West Berkshire Museum taking shape as steelwork is erected

The £2.26m restoration project for the Wharf Street Museum, which will provide updated visitor facilities, a local history discovery space and a lift as well as increasing exhibition space by a third, is running on track for opening early next year, according to West Berkshire Council spokeswoman, Joanne Bassett.
She added that the next step was to install the floors.
As part of the revamp the Grade I-listed Cloth Hall and the Grade II-listed corn store are also being restored. The 1970s render has so far been removed to reveal the original brickwork and some repair work will be carried out to minimise the chances of the museum suffering from damp in the future.
The restoration is now in its third month.
Ms Bassett said: “The work on the new museum is progressing very well.
“The re-roofing has begun and the scaffolding for this will also allow the contractors to make repairs to any brickwork at the top of the walls which needs it.
“In the next few weeks work will begin inside the buildings to fit power and other essential services.”
On July 25, Victoria Barlow was appointed as the museum’s new manager and as part of her role she will be responsible for putting together new displays and events to promote the museum.
Funding for the restoration, which has seen the museum closed since October 2010, has come from a number of local community groups and organisations, including £815,500 from West Berkshire Council, £100,000 from Greenham Common Trust, £40,000 from the Headley Trust and £1.2m from the Heritage Lottery Fund.