Museum celebrates £500,000 grant

The Bowes Museum will use the grant to boost collections

A County Durham museum has been awarded a £500,000 grant which will go towards its continuing improvement project.

As part of the work, The Bowes Museum in Barnard Castle is adding displays, creating a study area and building a state-of-the-art dress gallery.

The £500,000 grant from the Monument Trust - and an award of £25,000 made by the Headley Trust last autumn - will go towards the project.

It is hoped the refurbishment will boost visitor numbers.

A new display of silver and precious metals will also be opened while the dress gallery is due to be unveiled early next year.

Adrian Jenkins, museum director, said: "It is an honour for the museum to receive such a significant grant."

The museum remains open to visitors during the work.