Museum's future 'secured for another generation'

A museum director said the future of the site had been secured for the next generation after it was taken off an "at risk" register.

The Long Shop Museum in Leiston, Suffolk, was removed from Historic England's Heritage at Risk Register for 2025 after receiving £1.35m in funding.

The Victorian workshop was built in 1853 for the manufacturing of steam engines and agricultural machinery and it was the first purpose-built flow assembly line anywhere in the world.

Director Fraser Hale said it was a "big relief" to be removed from the register.

"The at risk register is a bit of a double-edged sword," Mr Hale said.

"Being on it helps you to make your plight public and to attract funding, but being off it is quite a relief.

"It's lovely to know that the museum is secure now for at least another generation — 30 years before that kind of work will be necessary again."

The museum received £1m from the Museum Estate and Development Fund as well as £350,000 from Historic England.

Mr Hale said the museum, which formally opened to the public in 1984, had used the money to carry out roof and window repairs which he said were "in very poor condition".

The car park has also been upgraded and sewers and drains have been replaced.

"Everything that let water in, or wind in, or leaves in, we've had fixed and now we can confidently use all of the areas of the museum for displays and galleries which were denied to us before," Mr Hale added.

The museum director hoped the building was still at the heart of Leiston and he said they "worked hard" to ensure it was also a community hub.

"It is a quietly important building," he continued.

"It was the first purpose-built building to house a production line anywhere in the world, 10 years before Mr [Henry] Ford was even born.

"It's an impactful place and we like to think we're keeping it alive."

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