Swindon Museum and Art Gallery is moving house

Swindon Museum and Art Gallery will move out of Apsley House, allaying concerns it could be closed indefinitely.

Work will now begin on temporarily rehoming the gallery on the upper floor of Swindon Borough Council's city centre offices.

Council Director of Strategic Growth and Development Richard Bell said the offices will be ready to open their first display by the end of the year.

“There’s more floor space in the civic than in Apsley House, it’s more accessible, and we’ll be able to show more of the collection."

The council deemed Apsley House not fit for purpose earlier this year, raising concerns over the museum's future.

Closed since March 2020, the council had originally set aside £400,00 to repair the 1830s building.

Now it has been sold, the money is instead earmarked for the new exhibition space.