Pickford's House: 'Exciting changes' hope to bring ancient Derby landmark into the 21st century

Ria Ghei
By Ria Ghei
Published 17th Jan 2024, 15:39 BST
Named after the architect Joseph Pickford, the museum celebrates the Georgian way of life in a fun and educational wayNamed after the architect Joseph Pickford, the museum celebrates the Georgian way of life in a fun and educational way
Named after the architect Joseph Pickford, the museum celebrates the Georgian way of life in a fun and educational way | Google Street View
Work being undertaken inside the building may impact current exhibitions

A beloved landmark and tourist attraction in Derby is set to see some major changes in the coming months.

Pickford’s House is a Grade I listed building that was built by acclaimed architect Joseph Pickford in 1770 as his family home on Friar Gate, Derby.

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It has been delighting visitors since 1988 when it opened as a museum, with exhibitions celebrating aspects of Georgian life. 

The elegant townhouse at 41 Friar Gate will be undergoing ‘significant changes’ with work being undertaken on displays to create an improved visitor experience. 

Announcing on social media, the museum said: ‘Pickford's House will be undergoing significant changes in the upcoming months as we work on improvements to displays, therefore there may be disruption during your visit. 

‘You may find closed rooms or limited access to certain areas whilst work takes place. We’ll keep you updated with progress.’

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The project is titled ‘The Reimagined Home: Changing Views of Home, Work and Family for an Inclusive, Digital Age.’

It is being funded by the DCMS/Wolfson Museums and Galleries Improvement Fund.

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Rated number one attraction out of things to do in Derby on TripAdvisor, Pickford’s House has fans that have travelled across the country to visit. 

Local people reacted with joy to the social media announcement too. 

One fan wrote ‘This is our favourite museum in Derby! I can't wait to see what changes are made!’

Another said ‘Very glad to see this valuable town asset being cared for’ whilst another simply enthused ‘Great news, love Pickford’s House.’

Related topics:DerbyMuseumGeorgianWorkDisruptionSocial mediaPeople

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