£500,000 expansion for museum (From Gazette & Herald)

£500,000 expansion for museum

A MAJOR expansion scheme for one of Ryedale's finest open air museums costing £500,000 is well under way.

The project for Ryedale Folk Museum, in Hutton-le-Hole on the North York Moors, will involve creating a new gallery, restoring the museum's Elizabethan manor house, building new stores, a workshop, study centre and display areas.

In November last year, the museum was awarded £418,500 from the Heritage Lottery Fund and additional funding was secured from the North York Moors National Park Authority, Ryedale District Council and Yorkshire Arts.

Detailed drawings, plans and sketches need to be completed and then tenders will be sought for the work. The development project is set to be finished in 2005.

"The project addresses some of the core needs for the museum over the years in terms of education, preservation and conservation," said curator Mick Krupa, who has been at the museum for five months.

Harome Manor House, which was the home of the Morrett family during the turbulent civil war, will be restored and re-displayed to reflect the period 1600 to 1660. It is the largest and most important building at the museum, as it is the only cruck-built open hall manor house on the North York Moors. It was moved more than 20 years ago and is in desperate need of re-wiring and renovation.

The gallery is planned to be built in the museum's entrance building. During the open season from March to November, the gallery will have temporary displays telling people about the cultural heritage of Ryedale.

Staff are putting the finishing touches to a list of events to mark next year's 40th anniversary. Events include a scarecrow competition, involving Hutton-le-Hole and surrounding villages, and medieval trade fairs.

Updated: 11:51 Wednesday, November 19, 2003