Revitalisation of Vestry House Museum – July 2024 Update
Waltham Forest Council is working to revitalise Vestry House Museum, a well-loved cultural and heritage site in Walthamstow Village. The council has appointed a multi-disciplinary design team led by architects Studio Weave to work on the project.
Studio Weave have received planning approval to transform Vestry House Museum. The architecturally ambitious proposals have been guided by an attitude to sustainability and care for the historic building, aiming to make as few changes as possible to allow the museum to flourish. They are now focusing on developing an approach to the museum curation and construction is expected to start on site later this year.
An outline of the works includes:
• Refurbishment of the building and museum, including new ramp access to aid accessibility
• Relocation of the public museum to the ground-floor level
• Partial demolition/rebuild of the ‘millenium’ extension in the garden, and relocation of the cafe to the extension
• Installation of a platform lift which will provide wheelchair access to the first floor
• Formation of new primary entrance to the museum via the existing historic door, plus new doors from Church Path to access the cafe
Vestry House Museum is temporarily closed to the public to prepare for the capital works for this project. The Museum is scheduled to reopen in early 2026.
Working in consultation with local residents, the revitalisation project will transform the local history museum into a welcoming heritage destination where visitors can find a place to work, rest and discover the diverse stories of Waltham Forest and its people. The revitalisation will include an enhanced heritage and community offer, improved access, new creative workspaces and a café.
Waltham Forest Archives and Local Studies Library
Waltham Forest Archives and Local Studies Library are relocating to a new, accessible home at Chingford Assembly Hall in September 2024. The official opening date will be announced closer to the time.
Situated in the north of the borough, Chingford Assembly Hall was chosen as the new venue for the Archives and Local Studies Library due to its increased space and level access. Waltham Forest Council engaged with current users and community groups as part of this exercise and will be reopening the Archives and Local Studies Library in 2024 in a space that is welcoming and available to all Waltham Forest residents, and to visitors from beyond the borough.
You can find out more about Waltham Forest Archives here.
A new collaborative community model
The revitalisation of Vestry House Museum is supported by £4.5m from the borough’s Levelling Up Fund (including £800k match funding from Waltham Forest Council). Once fully operational, Vestry House Museum will welcome more visitors, up to 80,000 per year, deliver an enhanced learning and training programme for up to 60 school visits annually and provide 60 training and employment opportunities for local young people. It will also support the local economy through the provision of creative workspace.
Vestry House Museum will establish a new collaborative and sustainable operational model once it reopens. During the design phase, the council will be seeking an operator through a competitive process to run the site.
For more information on the revitalisation project and to get updates on its progress, please sign up for our newsletter here.
We have prepared answers to some frequently asked questions which you can find below.