Northumberland Hall
Proposed Relocation of Bailiffgate
Bailiffgate Museum & Gallery is an award-winning museum, run by volunteers, that shares the fascinating history of Alnwick and District with its residents and visitors to the area. The museum is currently exploring an exciting opportunity to potentially relocate to the centre of Alnwick, at Northumberland Hall – the town’s historic Assembly Rooms and Market Hall. This Grade I Listed Building has been significantly underused for many years, with the ground floor retail units now vacant.
The relocation is subject to planning and listed building consent, and securing funding, which is ongoing. However, as a people’s museum, we fully recognise the importance of feeding your views into this process, and will be consulting with the community and stakeholders over the coming months.
Sketch view looking west showing potential new entrance and new glazing
The Emerging Proposals
The relocation would provide the museum with a prominent, more central location in Alnwick. This would make it more accessible to residents and visitors, whilst also bringing its audience to the heart of the town, supporting local shops, services and facilities.
Northumberland Hall provides an impressive, more flexible and increased space for the museum to re-imagine and grow their offer, in a way that will appeal to existing visitors and new audiences – this is vital to the museum’s long term appeal and sustainability.
The revised museum would provide:
- A new, more accessible public entrance to the building / museum.
- More space to display our collections.
- An impressive exhibition space, with an enhanced offer for local and visiting exhibitions.
- More flexible space to accommodate new activities, groups etc. (e.g. visiting schools).
- Meeting space for community use and with the potential to generate an income.
- An improved museum-related retail offer that will complement local retail provision.
- Additional back of house space for administration, volunteers and storage.
The proposals also provide an opportunity to secure a new use and the future of this important building, bringing new visitors and activity to the heart of the town.
Sketch view of proposed interior leading up to main hall on the first floor
(New lift to the right of image for disabled access)
Sketch view looking south
Sketch view of proposed interior leading up to main hall on the first floor (2)
All images copyright Mosedale Gillatt Architects 2022