Work begins at Civic Offices for Swindon Museum and Art Gallery

Civic offices exhibition three paintings of landscapes

Preparatory work for a new lift, which will make the building more accessible to those with mobility issues, will start today (25 July) and is expected to be finished in the next few weeks. 

This is the first step before more extensive works start to turn the top floor of the building into a space suitable for Swindon’s superb history collections and its nationally significant collection of modern British art.

When complete, the Civic Offices will provide around 40 per cent more display space compared to its previous home at Apsley House in Old Town. 

The new venue will also provide improved working conditions and additional areas for staff, volunteers and researchers, presenting an opportunity to restart the museum and art gallery’s volunteer programme. 

Sawfish are also called carpenter sharks...but they are rays, not sharks!

There’s also a species called a sawshark, but that’s, well, a shark!

What the heck is a lek?

Males great bustards perform spectacular courtship displays, gathering at a ‘lek’ or small display ground to try to impress the females.

Road Runner!

The great bustard has a dignified slow walk but tends to run when disturbed, rather than fly.

Belly Buster!

The hen-bird on display at The Salisbury Museum was one of the last great bustards to be eaten in the town!

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