Automotive enthusiasts and car lovers woke up to some awful news recently in the United Kingdom. The National Motor Museum, which has amassed a world-famous collection over the years, is set to change dramatically as it looks for a new home.
The museum has, since 1972, been located at the Beaulieu estate and was opened by Edward, 3rd Baron Montagu of Beaulieu, in purpose-built premises. News of the move from its long-standing home came as a huge shock, as the museum had become synonymous with Beaulieu.
However, while there is naturally apprehension and fear from the enthusiast world as to what the future will hold, the museum itself is remaining quite upbeat. It is excited about its future and says it has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform the museum and give it a reimagined home that reinvigorates the collection.
If you want to visit the museum at its current collection, then don’t despair just yet. The current lease at Beaulieu will not expire for another four years, so there is still plenty of time to go and enjoy the vast collection at its current location. After that, there will be a new home for the National Motor Museum.
What the National Motor Museum Has Said About the Move
The National Motor Museum Trust, which runs the museum, has said that it has been in talks with the Beaulieu Estate for the last two years regarding the lease of the site and its collection. In total, there are more than 270 vehicles in the museum, and over 1.9 million items within the museum’s collection that tell the story of British motoring.
The trust has said that this move is the best way for it to reimagine and reinvigorate both the museum and its collection. Talks between the trust and Beaulieu had taken place to create a new home at Beaulieu, through both major donor investment and potential redevelopment. However, neither party could work that out, hence the decision by the trust to move away from its current location.
Robert MacGregor, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the National Motor Museum Trust, said: “We are sad that the National Motor Museum will be leaving Beaulieu but are at the same time very excited about this once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform the Museum for the future.” Lord Montagu of Beaulieu said, “Wherever the National Motor Museum and its collections may be located in the future, Beaulieu will continue to develop as a leading south coast attraction.”
What This Means for the Museum’s Future
Reading the statements from both Beaulieu and the National Motor Museum might lead you to be a bit confused. However, the crux of it is that the National Motor Museum Trust is seeking a new home for itself and a large part of the collection. Whether there has been a disagreement is unclear, but neither party could make a new deal work.
The Beaulieu Estate owns a lot of the cars in the current museum. These will continue to stay at Beaulieu after the trust has moved on, and the current site will continue to house a museum. This could be called the Montagu Motor Museum, which is what the museum was called before it evolved into the National Motor Museum. It is a shame that the two parties could not agree to a new deal, which would have been the ideal solution.