Saving Fleetwood Museum

The community are rightly proud that their efforts resulted in saving Fleetwood Museum for the future. This page is about how the Museum was threatened with closure, then saved for another day. There’s a lot more to the story than we’ve covered here. As you can imagine, where politics and money are involved, there are more twists and turns than an Agatha Christie novel. But we’ve saved some of the story for posterity!

Did you know the building was originally the town’s Custom House? The building became the council office and later the town hall when Fleetwood became a borough in 1933. The building is historically important in its own right, with a fascinating history. Saving it is just another chapter in that long story!

A Vital Part of the Community

Fleetwood Museum houses an important collection of history from the fishing industry and the local area. If it didn’t remain open this collection would become vulnerable. Either removed and put into storage, or worse still fragmented and sold off. The worst case scenario was that the town lost it forever.

Supported by 70 volunteers, one manager and a part-time assistant on a one year contract, the Museum brings real history to life with real people. There’s a cafe, shop, and series of galleries explaining the town’s unique Victorian and maritime heritage. The volunteers have an important role in staffing the Museum, and it’s a worthwhile volunteering experience too. It’s a vital part of Fleetwood’s community and also used by primary schools across Lancashire.

The Museum houses all kinds of important artefacts from Fleetwood’s past. It’s home to wooden fishing smack ‘Harriet’ (above) – explore her in the boat hall. Dating to 1893, it’s one of the nations most important vessels. Harriet is part of the National Historic Fleet (in company with HMS Victory and the Cutty Sark).

There’s a lively programme of events throughout the year too. Why don’t you go along?

When Fleetwood Museum was threatened with Closure

This episode in the history of the museum begins in November 2015. It was announced by Lancashire County Council (LCC) that they intended to withdraw funding from April 2016.

The authority aimed to save £65m from its budget over the following two years. This Museum was just one of the proposed victims across the county. Four other museums, local libraries, children’s centres and Fleetwood Ferry were all affected.

Lancashire County Council said they would hold public consultation into the proposal. That they were open to considering other ways of keeping it open, including community operation.

And that’s where the people of Fleetwood came in.

Exploring all avenues

The Friends of Fleetwood Museum have always been invaluable in the operation of the museum. The Friends has been in existence for 25 years and fundraise for the museum. They have an active programme of social events, passing funds raised over to the Museum Trust.

Back in 2006 when the museum was first threatened with closure, local Councillors called for a public meeting to help save the Museum. From that meeting, volunteers to act as front of house staff signed up – some are still volunteers today. Fleetwood Museum Trust (FMT) was first formed. Consequently the museum was able to open in April 2007. At the time there were around 35 volunteers and one manager, employed and paid by LCC who also paid all ongoing costs.

Over the years Fleetwood Museum Trust continued to recruit volunteers for front of house and other areas in the museum to help the manager, as well as raise their own funds to improve the museum.

When LCC announced the closure of five Lancashire Museums at the end of 2015, Fleetwood Museum Trust went into overdrive. Threatened with the loss of their heritage, the Trust went full steam into exploring all avenues to try to keep the museum open. They contacted the Chancellor of the Exchequer, National Trust, National Maritime museum in Greenwich, local MPs and anyone they could think of to try to help to save the museum. At the same time the Friends group started petitions collecting signatures.

Crucially, Fleetwood Museum Trust began talking to Fleetwood Town Council. A public meeting was held in early 2016 to discuss the option of adding an additional precept to the council tax.

Proposal from Fleetwood Town Council

The extraordinary public meeting of Fleetwood Town Council was held at the North Euston Hotel on Tuesday 19 January 2016. There was one agenda item – to discuss the option of the Town Council becoming responsible for running the Museum.

A spokesperson for the Museum said “It was absolutely fantastic to see all the wonderful support that the museum has from Fleetwood towns people.

“The meeting was very well attended with so many people that they were spilling out of the ballroom, into the corridor.

“We’re looking at how we go ONWARDS with the Museum despite the proposed cuts by LCC. The result of the meeting was very positive. Thank you to everyone for your fantastic support. Let’s keep on doing our utmost to safeguard and promote Fleetwood’s unique and fascinating heritage.”

A show of hands took place amongst the audience of around 250. It indicated that the overwhelming majority were in favour of paying to support the continuance of the museum. The result of the meeting was that Fleetwood Museum Trust, supported by funding from Fleetwood Town Council, registered an expression of interest to take over the running of Fleetwood Museum.

Fleetwood Museum Survives!

From that, LCC allowed the museum to open for the 2016 season, being run as in previous years. Later in that year it was announced that Fleetwood Museum Trust would officially take over the running of the museum. By April 2017 the transfer arrangements had still not been completed so LCC allowed the Trust to open the museum for the season and still paid for the manager and overheads. But now the Trust, who were by now a CIO – Charitable Incorporated Organisation – had a more leading role.

During the closed winter season 2017 -2018 everything required for transfer progressed at a great pace. The Trust signed the transfer agreement on 26th March 2018, ready to take over the running of the museum on 1st April 2018. Operating at first without a manager, finally, after interviews, one was appointed in mid-June. Now the museum goes from strength to strength and is an attraction to visitors and for locals to remember the heritage of their town.

Support for Fleetwood Museum Trust

Transferring Fleetwood Museum from local authority control into an independently operating organisation was no mean feat. The Trust recognised that it would need all the help that it could get.

Their aim is to be integral to the heart of the community. To make the collection more accessible to all by offering a warm and friendly welcome. By being a place where visitors can come together to learn, engage and belong.

VISION for the Future

That Fleetwood Museum will be a place of outstanding historical significance. Educating the young, reminding the old and inspiring future generations to investigate their heritage. They will keep history alive.

Fleetwood Museum evolves to keep up with ever changing times. With your support they can save our heritage and protect our history. Volunteers are always welcomed in specific areas of expertise. Along with advisors/trustees to help to drive the museum forward, manage its affairs/buildings and exhibits for the next generation. Can you help?

• Grants Funding – We need to be sustainable. Do you have experience of writing a business case, completing lottery or grant funding applications?
• Trustee/Advisor – Do you have a business/advisory background? HR skills? Can you plan strategically? Do you have a ‘business mind’? Your advice would be invaluable.
• Maintenance – It’s a wonderful listed building that needs a lot of looking after and up-keep, buildings maintenance wise. Beautiful plants and baskets decorate the the front and land at the back. They all need tending to. Could you spare a few hours each week?
• Cafe – The lovely cafe is open to the public, serving drinks and lights snacks. It’s a friendly place with internet access and people are needed to support this busy, income-generating place.
• Education and craft – Schools are welcomed from around the country, we tell stories and educate. We lead and deliver craft events in the school holidays – could you help out or even deliver some of these sessions?
• Phone Sue on (01253) 873824.

Thankfully, Fleetwood Museum survived these ups and downs to save and share local heritage for another day!