It seems like only yesterday that I was talking to the project team about their ideas for the extension to the Grade II listed Barrow Hill Engine Shed building and here we are, 21st September 2017, at the official Grand Re-opening Gala. The architectural changes that we made includes a new café, shop, toilets, archive facilities and a new interactive display areas that contains new exhibition features, with the interpretation installation by Headland Design Associates that tells the story of the building and what it was like to work here.
The exhibition rooms include a timeline, a foreman’s office recreated from the past, artefacts relating to the history of Barrow Hill and the railways, hands on interactive displays and a collection of photographs from the archives
All this is in addition to taking in the original building, with the opportunity to look at the locomotives and rolling stock while taking in the surroundings.
The day started with opening speeches from Mark Robinson – Chair of Barrow Hill and Sir Peter Luff – Chair of Heritage Lottery Fund, before Mervyn Allcock was presented with an award from the Railway Magazine for his dedication of service to Barrow Hill Roundhouse. It was great to see so many people turn up to witness the official opening and enjoy the atmosphere and fantastic hospitality.
The speeches described the initial thought process behind the changes that have taken place over the last few years, including the £1.2million HLF project that we have undertaken with the team to turn their dreams into reality.
Everyone received a publication dedicated to the history of the railways taken from the Railway Magazine archives, and there was an opportunity to see the National Railway Museums A3 60103 Flying Scotsman and A1 60163 Tornado.