Narberth Museum

“I visited the museum with my teenage daughter and had a really memorable and enjoyable time. There was a good variety of exhibits with some interactive features, models, a film and best of all, dressing up!”

First-off Headland produced an interpretive plan for the new Narberth Museum to support a successful HLF application, we were then appointed to develop the design proposals and deliver the interpretive fit out. We worked closely with the museum curator and a dedicated band of enthusiastic volunteers to interpret an eclectic collection of local memorabilia connected with the beautiful market town.

The museum’s new home, the Bonded Stores, was built to keep people out. It once contained hundreds of kegs full of valuable but duty-free whisky, brandy and rum. Only when the Revenue Officer and the Stores Manager were both present with their keys could the double locks be opened so Narberth Museum chose the symbol of two keys as its logo.

The wonderful open-plan spaces of the warehouse retain some features of the former industrial use but also provided light and dark areas for a range of community uses including: a library and archive, a stylish cafe, a shop and fun-packed interpretive spaces with a temporary display area and an education space. The emphasis is on family fun and interactive learning with dressing up, role play, games and a regular volunteer led programme of activities and events. In part collections led and in other areas telling stories of the ancient history of the town and of its connection with the tales of the Mabinogion.

Narberth Museum was a finalist for the Art Fund Museum of the Year Award in 2013.

Case studies

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