We're ending the year on a high note as we have obtained important extra funding and appointed our building and boiler contractors. We are almost ready for construction!
We still need your help with fundraising!
We still need to raise more money! You can donate online through Charity Choice or through JustGiving. To donate by text, text 'CMOT01 £3' / 'CMOT01 £5' / 'CMOT01 £10' to 70070. Or why not Adopt an Object - for yourself or as a unique gift.
If your company is interested in sponsoring a display, an interactive exhibit, or a building, get in touch to find out more about our corporate sponsorship packages.
About the project
What has happened recently
The Heritage Lottery Fund have awarded the Museum a further £250k! The construction tenders came in over budget, so the additional funding will cover the higher building costs and allow us to appoint a construction company immediately. Our Trustees are working with the architects to prepare the contract for the work.
We expect building work to start in March 2018 and to last until October 2018. During this time, the Museum will be closed to the public as large parts of the site will be under construction. At the end of the work, the Museum will have a new learning and exhibitions space, a beautiful cafe, and an access ramp from Riverside.
The Museum has been awarded £44k from WREN! WREN is a not-for-profit business that awards grants for community, biodiversity and heritage projects from funds donated by FCC Environment through the Landfill Communities Fund. The grant we have received will go towards the access ramp from Riverside and the associated landscaping.
The Boiler Committee have appointed a specialist contractor to restore our 1923 Babcock and Wilcox boiler. The refurbishment is funded by Historic England and work will begin in early January. Restoring the historic boiler will enable us to run our magnificent steam pumping engines again and hold public steam days!
Our Adopt an Object scheme has been a success so far. We have had several adoptions, including the Davey differential valve gear, the tramway rails, and a Pye radio. Cambridge University Press have also exclusively adopted the Wharfedale printing press, which they originally owned from 1893 to 1916. It was made by Payne & Sons & could print over 1000 sheets an hour. You can learn more about the scheme and see the selection of adoptable objects on our website. If you adopt an object by 3pm on Christmas Eve, we will send you the digital adoption certificate in time for Christmas!
Meanwhile... In the last month, we have hosted a rehearsed reading of Sherlock Holmes, welcomed a group from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers for a private tour, and collected stories of festive traditions as part the Tracing Traditions project with the Museum of Cambridge. We are open to the public on 31 December, 1-4pm, for the last time before our construction work begins.
