Town's historic past to be dusted off for public view

By leslie jackson les.jackson@thepostandtimes.co.uk

HISTORIC artifacts valued at hundreds of thousands of pounds are to go on display after a 20-year wait for a heritage centre finally came to an end.

A new facility based in the Nicholson Institute, in Stockwell Street, Leek, will bring an art gallery, museum and library all under one roof.

Hundreds of relics, which together are worth about £500,000 but have until now been gathering dust in storage, will be available for history fans to view.

Exhibitions will include oil paintings, tapestries, furniture, marble busts, medals, models, embroideries, ceramics and glassware which have been collected in the Staffordshire Moorlands over hundreds of years.

Staffordshire Moorlands District Council and Staffordshire County Council are currently in discussions over plans to develop the facility to promote Leek and the wider area.

The new-look interior of the Grade II-listed Nicholson Institute is expected to open to the public in September.

SMDC leader Sybil Ralphs said she was delighted the building, built by renowned architect William Sugden, would become a major tourist attraction once more.

She insisted the facility would be crucial in safeguarding the area's history for posterity.

The council leader, who came up with the original idea, said: "This exciting proposal represents a long-held wish and ambition to see the Nicholson Institute fully returned to its original purpose of a public centre of excellence and learning.

"It will be wonderful to be able to display artifacts reflecting the social history of the area and the Nicholson family, provide research facilities, lectures and much else, in an historic building for future generations."

The county council-owned Nicholson Institute, which currently houses a library and art gallery, was built and bequeathed to the people of Leek as a place of learning and culture by mill owner Joshua Nicholson in 1884.

The new facility is set to include an evolving museum and regular exhibitions. County councillor Ben Adams, cabinet member for communities and culture, said: "The idea is to bring the many historical artifacts into public view and to deliver quality archive and educational services, so as to engage with our communities and attract visitors to the area."

The cost to the taxpayer is expected to be minimal.

However, the council does intend to employ a part-time curator to answer visitors' questions.

It is hoped any outlay will be recouped by attracting more people to the town.

Leek Chamber of Trade and Commerce have welcomed the news.

President Brian Johnson said: "We have been trying to achieve this for more than 20 years. A museum is desperately needed to show off the town's heritage."

Historians have been campaigning for a heritage centre-type facility in Leek for decades.

Historian and author Doug Pickford said it was excellent news that the town's heritage was going on display at the Nicholson Institute.

He added: "This was always where it was intended to be."

But John Fisher, chairman of the Parkside Trust, said that a musem was an integral part of its plans for the Foxlowe. He added: "It is perplexing that public money is being spent on a display space which may not enjoy the same high quality of presentation or access and potentially weakens the visitor flow to both facilities."