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Thursday, 17 February 2011

BPMA - We're not going to Swindon after all.

We've waited for a comprehensive National Postal Museum since London's King Edward Building was sold in 1998.  The British Postal Museum & Archive, currently based in Freeling House, Mount Pleasant, with stores at Debden in Essex and a Community Museum at Blist's Hill in Ironbridge, had big plans for a new centre in converted railway premises in Swindon.  They even secured some Heritage Lottery Funding. 

But the main part of the funding was still down to Royal Mail - and it is now reported that as Royal Mail have decided they cannot afford this funding, the BPMA trustees "have decided not to continue with plans to develop a new base in Swindon, Wiltshire."

See their blog statement here.

The country which invented the postage stamp hasn't had a postal museum for 13 years.  So, let's pass the hat round and see if we can raise £20 million between us.  Given the number of collectors and businesses which make money from the hobby, it ought to be possible, surely?

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2 comments:

  1. Artsfan24 February 2011 at 11:04

    Can somebody trustworthy(!) start the fund? I agree, this is an important part of our heritage which should be kept before it falls into an uncertain future!
    DR

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ian - Norvic24 February 2011 at 11:08

    Anybody can donate direct to BPMA, using the 'Donate' link on their 'Support Us' page: http://www.postalheritage.org.uk/support

    ReplyDelete

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