Arts Council accolade for restored cottage museum

4 hours ago

David McKennaEast Yorkshire and Lincolnshire

News image — Mrs Smith's Cottage offers a snapshot of life in the 20th Century

North Kesteven District Council An exterior view of the Victorian red-bricked cottage. There is a bronze-coloured sign at the entrance with a cutout engraving stating its name. There are shrubs in the garden. — Mrs Smith's Cottage offers a snapshot of life in the 20th Century

A Lincolnshire museum has regained accreditation from Arts Council England more than a decade after it was forced to close because of serious structural problems.

Mrs Smith's Cottage, in Navenby, near Lincoln, is named after Hilda Smith, who lived there for more than 70 years until her death in 1995, aged 102.

The cottage has been maintained largely as it was when she last occupied it, offering visitors a glimpse into everyday rural life in the 20th Century.

North Kesteven District Council, which runs the museum, said the award was "a fitting milestone" in its journey from closure to national recognition.

North Kesteven District Council An interior view of the museum. There is a table with a floral cover on it and various items of old-fashioned furniture and a stove set within a wooden fire surround. There is a beam on the ceiling and photographs on the wall. — Last year, the museum received a Visit England Hidden Gem award

Council leader Richard Wright said it reflected the dedication of staff and volunteers who had worked to bring the museum back to life.

"Accreditation is the benchmark of quality for museums across the country, and this recognition confirms that Mrs Smith's Cottage is providing an excellent visitor experience while caring for its unique collections to the highest standards," he said.

The museum had been accredited before it closed in 2013 when inspectors declared its roof unsafe.

It reopened in August 2020 after a £1m National Lottery Heritage Fund-supported restoration project.

The latest accolade follows a Visit England Hidden Gem award made last year.

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