Work finally begins on expansion of de Havilland Aircraft Museum in London Colney
SPADE AT THE READY: left to right Paul Newland, director of Newland Construction Ltd, museum chairman Alan Brackley, Cllr West and Cllr Rutledge. Photo: GARRY LAKIN - Credit: Archant
The start of a major re-development at an iconic museum was marked by a VIP civic visit.
SPADE AT THE READY: left to right Cllr West, Cllr Rutledge, museum chairman Alan Brackley. Photo: GARRY LAKIN - Credit: Archant
Deputy Mayor of Hertsmere, Cllr Peter Rutledge, and his partner, Cllr Jane West, officially began the £1.5 million development at de Havilland Aircraft Museum in London Colney by digging the first spades into the ground.
It marked the start of work on the new hangar, which will cover some of the currently exposed vintage aircraft.
The old hangar, built for the museum’s opening in 1959, has been dismantled over the course of the past two weeks to make way.
Cllr Rutledge announced that the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) had given the museum permission to start developing its proposals as part of its £1.5million application for funding.
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He said: “This museum is a very special place, and it is crucial for the conservation and preservation of these historic de Havilland aircraft and this major local company.
“It is a wonderful place and we are delighted to announce that the museum has passed the first stage of its application to the Heritage Lottery Fund.”
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The museum has been given £62,200 by the HLF to submit proposals in a bid to secure the £1.5 million funding needed for the rest of the project.
Members of the museum are hopeful this will be confirmed by the end of the year.
De Havilland marketing director Mike Nevin said: “We do not have enough undercover space for all of the de Havilland aircraft we have at the museum, and long term preservation means they cannot stay out in the open indefinitely.
“The museum really does need extra covered space, and as part of our ongoing plans we intend to develop much more community and educational use of the new building.”
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