The Unlocking the Geffrye development will greatly improve access and enhance the experience of visitors to the museum's Grade I listed buildings and gardens in Hoxton.

Sonia Solicari, Director of the Geffrye, said: "This National Lottery grant is a massive boost and endorsement for the project, for which we are hugely grateful.”

Ambitious project

Once the £18.1m redevelopment project is completed in 2019, 70% of the museum's buildings will be open to the public, as opposed to the current 30%.  

New spaces within the existing museum buildings, including a gallery, library and central reception, plus built learning and event spaces, will enable the museum to welcome up to 50% more visitors each year.

[quote=Sonia Solicari, Geffrye Director]"This National Lottery grant is a massive boost and endorsement for the project, for which we are hugely grateful.”[/quote]

Broadening the experience

A wider range of existing collections will be brought out of storage giving the museum greater scope to explore the theme of ‘home’.

Sir Peter Luff, Chair of HLF said: “This is an imaginative project to improve the Geffrye’s capacity to tell the evolving story of British domestic life over the last three centuries.  The existing site’s combination of historic buildings, collections, period rooms and gardens will be greatly enhanced thanks to major support from the National Lottery. Close to Hoxton Station and with plans for a new café and other improved visitor facilities, the Geffrye is set to become a focal point for heritage and culture in the East End of London.”

Timetable

Planning for the project was secured in July 2016. 

The Geffrye now needs to raise a further £1.5m in order to start work on site in early 2018.  It will then close for an 18-month period and reopen in late 2019.