Thanks to a local benefactor the Harwich Society is to be given a lease on the former MPH building adjacent to Harwich’s High Lighthouse which will be turned into a town museum.
The building, which was originally the offices of C.H. Bernard and Son, is extremely large and has the potential to include a lecture room, exhibition centre and café as well as a museum.
Harwich Society chairman, Colin Farnell, says, “The Harwich Society has so many artefacts in store because of a lack of space to exhibit them and this will be a wonderful opportunity to create something really special. We are extremely grateful and very excited. There is a lot of careful planning to do as we want to get as much as possible right first time.”
One of the Harwich Society trustees, Richard Colley, has drawn up the planning application for change of use which has been submitted to Tendring District Council. The building will offer a reception area and toilets for visiting coach parties and the site has enough room to park a coach which has been a long term difficulty.
“This will be the biggest single project that the Harwich Society has taken on since the restoration of the Redoubt Fort began in 1969,” continued Colin Farnell. “It’s a big challenge but the potential benefit to Historic Harwich is enormous so it is one we are very much looking forward to.”
For further information please contact
Colin Farnell on 01255 553610
Garry Calver on 01255 551940
