The Harris Museum's frontage.

In 2010 the Harris Museum & Art Gallery was successful in its bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund to create a new history gallery for the 2012 Preston Guild – now work is ready to commence.

The project, also supported by the Harris Trust and Friends of the Harris Museum, will create a new space filled with art works including the 12,000 year old Poulton Elk, as well as new stories investigating what makes Preston special.

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The new gallery is expected to bring new visitors to the Harris and to Preston, and organisers hope that it will be a long term legacy. Alex Walker, Head of Arts and Heritage at Preston City Council, said: “We are looking forward to the opening of the new history gallery next year.  It will be a major new attraction for the Guild Year, and for years to come.”

Staff and volunteers have stripped out the old history displays over the last few months and carefully removed and packed up every object over the last few months. Most objects are now in store, but some have been sent out for conservation.

The Harris Museum are offering visitors the chance to come and see conservation work underway on the Pedder doll’s house in the museum from Monday 24^th to Wednesday 26^th October, 11-1pm & 2-4pm.

The building’s toilet facilities are to have a complete re-vamp. The toilets were closed from yesterday, and new facilities will open in early 2012.

Whilst the building work is progressing, entry to the building will be via the Jacson Street entrance, as the Harris Street entrance is now closed.