Malton Museum revealed the vision for the attraction at an open meeting last Saturday.
Currently based in Yorkersgate, a consultation, which took place last year, identified the old Golden Fleece pub site in Malton market place as best suited as a location to take the museum forward.
The property will enable the museum to exhibit its collections and expand its tourist offering.
Saturday’s meeting of museum supporters and local residents at St Michael’s Church gave a warm welcome to the emerging plans and designs.
People were also given the opportunity to contribute ideas about what a new museum might look like and how the internal spaces might be used to provide display areas, meeting spaces for community groups and exhibition rooms for local makers and creators.
Sketch designs have been prepared by award-winning local architect Tom Brooksbank.
Tom said: “The design for the new Malton Museum draws inspiration from local history, creating a bold new civic building on the marketplace.
“It blends traditional materials like brick and timber with modern elements such as floor-to-ceiling windows.
“The central arch and gable ends, along with the pitched roofline, recall the Roman fort and Malton’s historic architecture.”
Tom said the front of the building is Grade II-listed and will be conserved.
“ It features a very special inglenook fireplace and 12th Century stonework which will be carefully preserved. The Fleece operated as an inn from at least 1823 and has been an important part of Malton’s history.
“The original building amalgamated three old burgage plots and this has influenced the approach to the design of the rear of the building featured below.
“The rear of the building is not listed and provides an important opportunity to create exciting new spaces and display areas as well as potential workspaces for local business and crafts people.”
Malton Museum first opened its doors to the public on 10 January 1935.
Then called the Roman Malton Museum, it showed the finds from archaeological digs led by Dr J.L. Kirk and Philip Corder at Malton Fort, Langton Villa and Crambeck in the late 1920s and early 1930s.
Since opening, the museum has further developed its collections, moving from very traditional display cases to a more engaging presentation of Malton’s history, from the Neolithic period the the 20th Century, with hands-on activities for all ages.
The museum later moved to the old Malton Town Hall, returning to Malton’s Subscription Rooms in Yorkersgate in 2012.
Museum Chair Phil Crabtree said the cost of the move would be around £4m and the museum will need to employ specialist fundraisers to apply for grants and donations to fund this.
“The building has been vacant for many years but was once an important community hub, particularly on market days.
“This means the museum will benefit from increased exhibition space, space for storage of exhibits on site and will be an improved part of Malton and Norton’s tourist offering and help generate increased footfall to local businesses. It is also anticipated that this will enable the museum to attract more items on loan from other museums as well. Disabled access to the museum will also be key to the new site.”
Phil said the decision was made against a number of criteria including cost, position in the town and suitability of the premises for a long-term lease and other potential uses.
“This is still very early on in the process but it’s exciting to have a look at the new museum.”
For further information about these ideas and an opportunity for you to contribute your ideas about the new museum please visit the museum’s website www.maltonmuseum.co.uk
