Beaulieu National Motor Museum drives ahead with £15-million expansion plan
AMBITIOUS plans for a £15m expansion and renovation of Beaulieu’s National Motor Museum have been revealed in the year the attraction marks its 50th anniversary.
Unveiling his aspiration to reach “larger and more diverse audiences than ever before,” the National Motor Museum Trust’s recently appointed director, Jon Murden, told guests at Beaulieu’s annual estate dinner it was time to “rise to the challenge”.
The event, hosted by Lord and Lady Montague at The Domus, saw self-confessed “car nut” Dr Murden reveal his appointment had fulfilled a childhood dream.
Dr Murden said the “bold” vision for the future of the attraction would involve raising £15m-£20m over the next seven years.
He said: “The world of motoring is changing rapidly and so are the expectations of our visitors. We cannot rest on our laurels in any way – that would be a great disservice to the legacy of Edward Lord Montagu in creating the museum.”
Pledging to open up vast unseen collections, Dr Murden said current vehicles and memorabilia on display were “the tip of a remarkable iceberg”.
He said: “We must seek to collect the vehicles, the auto-memorabilia and all the other objects that reflect and tell the ever-changing experience of motoring to a larger and more diverse audience than ever before.”
Renewing the infrastructure of the museum and improving spaces, equipment and interpretation for even the youngest visitors will be high priorities for the future, it was revealed.
Dr Murden said: “I’m delighted to announce tonight that we are on our way with that, having heard this week that we have been awarded a major grant which will enable us to start the first phase of planning works.”
Work will start in 2023 on a £600,000 scheme to refurbish the upper welcome and orientation spaces of the National Motor Museum.
Dr Murden said: “We are all very excited about this but it’s certainly the first step on a long road.”
During the dinner Lord Montagu revealed visitor numbers to Beaulieu were down on the post-lockdown boom of 2021, but still noticeably up on 2019.
Partially blaming the war in Ukraine and the cost of living for the reduced footfall, Lord Montagu said 2022 was in many respects a “return to normal”.
He said: “For the first time in three years, we were able to hold a full event programme including the Supercar Weekend, 16 Simply rallies and both Autojumbles at which we saw the return of at least some exhibitors from the continent.”
Turning to celebrations held in July to mark the 50th anniversary of the National Motor Museum, Lord Montagu said the 1972 opening was one of his late father’s proudest moments and the culmination of more than 20 years of work.
He said: “Half a century later, the charity he established, the National Motor Museum Trust, continues his legacy.
“The museum has received over 21-million visitors since 1972, houses 275 vehicles and, with its libraries and archives, is one of the most significant motoring collections in the UK.”Whilst acknowledging the end of the internal combustion engine was on the horizon, Lord Montagu said the story of motoring would continue to a new chapter with electric, hydrogen, self-driven and autonomous vehicles.
