Topsham Museum Faces Another Summer Shutdown Amid Costly Repairs

Topsham Museum, located in Exeter, is facing a challenging situation as it is likely to remain closed for a second summer in a row. The museum is housed in a Grade II listed building from the 17th century, which makes repairs more complicated and expensive. Jenny Ellis, the chair of the museum trustees, is concerned about the financial impact of another summer closure. She explained that the museum relies on income from its tea room and other activities, and without visitors, it will struggle to cover its costs.

Exeter City Council owns the museum and began restoration work with a budget of £400,000. However, as the repairs started, workers discovered more damage than expected. The council now says the repairs are much more extensive and invasive than they first thought. This means they need to ask the full council for more funds to finish the work. One of the main issues is rotten lintels above the windows, which are important parts of the building's structure. Because of these problems, the museum is likely to stay closed for another year, disappointing both staff and visitors.

Jenny Ellis and the trustees are exploring other solutions to help the museum reopen. One option is a Community Asset Transfer, where the council would hand over the museum to the trustees. This would make the trustees responsible for raising money for the repairs, but Jenny believes they could move faster without waiting for council decisions. The museum is important to the community because it displays Topsham's maritime history, its role as a trade port, and shipbuilding center. It also has a collection about actress Vivien Leigh. The council is waiting for a court decision about the building's legal status. In the meantime, the trustees are working hard to find ways to fix the building and reopen the museum for everyone to enjoy.