THE NEW Norton Collection Museum was officially opened by Bromsgrove MP Sajid Javid on Saturday.
The venue features a variety of items of local interest and general artefacts.
Its launch comes eight years after the closure of the Bromsgrove Museum which used to house the Norton Collection.
The collection’s owner Dennis Norton has strived to reopen the museum in the town and set up a charitable trust to do so.
By the end of last year, it had reached its target and the owners had sufficient funds to open the building – the ownership of it was transferred to the trustees early this year.
Admission on the opening day was free for one day only and, Mr Norton said, it was a great success.
“It was excellent – it was packed out all day and we had a lot of good comments about the displays.
“I was really happy with how it went.”
Mr Javid added: “I thought it was a very historic moment and it was lovely to see so many people come together to see the result of a lot of hard work.
“Although everyone did so much to get it open, the real credit has to go to Dennis for all of his efforts to make it happen.
“When I was Culture Secretary, I was asked to open a lot of exhibitions and collections, but nothing made me more proud than opening the museum on Saturday.
“I even took the family back on Sunday and we spent a couple of hours there, learning about Bromsgrove’s history,” he added.
The venue will now open from 10am to 4pm on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, along with bank holiday Mondays.
Future plans include a major revamp of the entrance and to create extra space at the back so it can house a major display of the work of the Bromsgrove Guild – famous for making the Buckingham Palace gates and the Liver Birds statue in Liverpool.
It is also hoped, when more resources become available, to extend the opening hours.
Anyone interested in helping should call Dennis Norton on 01527 578676.
