The Potteries Museum and Art Gallery is already a popular destination but is being developed to house a permanent Spitfire exhibition. I walk past the museum every morning on my way to the office and in recent weeks the new building is starting to take shape. We are witnessing a significant amount of investment in the Potteries and North staffs as a region in infrastructure, house building and commercial building projects, the city centre landscape is changing quickly with the completion of the Clayworks and the new Hilton hotel alongside the ongoing new housing development “Saxon Place”. But it is also great to see work that reflects the great heritage of the area and this Spitfire Exhibition is a superb example.
In 1972, the RAF gifted a MK.XVI Spitfire to the city of Stoke-on-Trent to commemorate the original designer of the Spitfire, Reginald Joseph Mitchell; a famous son of the City. The Spitfire is currently undergoing extensive restoration at Medway Aircraft Preservation Society Ltd in consultation with the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery curatorial team, and with the support of local organisations Operation Spitfire & the Friends of the Potteries Museum.
Stoke-on-Trent City Council recognised the significance of this piece of local history and commissioned this project to provide a new exhibition space to showcase this remarkable piece of engineering whilst providing exhibition and education spaces to inspire and promote engineering and technology in the Region.
The extension will be two-storeys tall, with the Spitfire and associated exhibition material on the ground floor. It will connect to a refurbished museum café, which will have views into the Spitfire gallery. The first floor will feature a viewing platform to look down on the Spitfire from above, and additional room for other museum exhibitions.
Stoke-on-Trent is fast becoming the UK’s number one buy to let hotspot and there continues to be significant investment over the next few years with the aim of making it a great city to live and work.
Looking to move to or invest in the Stoke-on-Trent area and want advice from a team of property professionals then please call us on 01782 262880
