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Brand New ‘Century of Trams’ Exhibition Opens Good Friday

Visitors to Crich Tramway Village, home of the National Tramway Museum will be able to see a brand new exhibition in the Great Exhibition Hall from Good Friday, 2nd April 2010. The ‘Century of Trams Exhibition’ takes visitors on a fascinating journey through a hundred years of tramway development and coincides with 150th anniversary of trams in Britain.

Funding for the project has come from the Wolfson Foundation (£150k) and the Derbyshire Economic Partnership (DEP) (£350K) and has enabled the Museum to re-display the entire exhibition hall.

Commenting on the project, Glynn Wilton, Museum Curator said “The new exhibition features a timeline of trams through the ages, from the very first horse-drawn trams, through steam trams to more modern electric systems. It has allowed us to display artefacts that are currently in storage and have never been seen before by the general public. The display covers the period from 1860 to 1960.”

The last tram to be put in place in the hall was a Blackpool Balloon car dating from 1934 which the Museum acquired from Blackpool Transport recently following the streamlining of their vintage fleet. The Blackpool tram made the 150 mile journey to Crich by low-loader last week. The Museum will be celebrating 125 years of Blackpool trams later this year.

New interactive displays aimed at families will be added to the exhibition over the coming weeks ready for a grand official opening at the end of May.

Crich Tramway Village is open daily from 29th March until 31st October 2010. It is situated near Matlock, Derbyshire, eight miles from M1 junction 28. Admission prices*: Adult £10.50. Senior £9.50. Child (4-15) £.5.50. Family (2 adults, 3 children) £29.50 Information line 01773 854321 www.tramway.co.uk.
* A higher charge applies on Premier Event days.

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Editor’s Notes
1.The current Exhibition Hall was opened in 1992 and had many shortcomings in its interpretive solutions and the limited number of artefacts it interpreted. The new exhibition will increase the amount of interpreted exhibits by 75%.
2.The project is being fully financed by grant funding from the Wolfson Foundation (£150k) and the Derbyshire Economic Partnership, DEP (£350k)
3.The Wolfson Foundation supports projects across the fields of science and technology, medical research and health, education and the arts, currently allocating some £35 million per annum.
4.DEP works in Partnership across Derbyshire to stimulate, develop and bring forward a range of sustainable economic opportunities and improve the prosperity and overall environment for businesses, communities, individuals and visitors. www.derbyshireeconomicpartnership.org.uk.
5.The aim of the project is to enrich the Museum experience for all visitors. Modern design approaches will provide greater learning outcomes and increased intellectual, sensory and cognitive access to the Museum’s collections and in a way that is appealing to children and adults.
6.The design includes environmentally sustainable photovoltaic cells (solar panels) which will help to offset the power consumption.