Overview

The Berwick Barracks Partnership is a group of organisations with a shared vision for undertaking vital conservation works at Berwick Barracks and developing the site into a vibrant cultural hub. 

The Partnership vision includes

1. Developing the Barracks into a thriving cultural hub for the town, bringing empty buildings and spaces back into use in a way which supports tourism and the local economy.
2. The existing exhibition, gallery and cultural space will be updated and improved.
3. Northumberland County Council will work to relocate the Berwick Archives to the site - including new research rooms – and studio spaces would be developed for local artists.
4. Improvements will also be made to the Parade Ground to allow it to continue to play an active role in the life of the town, both through existing events and also through an enhanced public programme.
5. A café or restaurant will be developed within the Officers Mess and a shop within the Gatehouse,
6. West Block and Clock Block will be returned to residential use.

The Project

What’s happening?

The Partners at the Barracks will work together to raise the money required to restore the East Barracks and to create the new museum, exhibition space, artists’ resources and offices there. English Heritage will take the lead in identifying a suitable residential development partner.

What is the project timeline?

Redevelopment of the site will proceed in phases, as detailed plans are finalised, and funding becomes available.

The first phase of redevelopment is the temporary relocation of The Maltings cinema to The Mob Store, which was completed in October 2024. We are currently awaiting confirmation of receiving Heritage Lottery Funding which we expect in early 2025. We expect the site will re-open in late 2026. 

There are also initial plans in place for 5 artist studios, which will be flexible spaces, and will be launched in Spring 2025 as a pilot to inform future decisions about the potential to expand studio provision elsewhere on the site over time. How these initial studios are divided up will in part be governed by the tenants and their requirements.

Project updates are regularly shared here.

Where is the money going to come from?

Delivery of all parts of the vision will require funding from a range of both public and private sources.

Phase 1 of the project (The cultural elements) is estimated to cost in the region of £12 million.  The partnership board successfully bid to the Cultural Development Fund (CDF) and a grant of £4.2m was announced in March in 2022. The award has been made to English Heritage on behalf of the Berwick Barracks Partnership.

• NCC: has funded The Maltings move into the Mob Store, and the creation of the temporary cinema, in October 2024.
• NLHF Development Grant: application successful: £476K awarded. This has funded interpretation planning and design, collection cataloguing and a small public engagement programme that will be led by The Maltings to align with CDF.
• NLHF Delivery Grant: This will fund the fit out of the new museum and gallery spaces, site-wide interpretation, and a smaller activity plan again to be delivered by The Maltings. We expect to hear about funding in January 2025.

The Museum

Is there enough space allocated to the museum to display everything?

The planned refurbished heritage display area is almost double the size of the existing KOSB Regimental Museum. While planning continues and will be enhanced following the recruitment of individuals with expertise in designing and displaying artefacts, it is highly unlikely that the entire KOSB Collection will be displayed simultaneously. In principle, the vision and main focus of the refurbished museum will continue to be the KOSB Regimental Museum. However, the Collection will be enhanced by including galleries and displays designed to demonstrate the links between the Town, the Barracks and the Regiment

Will the museum space be accessible?

Yes, the museum will be much more accessible than before the project. Improving access to the collections will be an objective of the project and will include the installation of a lift providing access to the 1st floor of the museum.