£880,000 for Arundel musuem dream

Hard-working members of Arundel Museum Society are celebrating a Heritage Lottery Fund’s (HLF) grant.

The money will be used to create a purpose-built museum in Mill Road, beside the River Arun and close to the main entrance to Arundel Castle.

Society chairman Pauline Carder said members were “absolutely delighted” Arundel’s history and heritage would be safeguarded.

The museum had to move out of its previous home in High Street when the premises were sold by Arun District Council, and the historic collection was put into storage.

The new building will be light and spacious, with features to benefit visitors and the community, including facilities for research and education, with an emphasis on encouraging school visits.

Stuart McLeod, head of the Heritage Lottery Fund for South East England, said: “The determination and tireless enthusiasm of the volunteers in keeping Arundel Museum going is to be applauded.

“Now, the collections can be fully brought to life and the museum can become the hub of the community for people of all ages once more.”

Pauline said the museum had been able to maintain a presence in the town thanks to the generosity of Osborne and Speedy Space sponsoring a cabin in the Mill Road car park, with the castle trustees’ permission.

Members had continued to mount displays in the cabin, kept up the “Walks and Talks” programme and research programmes and held numerous social and fund-raising events.