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With 2026 underway it would seem appropriate to look back over 2025 to sum up our position. With the rather disastrous end to 2024 which left us unable to plan for the future with any certainty, 2025 looked ominous. However we were given some hope during the October/November History Festival which was very successful from our point of view. Thanks to media coverage of the closure of the cottages section of the exhibition, particularly by BBC Points West we had some positive outcomes. There was a lot of interest on social media and considerable financial help offered by the Julia Rausing Trust once we obtain new premises. The latter is obviously still our main objective so if there is anyone out there who can help please get in touch.
As we feared, opening the shelter was not a possibility so we consoled ourselves helping other organisations to mark the 80th Anniversary of Victory in WWII. We also followed up possible accommodation suggestions but unfortunately nothing transpired, but we are still following up one major possibility.
Our old home as of February 2026
Another home looking for a home !
When we evacuated the cottages we found that the indigenous woodworm had taken their toll of a number of exhibits. One was our model of Blessem Hall that illustrates life in the domestic wing of the this stately home. This meant that during the closed season major restoration was required. As we were closed for the crucial Anniversary year, once the work was completed it was loaned to the Corinium Museum exhibition and Town Station exhibition during the Cirencester History Festival. The restoration included extra items to illustrate the Victory celebrations. Now we have to find a permanent home for ourselves and Blessem Hall. The following images show some of the restoration work and the final results.
Repair and reconstruction of Blessem Hall
At home in the cottages
Reconstructing the site of the Anderson shelter
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