Doncaster's £14 million museum and library is completed - now its being filled up

Doncaster Council has been given the keys for the landmark building from the main contractor, Willmott Dixon and will now start filling the building with exhibits and library items.

Ros Jones, Mayor of Doncaster, said: “The building is visually stunning, unique and iconic, particularly the frontage of the former Doncaster High School for Girls which we have beautifully restored and showcased as an exhibit in its own right.

“It has changed the skyline in Waterdale, but it’s more than just a great looking, cutting edge facility. As a new public attraction, it will contribute to our wider regeneration plans for the Civic and Cultural Quarter and the rest of our town centre. Most importantly, it will be a great public asset for our residents and communities to enjoy and benefit from.

“Given the budget cuts councils up and down the country have faced in recent years, it is a great achievement to be delivering this public building and bringing together a number of services all under one roof. It’s something everyone in Doncaster should be proud to call their own and it will take them on a journey of discovery.”

The art gallery will display some of the most important and impressive works from the art collection cared for by Heritage Doncaster. There is also a dedicated gallery space to accommodate influential art works loaned from the likes of the British Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum, and the Arts Council Collection - a first for Doncaster.

The library will offer a mix of traditional and new ways of reading and learning.

The museum’s collections will be split into various zones. This will enable visitors to learn about Doncaster’s rich heritage and see how communities across the borough have changed over time. It will have a superb natural history space and there will be a special community display where local people can decide what to showcase.

The building will include a rail heritage centre too, including exhibits from the rail collection at Hall Cross Academy and a new look King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry Museum.

Further details will be released in the coming months.

The building had been delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

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