The Museum may have closed its doors for the winter, but there’s plenty going on behind the scenes to prepare for the new season, and the much anticipated opening of Abbot’s Hall.

It’s a very special building, not just to all of us here at the Museum, but also to the people of Stowmarket, and we know that when we open the doors to this Eighteenth Century Queen Anne style house, many will be be waiting to see what has been achieved using the Heritage grant which has helped fund this ambitious project.

We’ll be revealing a nine-room exhibition centre which celebrates everything that makes East Anglia special, and all of those figures that are entwined in the rich history of this part of the country, from Robert Ransome to Lady Eve Balfour, George Ewart Evans and beyond. We’re looking at what East Anglia means to the people that live there, with powerful and meaningful displays which capture the heart within the history.

As well as the house itself, we’ve also seen the restoration of Crowe St Cottages, which housed workers from the house. The cottages will represent the lives of those that lived there, giving an physical example of social history.

We cannot wait for the grand opening next year, years of preparation and hard work are finally coming to fruition in a project which is giving a whole new lease of life to a brilliantly well deserved building. We hope that our supporters and current visitors, will join the many new visitors that are sure to visit the house, in showing your support with a visit to Abbot’s Hall in 2012. We’ll keep you informed on all the dates closer to the time.