Alnwick museum gets further funding boost to kickstart town centre regeneration

Just a week after securing over £4m in National Lottery Heritage Funding, Alnwick’s Bailiffgate Museum & Gallery has had another major boost.

The museum has been awarded up to £1.7m in Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal funding as it looks to create a new home in the grade 1 listed Northumberland Hall in the town centre which is set to safeguard and revitalise this heritage asset for future generations.

Initial work is set to start this winter to the interior of the building with the main construction work expected to start in late spring 2026. 

Days earlier the volunteer-run museum secured a £4.3 million award from the National Lottery Heritage Fund which will see it expand its activities and offer.

Northumberland Hall in Alnwick town centre

Since its creation, the Bailiffgate Museum & Gallery in Alnwick has been based in the town’s listed St Mary’s Church for 23 years but over recent years, the museum’s aspiration has been to expand and move into the Northumberland Hall in the Market Place.

The Borderlands funding approval is part of a planned multi-million pound investment package to regenerate Alnwick town centre.  

The projects are part of the Borderlands Place Programme in the county supported by an investment package of £21m including £12m of Borderlands Deal funding and £9m County Council funding.

The Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal has committed up to £50m funding to the Borderlands Place Programme, from the UK and Scottish Governments. This will target investment in places that will help boost economic activity across the region and recognises the importance of our smaller rural market and coastal towns to the local economy.

The above news adds to the more than £270,000 in County Council funding which was approved in July as part of the Borderlands Place Programme to kick start the multi-million pound investment package to regenerate Alnwick town centre including the major announcements over the last week. 

This includes £181,000 for the initial works to Northumberland Hall and elsewhere in the town, a further £90,000 to develop detailed designs for the new Alnwick Transport Hub on the bus station site. Subject to other funding bid approvals this project could also get underway in early 2026 with other potential projects to improve the town being developed in the longer term.   

It all comes on the back of a new 'Town Investment Plan' which has been approved by the Borderlands Partnership following development locally by the Place Partnership Group involving public, private and community stakeholders in the town.

Once funding awards are in place, there will be detailed consultation with businesses and residents that may be affected by any construction works prior to them starting.

County Council Leader and Borderlands Partnership Board member, Glen Sanderson said: “This is another significant investment in the town centre and fantastic news for Bailiffgate Museum and Gallery’s exciting plans.

“Alnwick is known for its attractions nationally and internationally and through both the council and through  Borderlands  we want to bring new attractions to the town centre, make it easier to visit the town on public transport and boost the town centre as a place to live, visit, work and invest. 

Alnwick Hotspur County Councillor Martin Swinbank said: “This is a further boost for Alnwick and will complement the other major public realm improvements which are planned.

"It's the culmination of a lot of effort put in by the voluntary Alnwick Borderlands Board of stakeholders over a number of years, along with Alnwick Town Council.

“I hope this boost ripples out into the private sector and encourages much needed investment into some of the other buildings and businesses within the town centre, to keep Alnwick flourishing.”

Alnwick Castle County Councillor Gordon Castle added: "This Borderlands funding is on track to deliver improvements to help the economy grow in our town by investing in modern infrastructure.

“The museum move will help our marketplace thrive, and along with the bus station plans, meet increasing visitor and resident expectations in our fine town."

Jean Humphrys, chair of trustees at Bailiffgate Museum & Gallery, said: “It’s been quite a week for us and we’re delighted with this match funding in support of our National Lottery Heritage Grant. 

”As a volunteer-run museum, recognition of our strong work for the people of Alnwick and this amazing Town is always welcome and we’re very grateful to the County Council and the Borderlands Partnership for their funding support.”