The two councils found out today that their joint bid for an HLF Heritage Grant to overhaul the museum had been successful. The news means that Gunnersbury Park Museum can now be revamped along with Gunnersbury Park; which was awarded £4.7m on 7 July from HLF and the Big Lottery Fund’s Parks for People programme.

Having now secured the second stream of funding; work can now begin to make a number of improvements to Gunnersbury Park Museum, including:

• Repairing the external and internal fabric of the Large Mansion; making more areas of the building open to the public and re-establishing views into and out of the building
• Creating display rooms on the ground and first floor to properly showcase museum collections
• Refurbishing the drawing room, long gallery and dining room; along with the historic kitchen and servants rooms
• Improving the visitor reception area, signage and gift shop
• Building new learning spaces
• Installing a lift to the upper floors to improve public access

The museum will close at Christmas for refurbishment work which will begin in spring 2015 and is due for completion by spring 2018. Once all of the improvements to Gunnersbury Park and Museum are completed, visitor numbers are expected to rise from 600,000 to over a million per year.

Councillor Julian Bell, leader of Ealing Council, said: “This is really fantastic news for Gunnersbury Park Museum and I’m absolutely delighted that the HLF has agreed to such a generous award to allow us to restore this important local history museum for the people of Ealing and Hounslow to enjoy.

“It’s really exciting to think that this architectural treasure is going to be transformed into a first-class visitor attraction by 2018. I really can’t wait.”

Councillor Sachin Gupta, Hounslow Council’s cabinet member for leisure and public health, said: “For the second time in a few weeks we’ve had great news for Gunnersbury Park, and we’re immensely grateful to the HLF for backing our vision for the museum and park.

“We’re working really hard to bring our ambitious plans to life, and this latest announcement is the next step towards creating a standout London park that residents can be proud of and visitors to the borough will be able to enjoy for years to come.”

Sue Bowers, Head of HLF, London, said: “Gunnersbury Museum is an architectural gem set within a beautiful and popular park. The museum’s restoration will be complementary to imminent redevelopment work at Gunnersbury Park – also funded by HLF – and will take our total investment in the site to almost £9m. Proposals like these are welcomed by the HLF as they demonstrate both partnership working and a wider vision for the regeneration of the area.”

Further information

Press office, Ealing Council on tel: 020 8825 8686 or email: press@ealing.gov.uk.