Developments in Hereford

The redevelopment of Hereford Museum and Art Gallery aims to create new visitor experience, showcasing amazing collections such as the Herefordshire Hoard. It will transform the building into a state-of-the-art museum and art gallery offering a varied programme of activities, events and exhibitions.

The redevelopment of the Grade II-listed building will create new permanent galleries, temporary exhibition spaces, and restore the historic Woolhope club room. Additionally, the project will introduce new commercial areas, such as a retail space, a rooftop café, and event and education spaces. It will also improve the visitor facilities and accessibility for all.

The building will be topped by a spectacular viewing beacon and roof terrace accessible from the fifth-floor courtyard, offering breath-taking 360-degree views of the city and surrounding Herefordshire landscape. The redevelopment is anticipated to have a positive impact on the local economy, community, and cultural scene. It aims to put Herefordshire on the map as a destination for art, history, and culture.

Concept design for the new gallery space.

Winter 2024 – spring 2025

Progress continued into 2025 with the appointment of VINCI Building to support the final design stages, working alongside Mace Ltd to prepare for the construction phase. In April, the project secured additional funding from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme to support energy-efficient improvements to the building's heating, ventilation, and insulation. The redevelopment also received a grant from the Clore Duffield Foundation to support the creation of dedicated learning spaces within the new museum.

Community involvement has continued to grow, with the museum team working in partnership with a series of co-production groups to help shape the exhibitions and visitor experience. These groups include young people, veterans and military families, people with lived experience of disability, members of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities, and participants with insights into equality and inclusion. Their input is helping to ensure the new museum reflects the full diversity of Herefordshire's people and stories.

Other creative projects, like The Voice of the River Wye, an oral history initiative recording the stories, memories and reflections of people connected to the river, are also helping to ensure that personal perspectives and local knowledge are reflected in the museum's development.

Voice of the River Wye event, March 2025

Summer – autumn 2024

The redevelopment reached a major milestone in July, with planning permission and listed building consent being granted. This has allowed the design team to progress to the technical design phase, working towards the completion of RIBA Stage 4 and finalising the detailed architectural and structural plans necessary for construction.

Behind the scenes, work has continued on gallery plans and community engagement activities. The museum team has started hosting collaborative sessions across Herefordshire, bringing together local residents and cultural groups to explore how the new museum and gallery can reflect the perspectives and stories of the local community. A Curatorial Advisory Panel has been established and recruitment has begun for co-production groups to further shape the exhibitions through direct community involvement. These collaborative efforts are building a strong foundation for a museum experience that celebrates Herefordshire's unique heritage and identity.

Public hard hat tours, October 2024.

Winter – spring 2024

Over the winter 2023 and spring 2024, work has continued behind the scenes. A team of building specialists conducted series surveys to understand the building's condition and to inform the designs. The surveys have included paint testing, masonry strength testing, mortar testing, fabric, drainage, asbestos refurbishment and demolition, ground investigation surveys, U-value testing, and moisture monitoring.

A significant milestone was reached with the appointment of Mather & Co as the gallery designers. They will contribute to creating an engaging and innovative visitor experience and will ensure that the stories told embrace the spirit of Herefordshire: past, present, and future.

Concept design for roof terrace and viewing beacon.

Summer – autumn 2023

The museum closed for redevelopment in early summer 2023. Over the following months the museum and library moved out of the building, with the books and collections relocated, to allow the building to be fully cleared for the redevelopment work to begin.

This included taking down the two Kenchester mosaics in the stair hall. Both mosaics date to around 350-380 AD. The mosaics were first put up in the stair hall in 1927, 15 years after they had been found during excavations at Kenchester. This was a painstaking and delicate process that took four people three weeks to safely complete. They have been moved to the stores for safe keeping. We were able to produce a time-lapse of them coming down.

Funders

The redevelopment is being funded by:

• £8.4 million from Herefordshire Council
• £5.08 million from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, with thanks to National Lottery players
• £5 million funded from the government's Towns Fund
• £1.07 million from Salix and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
• £0.75 million from Arts Council England
• £0.2 million from the Clore Duffield Foundation