landscapes and the design of extensions and new buildings in historic settings. Their projects have included The Monument in the City of London, the Medieval & Renaissance Galleries at the Victoria and Albert Museum, and the Neues Museum in Berlin.