Ipswich Museum to temporarily close next month for major refurbishments

Ipswich Museum will close next month to allow for an £8.7m refurbishment to take place.

The grade II listed building will shut its doors on October 2 at 5pm to allow it to modernise its interior.

The redesign is not expected to be complete until 2025, but occasional open days will occur to allow the public to track progress.

From then, visitors can expect the museum to be more open while still retaining its famous Victorian look.

While most exhibit changes are in the early stages, some have been revealed.

Additional lifts will be added and floors will be levelled-out to increase accessibility.

The gift shop's size will be increased, while a new coffee shop will be added.

The famous mammoth display will be moved to a dedicated Ice Age exhibit, while others will be kept in place due to how fragile they are.

Councillor Carole Jones said the project will see the museum's facilities improved and increase access for all.

She added: "The architectural beauty of Ipswich Museum will be restored to its former glory as we preserve the fabric and fittings in the Natural History Gallery, and improve the fabric of the building."

The overhaul could also make the building greener.

Cllr Jones concluded: “I’m very pleased that we will be opening up spaces to exhibit more of our collections, and look forward to supporting this project, which will help ensure that our much-loved Museum will be a wonderful place to visit for years to come.”

The public will be able to play a role in how these changes play out by taking part in focus groups or open days.

This will allow the council to ensure the changes to the building are done in line with residents' wishes.

From next Spring, temporary displays will be put up inside the Museum providing detail on the planned changes, which can be viewed on these open days.

The council said this will allow the team to show how the designs are taking place without changing the building entirely.

While the museum is closed, Christchurch Mansion will host sessions to explore Ipswich's history.

However, those wishing to get more hands-on with museum displays will soon be able to visit a website to view them virtually.

There are also plans to make the museum experience more interactive for visitors once the refurbishments are complete.

Funding for the project came from a collaboration between Ipswich Borough Council, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Friends of Ipswich Museum and various other Trusts and Foundations in the county.