Durham local history museum housed in former church set to close

A museum housed in an historic city centre church is to close.

For the last 52 years, the volunteer-run Durham Museum, which has also been known as Durham Heritage Centre, has been based in the Grade I listed Church of St Mary le Bow, near Durham Cathedral. The accredited museum has told the story of Durham’s history, with a particular focus on life in the city from the 17th century onwards.

Durham Heritage Centre was established in the disused church, which closed in 1968, in 1972 and has been an important location to learn about social, cultural and economic life of Durham, especially between the 18th and early 20th centuries. But the costs of maintenance and repairs for the building have proved too much for the the Bow Trust, the charity which runs the museum.

Now the search is on for new homes for the museum’s exhibits.

“The building needs extensive and expensive repairs and the museum’s collections on the social history of Durham City will need to find a new home.,” said Trust chairman Adrian Green. Talks have been held with Durham County Council, while the nearby Museum of Archaeology on Palace Green and the The Story – Durham County Council’s heritage and registration venue – may take some items.

“A whole group pf people have put tons of time and effort into the museum over the last 50 years . We regret that it is going to end, but there comes a time when it is no longer possible to do this sort of thing with only volunteers,” said Mr Green..

Items in the museum’s collection include a Sedan chair, originally used as a hire or hackney chair, with fabric dating to the 18th century. It was given to Durham Museum by Durham School, which used it to transport sick pupils.

Another item is a small rowing boat made by Joseph Brown of Brown’s Boathouse, near Elvet bridge, for his son in 1904. Also looking for a new home is a section of 17th Century staircase, from Sir John Duck’s house in Silver Street in Durham. Duck was apprenticed to a Durham butcher but amassed fortune, served as mayor and was created a baronet. He died in 1691.

Glass window panels depicting the Neville family, painted by William Collins in the 1820s, have been returned to Brancepeth Castle. A banner of the Old Contemptibles, of the First World War British Expeditionary Force, has been returned to Durham Cathedral, and a Durham Chancery Court barristers’ bench, from the Exchequer Building on Palace Green, is going to Palace Green Library.

Mr Green said: “There are many items related to skilled trades and industries in the city such as the organ factory, carpet factory, wood carving, photography, printing, and quilting which might ideally find a home in Durham City.”

Most of the current church building dates from the 1670s, and was built to replace an older church on the site, which collapsed, along with a city gateway that stood adjacent to it, in 1637. Because the current church is a reconstruction of an older building, it combines elements of different dates with the roof dating from the 15th century.

The church is leased by the charity from the Diocese of Durham, whose spokesman said: “In liaison with the Bow Trust, the Diocese of Durham is reviewing its options and, with the Church Commissioners, will seek to ensure a sustainable future for this historic property.”