Alistair Hardaker
Image: Grantham Museum in 2014 (CC BY-SA 2.0 Richard Croft)
Grantham Museum has closed for £162,000 infrastructure improvements, reopening 2 October to host Margaret Thatcher centenary programme.
Grantham Museum has closed for a five-week renovation programme, with plans to reopen on 2 October 2025.
The museum will reopen to host events and a display as part of ‘Thatcher Fest’, marking the 100th birthday of Grantham-born Margaret Thatcher. Last April the museum rejected a call to be renamed after the former prime minister,
The £162,000 project, funded through South Kesteven District Council’s Future High Street Fund allocation from Government, includes installation of a new heating system, kitchen facilities and basement ventilation system. The improvements precede the return of the Grantham Collection, approximately 20,000 artefacts moved into storage when the museum changed its operating model in 2010.
Vivian Reichelt, chair of the museum, said the investment “not only supports the improvements about to begin but also strengthens our ability to plan for the future – ensuring the Museum can continue to inspire, educate, and celebrate Grantham’s rich history for generations to come.”
During the closure, volunteers are updating exhibitions and carrying out redecoration work. The museum is delivering pop-up activities in the community and plans to participate in Heritage Open Days 2025.
Deputy Leader of South Kesteven District Council, Cllr Paul Stokes, said: ““We are proud to assist this with investment through the Future High Street Fund, both to support the Museum’s long-term sustainability, along with the further development of a vibrant heritage and cultural offer in Grantham town centre.”
The museum said the collection’s relocation remains a long-term project requiring several years to complete, as environmental conditions must be monitored and conservation work undertaken on sensitive items.
Discussions between Grantham Community Heritage Association, which operates the museum, and Lincolnshire County Council Heritage Services about the collection’s return are ongoing. Further funding will be required, whilst the precise inventory will depend on what can be conserved, preserved and accommodated.
