Navy expands in Hartlepool

Plans for the expansion of the National Museum of the Royal Navy Hartlepool (NMRN Hartlepool) have received a huge boost following the £3.4 million purchase of the neighbouring Vision Retail Park. The 58,000 square foot, three-acre site, with 250 car parking spaces, lies alongside NMRN Hartlepool, and its purchase by the museum unlocks much-needed space for an ambitious expansion which includes new galleries, conservation workshops, reception and retail space.

Professor Dominic Tweddle, Director General of The National Museum of the Royal Navy said, “Following the acquisition of the retail park it will be considerably upgraded to meet modern museum standards and the former shopping centre converted into new themed galleries large enough to permanently house World War II rescue motor launch RML 497 which is currently temporarily based at the museum. Other large-scale items from the national collection will be dramatically displayed in the galleries as a must-see.”

The building will also house a reception and ticketing point, retail area, offices, WCs and changing facilities. The ongoing vital conservation work carried out by the museum will be greatly enhanced with workshop areas for heritage restoration and interpretation purposes, along with education facilities and spaces, such as for STEM subjects.

The National Museum of the Royal Navy (NMRN) Hartlepool is a major tourism attraction situated in Tees Valley. The museum site is home to HMS Trincomalee, Europe’s oldest warship still afloat, built in Bombay (modern-day Mumbai) in 1817, and a recreated Georgian quayside around the dock. ■