A new contractor has been appointed to complete the transformation of Maryport’s Christ Church into a new home for the maritime museum.
Work is due to restart in the next few weeks, Cumberland Council said, by Flimby-based firm Thomas Armstrong Construction.
The authority terminated its contract with the initial conservation specialists in June as it was no longer able to complete the work.
Work on the 152-year-old church is already well underway, with almost all the exterior renovations complete. The clock in the landmark’s spire has already been repaired and faces reinstalled by the experts at Penrith’s Cumbria Clock Company.
The focus is now on the inside where steelwork for the mezzanine – which even has a crow’s nest in a nod to the seafaring theme – has already been built.
The walls are ready for specialist lime plaster, then a new floor will be laid, and the stained glass windows cleaned and repaired.
The creation of bespoke displays to host the museum’s extensive array of maritime artefacts is also underway, as is the visual interpretation, using the expertise of specialist visitor experience design company The Creative Core, which will bring the collections to life.
The contract termination has caused some delay to the project, but Cumberland Council’s regeneration team said it was confident it will be completed within the timeframes set by the government funding. The museum is due to open in 2025.
Leader of Cumberland Council Mark Fryer said: “The need to change contractors part way through this project was unfortunate and the Maryport regeneration team worked hard to do this as quickly and efficiently as possible amid legal constraints.
“It is their diligence in managing the project which means that none of the grant funding has been wasted. The delay in completion is frustrating but we want this job done properly and perfectly and we look forward to Thomas Armstrong Construction Limited finishing the work on this landmark building.”
Peter Stevenson, chair of Maryport Maritime Heritage, the volunteers who run the museum, added: “On behalf of Maryport Maritime Heritage I would like to thank the Maryport Cumberland Council’s regeneration team for all their hard work getting the Christ Church project back on track, following the need to appoint new contractors part way through. We look forward to when the new museum opens to the public and we can welcome everyone to a great asset for the town.”
Christ Church has connections to LS Lowry, who featured it in his paintings. The Gothic-style building was listed in 2020 by Historic England and their report described its links to Thomas Ismay, founder of the White Star Line which went on to launch the Titanic.
Meanwhile, the temporary maritime museum, which has been housed in a town centre shop, is to close on Friday, September 27 for an extended winter break, making space for an expanding retail business.
The museum collection will be put into storage ahead of the opening of the new heritage attraction.
