One of my favourite museums is moving.

Hi All,

I have just realised that the Jewish Military Museum in Hendon is in the midst of closing and moving over to Jewish Museum at Camden.

I will miss popping in to Shield House after I had visited my Nan's memorial at Golders Green Crematorium and seeing all the exhibits on display.

Sorry to see it go, but wish the museum well in its new location.

http://www.thejmm.org.uk/home

 

Rumour has it that the RAF museum at Hendon is also moving. To Cosford!


L

 

Not good news for the local area, but I guess they will have their reasons.

 

Sorry Steve thread side tracked
There are a number of listed buildings on site within the structure of the museum


The Historic Hangars are listed buildings that were part of the old Hendon Aerodrome, the cradle of British aviation. They have been linked together by a new building that was created to house part of the Museum's collection of fighter aircraft. This is dedicated to Sir Sidney Camm, the designer of the Hawker Typhoon that sits in pride of place. The Historic Hangars contain five separate exhibitions each telling a different story about the RAF and its aviation history.

http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/london/things-to-see-and-do/hangars/historic-hangars.aspx

The Watch Office building was granted Grade II Listed status as a "building of special historical interest" but was located in an area of the former RAF Hendon and would have been lost in the new housing development on the site. It was therefore decided to dismantle the building and re-erect it on the Museum's site.
The brickwork, steelwork and decorative elements were carefully dismantled and re-erected in a manner that preserves the character of the building.
Where possible the Watchtower has been rebuilt with existing materials or similar to re-create the appearance: the steel trusses, staircase, and approximately 90% of the coping and 85% of the joinery was retained.
Structures were designed in accordance with current design and Building Regulations standards, with necessary changes such as the inclusion of a lift to ensure it is accessible to all.
The relocation of a listed building is an exceptional event and is rarely permitted. The successful relocation of the Watchtower Building has been achieved through partnership between key organisations, principally the RAF Museum, London Borough of Barnet and English Heritage.
http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/london/things-to-see-and-do/hangars/grahame-white-factory/moving-the-building.aspx

 

I worked on some of those buildings when they were first put together in the 80's. Quite a lot of plastering from memory.

Regards,

Nick

 

RAF Museum at Hendon might not move for a few years going by this report.

04 Sep 2014 RAF Museum invites competition entries for revamp

A competition has been launched to find a landscape design team for the RAF Museum’s revamp. The attraction is undergoing a £23m renovation as it builds up to the centenary celebrations of the Royal Air Force in 2018.

The winning team will help achieve the master plan designed by architecture firm Wilkinson Eyre in 2011. The four-phase renovation of the site in Hendon, London, is known as the Centenary Programme and includes: refitting of the 1915 factory, due to be completed in December; restoring public-use 1931 buildings by 2016; creating a new exhibition and entrance by 2016; and refitting the hangar with a visitor centre and exhibits by 2017.

The RAF museum says it has “a unique opportunity of placing itself at the centre of the Royal Air Force’s celebration of its Centenary in 2018: this is a chance to improve its storytelling and build up its resilience for the next century.”

From here http://www.attractionsmanagement.com/detail.cfm?pagetype=detail&subject=news&codeID=311169

Regards

Danny