Funded and delivered by Haringey Council and Arts Council England, the exciting Museum Estate and Development (MEND) capital works and restoration programme has enhanced accessibility to the museum’s unique and fascinating collection for the borough’s residents and visitors alike.
An 18th century room has also been transformed into a new public space for community use and exhibitions, while other on-site improvements include repairing historic fabric, making fire protection upgrades and addressing and stabilising structural issues.
A new Heritage Trail leaflet and map of the BCHQ area will be available for the very first time too - a resource to use and explore all year round. Beautifully designed and illustrated by local artist Emmie Joanna, who is renowned for her portraits of Haringey landmarks, with generous support from the Antwerp Arms and heritage commentary by Bruce Castle Museum and Archive and the Friends of Tottenham Cemetery.
Haringey Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure, Cllr Emily Arkell, paid a visit to Bruce Castle Museum and Archive earlier this week to check out the final stages of the improvement works to this iconic Grade 1 listed building.
Cllr Arkell said:
I’m very much looking forward to attending the Bruce Castle Heritage Quarter Open Day this Sunday, when the Mayor of Haringey, Cllr Sue Jameson, will be officially re-opening these improved gallery spaces.
These improvement works have made the museum more accessible, open and welcoming to all and the new décor and lighting seem set to ensure that the exhibits are seen at their optical and optimal best.
Celebrating the world-class local heritage in and around Bruce Castle, special tours of this historic area will be organised throughout the day* (*Tours every 45 minutes from 11:45am to 4pm) and take in all the local spots of interest – the castle itself, the park, the church, the priory, the public house, the oak tree and the cemetery.
The museum’s doors will open at 11am and there then will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony by the Mayor of Haringey, Cllr Sue Jameson, to officially open the newly restored gallery spaces between 11:15am and 11:30am.
There will be a ‘From the Andes to N17’ talk by Ashley Grey on John Eliot Howard at 11am, while Martin Burrows will be leading attendees on a ‘Secret Spurs History’ walk – covering the origins of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club – an hour later at 12noon.
The bells will ring out at 11:45am at All Hallows Church, which will be open in the afternoon between 1pm & 4:30pm.
Other notable landmarks and sites that will be open on the day itself include the Antwerp Arms (12noon until late), the gardens at The Priory (1:30pm-4pm) and Tottenham Cemetery Chapel (11am-4pm, plus guided walks).
Tony Ball will also be fronting and guiding a ‘Stories Behind The Stones’ walk at 2pm, focusing on the lives of local people who made a difference.
The weather forecast is scheduled to be sunny and warm this Bank Holiday weekend, so – if all these activities make residents and visitors thirsty – they can enjoy a WW2-themed refreshment at the ‘Old Kitchen Pop-Up Café between 11am and 4:30pm to mark 80 years since VE Day.
