Friday 24 June 2011

News - Fears Sheffield's Traditional Heritage museum may close

Volunteers at a Sheffield museum fear it may have closed its doors for the final time.

The Traditional Heritage Museum closed in February after concerns over health and safety.

Volunteer Gordon Murfin said he was unable to find any information about its future.

Sheffield University, which owns the building, said no-one was available to comment.

The museum, which has been open since 1985, has given visitors an experience of Sheffield from years gone by in the former church hall of Endcliffe Methodist Church.

Based on Ecclesall Road, the hall has a variety of walk-through displays, including a replica kitchen from the 1920s and a variety of Sheffield shops, such as Pollard's tea and coffee and Renwick's Basketmakers.

Mr Murfin said other volunteers had shared their dismay and it would be a shame to close the 'wonderful reconstruction" of Sheffield's past.

"We can't get a lot of sense out of anybody. We understand that there was a health hazard but it's been going on forever and we can't get anywhere," Mr Murfin said.

Volunteer curator Prof John Widdowson said the university had planned to hold a meeting on its future in June.

Despite Sheffield University owning the museum and the displays, the venture has been entirely run by volunteers.

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