York Castle Museum is to undergo a major capital development as part of the City of York Council’s vision to transform the Castle Gateway area of the city.
Plans for the museum include a new building to link the two museum buildings; a second entrance; improvements to access and visitor flow; a riverside walkway and new immersive experiences.
The project costs are estimated to be between £14 and £18 million, some of which it is hoped will be met by the HLF, and if funding can be secured, the project would be finished in 2026.
In a statement, Reyahn King, chief executive of York Museums Trust, said, “York Castle Museum sits in one of York’s most historically significant sites. We believe there is huge potential for this whole area to be transformed into a much more inviting and usable public space which will help attract hundreds of thousands of extra visitors to this part of the city.
“A key part of this will be the redevelopment of York Castle Museum. We are beginning to work on ambitious and exciting plans that would see the museum offer a high quality experience where visitors choose how to enjoy, and explore the site and collections. The atmospheric immersive nature of Kirkgate, our Victorian Street, will be extended in 21st-century ways and new displays will bring out the personal stories and historic events that make both the site and the collections so relevant and intriguing to this day.
“We are working closely with the City of York Council so our plans enhance and complement their wider vision for the Castle Gateway area and the much needed improvement of this nationally significant historical site”
York Museums Trust are in the early stages of planning. Anyone looking to take part in consultations should get in touch via enquries@ymt.org.uk.
