PROJECT: NATIONAL MARITIME MUSEUM CORNWALL
CONSTITUENCY: FALMOUTH AND CAMBORNE
LOCAL AUTHORITY: CARRICK
AMOUNT AWARDED: £17,285,925

The story of this successful project dates back to the 1980s, when a property company obtained permission to build 200 houses on the harbour site. A group of residents and yachting enthusiasts who did not want the town’s derelict waterfront to be monopolised by commercial developments decided to form the Falmouth International Maritime Initiative (FIMI). Their aim was to ensure that Falmouth’s maritime heritage, with its roots going as far back as the medieval ship-building industry, would be recognised in any regeneration schemes.

Ambitious plans were drawn up for creating the National Maritime Museum Cornwall, in partnership with the National Maritime Museum Greenwich. Thanks to a lively campaign, funding was secured for the acquisition of a high-profile site on the harbour with strong support from local businesses and individuals. HLF provided £17,285,925 of the £30 million necessary to develop the new museum. Other funding partners included the South West Regional Development Agency, the Single Regeneration Budget and the European Regional Development Fund.

The National Maritime Museum Cornwall now has a diverse collection of approximately 140 small craft from Britain and overseas, as well as a collection of artefacts relating to Cornish maritime heritage. The superb design of the building is complemented by interactive exhibits that attract all ages, including an indoor model boat pool that allows visitors to sail radio-controlled craft through fan-generated winds and currents.

The museum’s impressive waterfront building, with has underwater windows through which visitors can observe the local sea life and a 30-metre-high tower providing panoramic views of the harbour. The rest of the building is modelled on the weather-boarded boat sheds of old naval dockyards.

The museum has received outstanding reviews since opening and is on track to attract up to 180,000 visitors a year. It has created jobs for 30 full-time employees, who are supported by 200 volunteers. It is estimated that a further 400 new jobs will be created in Falmouth amongst local suppliers, accommodation providers and retailers. By helping to strengthen the year-round visitor economy and lengthen the visitor season, the museum is an extremely important asset for the Cornish tourist economy.