Skip to main content

Ambitious plans unveiled for Science Museum Group Collection in Wroughton

The Science Museum Group is undertaking an ambitious project to transform how we manage, care for and share our world-leading collection.

This once-in-a-generation opportunity involves investing in new facilities for the collection at our Wroughton site, which will open regularly to the public once complete.

As part of the planning application process, members of the public are invited to find out more about the project, see plans for the new building and talk to the team at drop-in sessions in Wroughton (27 November) and Swindon (29 November).

Wroughton Session
Monday 27 November, 14.00 – 19.00
Ellendune Community Centre, Barrett Way, Wroughton, SN4 9LW

Swindon Session
Wednesday 29 November, 14.00 – 19.00
Wyvern Theatre, Theatre Square, Swindon SN1 1QN

An architect's impression of the new collection facility at Wroughton
An architect’s impression of the collection management facility

Once built, this new home for our collection will be open regularly to the public through a varied programme of tours, learning and research visits.

Objects from the Science Museum Group Collection will be prepared in the new facilities before they go on display across our family of museums: Science Museum in London; the National Railway Museum in York; the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester; the National Science and Media Museum in Bradford; and Locomotion in Shildon. Our objects are also loaned to many museums in the UK and around the world.

The pre-application enquiry issued to Swindon Borough Council for initial feedback is available to read here or you can get in touch directly via planning.feedback@sciencemuseum.ac.uk. The Science Museum Group will submit a full planning application to Swindon Borough Council in December 2017.

ENDS

Note to editors

For further information please contact Will Stanley on 020 7942 4429 or email will.stanley@sciencemuseum.ac.uk.

About the Science Museum Group

We are the world’s leading group of science museums, welcoming over five million visitors each year to five sites: the Science Museum in London; the National Railway Museum in York; the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester; the National Science and Media Museum in Bradford; and Locomotion in Shildon. We share the stories of innovations and people that shaped our world and are transforming the future, constantly reinterpreting our astonishingly diverse collection spanning science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine. Standout objects include the record-breaking locomotive Flying Scotsman, Richard Arkwright’s textile machinery, Alan Turing’s Pilot ACE computer and the earliest surviving recording of British television. Our mission is to inspire futures - igniting curiosity among people of all ages and backgrounds. Each year, our museums attract more than 600,000 visits by education groups, while our touring exhibition programme brings our creativity and scholarship to audiences across the globe. More information can be found at group.sciencemuseum.org.uk.