Town offers first class location for museum

2:00pm Tuesday 6th January 2009

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SWINDON has beaten competition from London, Bristol and Birmingham to prove it is a first-class location for a new museum.

The British Postal Museum and Archive (BPMA) has announced it is moving its operations to a state-of-the-art site at Churchward Village.

The centre, which will cover themes ranging from British social history to communications design, will rub shoulders with Steam and the National Trust in Kemble Drive.

Adrian Steel, head of projects and programmes at the BPMA, said: “There are a number of reasons why Swindon seemed like the best option.

“The location was excellent and we found it very easy to work with the council and local people. We considered a range of options including where we are currently based, in London.

“We also looked at Bristol and Birmingham but, in the end, it was the synergy of the site in Swindon that made it seem ideal.

“It’s hard to be certain, considering all that is happening at the moment, but if everything went to plan we would be opening in 2013.

“It will be a centre of study and people will be able to go there to trace their family history if one of their ancestors worked for the post office.

“There will be a whole range of objects on display – including stamps, art work and documentaries from the 1930s.”

The development will include a gallery and an area designated for working with schools and higher educational institutions.

Mr Steel said that in the current climate of post office closures the centre has seen increased interest.

He said: “One of the things we are trying to do is make sure that the look of the post offices people remember and love are not lost for ever.”

The BPMA was founded in 2004 and houses the Royal Mail archive and the museum collection of the former National Postal Museum.

Tony Conder, chief executive at the BPMA, said: “The relocation to Swindon is a fantastic opportunity for the BPMA to establish a centre for the long term, which will ensure the ongoing preservation of the nationally important collections we manage and enable audiences to enjoy the treasures we hold well into the future.

“We are also looking forward to developing close links with the local community.”

For information on the centre visit www.postalheritage.org.uk.