PLANS to convert the former Petersfield police station into a new-look museum have been given a mystery £300,000 boost.
Turning the Victorian building in St Peter’s Road into a state-of-the-art museum for the town is likely to cost around £2.4m, and it is hoped about £1.2m will come from a successful Heritage Lottery Fund bid.
The application is due to be submitted around March next year but, for it to be approved, museum trustees must have the same amount, £1.2m, in hand to match the lottery funding.
The museum has now been set well on its way towards that total, thanks to the annonymous donation. Financial spokesman for the trustees, Jeremy Mitchell, said: “We had about a quarter of the match funding already, but this very generous grant takes us to about half.
“It came from a Hampshire trust who wants to remain anonymous that we have been talking to for some time about the project, and we cannot thank them enough for this.”
An architect, project manager, quantity surveyor and structural engineer have now been appointed to work on the ambitious project.
The police station opened in 1858 and the conversion project could take more than two years to complete.
Trustee Bill Gosney said: “The importance of this grant can’t be overstated – it is very generous and we are very grateful, it’s wonderful.”
As well as the construction team, activity planners and exhibition designers have been hired to look at how the museum should be laid out and used so visitors gain the most enjoyment.
Mr Gosney said: “They will be looking at how the inside should be set out, and what kind of things would attract visitors.
“As part of their brief they will be carrying out market research in the town.
“It’s getting really intense now, with regular planning meetings. Once we have detailed plans, there will be a public consultation to collect views and opinions.
“The project seems to have caught people’s imagination, and more and more are joining the Friends of Petersfield Museum group.”
For more information visit the website: www.petersfieldmuseum.co.uk or contact curator Katherine West on 01730 260756.