An exciting refurbishment programme has now officially started at one of the city’s most popular visitor attractions.
Once completed, this work will support the ambition of Lotherton Hall, which is one of Leeds most historic homes, to become a major museum of fashion and textiles through the revamp of its current exhibition spaces.
The redevelopment of the Fashion Galleries will create an up to date 21st century gallery space; with modern cases, improved lighting and the chance to utilise technology, which will allow opportunities to include new elements like film and sound in the galleries.
When concluded, Lotherton Hall will become one of the largest spaces in the north of England to provide a regular programme of fashion and textile exhibitions by having a changing show each year. Funded from the Department for Culture Media and Sport and Wolfson Museums and Galleries Improvement Fund, the flexibility of the new galleries, will allow for more of the collection to be displayed, with the new modern cases creating greater hanging space for larger textiles. In addition new improved LED lighting will be introduced and security enhanced to ensure Lotherton Hall can look to borrow other fantastic pieces from other museum’s collections.
Councillor Lucinda Yeadon, Leeds City Council’s executive member for digital and creative technologies, culture and skills said:
“It is really exciting news that work to transform one of the much loved visitor attractions Lotherton Hall, is now underway.
“As part of our wide-ranging programme, improvements set to be made include a revamp of our Fashion Galleries, and the installation of a new accessible toilet, passenger lift and chair lift which will significantly improve access to the house.
“When completed, this refurbishment will ensure that when the house re-opens in March 2015, it remains somewhere where people can relax, have fun, and enjoy a range of fantastic exhibitions, events and activities for many, many years to come.”
This work on the Fashion Galleries, sits aside a raft of other improvements set to be made at Lotherton Hall thanks to funding by Leeds City Council, Arts Council England, Leeds Art Fund and the Friends of Leeds Museums and Galleries, as well as an £150,000 grant from the Department for Culture Media and Sport and Wolfson Museums and Galleries Improvement Fund. These include the installation of a new accessible toilet, passenger lift and chair lift, restoration of the historic library, and parts of the roof being replaced to ensure it is watertight. The introduction of a new biomass boiler that helps organisations pay for their green energy will also ensure there is more efficient heating in the house (partly funded from the Renewable Heat Incentive scheme).
Due to the range of refurbishment work being undertaken, this this means that Lotherton Hall will be closed this month and February before its exciting reopening in March 2015, which will feature a debut exhibition Age of Glamour; Fashion from the Fifties.
