Heritage society insists museum must be saved

Call for Cathedral to help revive visitor attraction’s fortunes ‘It is a treasure trove of wonderful objects, giving pleasure to many visitors’

The Canterbury Society is urging the council to rethink closing the city’s heritage museum – and insists more should be done to boost visitor numbers.

Last week the authority proposed a shake-up of key city-centre assets, which would involve handing the running of the Marlowe Theatre to an independent trust and using the museum in Stour Street as an arts centre and youth theatre.

The council says its plan was prompted by falling visitor numbers, and it wants to move the museum’s exhibits to the Beaney House of Art and Knowledge.

But society chairman Jan Pahl says that rather than closing the museum, the council should work on attracting visitors to the attraction.

She said: “It’s true that, at present, visitor numbers at the heritage museum do not reflect its quality or its importance, and we need to think about that.

“The Visit Canterbury experience needs to be expanded beyond the Cathedral.

“This could mean better signs and more publicity for our museums – and perhaps the Cathedral could think of a way to encourage some of its million visitors to go on to one of the city’s great museums.”

In December, the council appointed Conservative councillor Rob Thomas to the role of heritage champion.

He has vowed to “protect and enhance” the city’s historic urban landscape.

But the Canterbury Society believes that

What do you think? Email kentishgazette@thekmgroup.co.uk or write to Gazette House, 5-8 Boorman Way, Wraik Hill, Whitstable, CT5 3SE alongside his appointment, the authority should draw up a “heritage strategy”.

“Without that we could lose the heritage of our great city, cut by cut, building by building,” Mrs Pahl said.

“The Heritage Museum tells the story of Canterbury – which is also the story of England.

“It is a treasure trove of wonderful objects, giving pleasure to many visitors and helping children to understand our heritage.

“It’s our heritage that brings prosperity to the city, both in the form of tourists and university students. So it’s crucial to keep the museum open.”

At present, the heritage museum’s key exhibits include the Canterbury Cross, the Becket Tapestry and displays about Bagpuss and Rupert Bear.

The council pays £160,000 a year in subsidies after the number of people going through its doors dropped from almost 30,000 to fewer than 9,000 in five years.

Falling visitor numbers are in part due to a decision in 2014 to drastically cut back the museum’s opening hours.