Museum Restoration

Statement from Exeter City Council about Topsham Museum

The official start date of the project is 2nd June. From that date forward you will see a lot more activity on site than there has been in recent weeks. Since receiving listed building consent, we have been working to get the project started. The temporary propping arrangements are ready to go. Their design has had to change many times during the continued condition assessment of the 1st and 2nd floor structures. We have been lining up and securing dates for the many subcontractors that are part of this project. The council have also had to make several important decisions on to what extent we repair or replace many of the windows. This has ultimately led to us starting work later than anticipated.

Mercury Construction, the Principal Contractor, is a trusted and experienced partner of the Council, with a strong track record in delivering high-quality works across a range of projects, including extensive heritage restoration. The company is also a registered member of the Considerate Constructors Scheme, ensuring the highest standards in community engagement, safety, and site management.

Mercury has provided a carefully planned work programme aimed at completing the project as quickly as possible, while ensuring the protection and preservation of the building’s historic features. The programme is tight and may be sensitive to unforeseen changes, but every effort will be made to avoid delays and minimise disruption. Scaffolding on Lower Shapter Street is currently expected to be removed in September, though this is subject to several factors, particularly weather conditions, which may affect both the application and drying times of the lime render. The remainder of the project is expected to continue until December. Mercury Construction may also issue updates during the project via mail shots or other forms of communication to keep residents informed and engaged as the work progresses.

Topsham Museum, including the Tea Room and Garden, will be closed for several months while it undergoes extensive repair works. Work late last year to replace the external render revealed substantial problems with the structure of the building. These pictures of two of the roof trusses and of a floor joist give some idea of the problems that have been discovered.

Museum President, Rachel Nichols, said: “We’re extremely grateful to the council for taking such care with the building, which is of huge historic interest. It was built in 1688 and left to the council in 1983 to hold in trust as a museum for the people of Topsham.

We normally have around 10,000 visitors a year and it’s a great pity that it will not be able to open as usual in April. However, we’re seeing this as a golden opportunity to take stock of our collections, refresh the Museum and reopen with an even better story of the town’s history, its maritime traditions and the importance of the Exe Estuary.”