Information on Loughborough

Time capsule marks Melton Carnegie Museum milestone

Posted on 23/06/2009

Leicestershire Councty Council Community Services

23 June 2009

Time capsule marks Melton Carnegie Museum milestone

Photo Opportunity:

Thursday 25th June at 3.00pm – Melton Carnegie Museum

A special ceremony will be taking place at Melton Carnegie Museum as building work reaches a milestone with a project which is being supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) with a grant of £969,000.

On Thursday 25th June the Lord Lieutenant, Jennifer Lady Gretton will  join representatives from Leicestershire County Council, Melton Borough Council and  project partners to bury a time capsule in the new purpose built new extension to the museum. The ceremony will mark the “Topping Out” - a milestone in the construction phase of the project which is on schedule for completion in October. New displays will then be installed for spring 2010.  

The development will comprise a ground and first floor development to the rear of the existing museum which will double the size of the museum.

The new space will include:

  • A Community Archive to support the work of local history groups and partner organisations, including the Museum of Hunting Trust. Local history societies and other interested groups and volunteers  are supporting the development of the archive, and anyone interested in a wide range of local history is welcome to join the group by contacting the museum. The resources  will be used to inform the new displays and be available for local and regional specialists and non-specialists  and  will be  available for family history and subject specialist research.
  • Additional permanent displays, complementing the existing displays, will focus on rural life in the area and will include some of the ideas suggested at a consultation event organised earlier this year.  The displays will reflect a wide range of issues which have impacted on rural life in recent years and their relationship with the town of Melton Mowbray.  The displays will feature topical issues and be relevant to all age groups.
  • Facilities on the first floor will create a dedicated space for activities and events for use by schools, community groups and volunteers.

The time capsule contains a selection of objects nominated by staff, volunteers and visitors which will delight and  enlighten future generations- the objects include a copy of the Melton Times, contemporaray digital photos of the town and borough, as well as small items which may become obsolete in the future including a mobile phone, postage stamps and a cheque book!

The museum closed in December 2008 for one year to allow the completion of the building project and will partially reopen in December 2009.

Jennifer Lady Gretton, Lord Lieutenant of Leicestershire, said:

"The new extension will be a marvellous addition to the existing facilities at the museum and will be a good resource for everyone.  The museum is a great asset for Melton and the wider Leicestershire community.  I know that behind the scenes staff and volunteers are working very hard to ensure the success of the development.

“It’s a wonderful idea to bury the time capsule for future generations who will be able to see items and objects which may become obsolete."

For further information please telephone 01664 569946. www.leics.gov.uk/meltonmuseum or email meltonmuseum@leics.gov.uk