HAT designed the award-winning renovation and extension of Ely Museum, transforming the Grade 2 listed former Gaol and its surroundings. The £2.2m project, which re-opened to the public in 2021, increased the floor area available for displays, created a new multi-purpose space for education and community programmes, and restored historic features previously hidden from view.

The project has won a 2022 RIBA East award, and the 2022 RIBA Conservation Award for the region.

The Grade 2 listed building has a fascinating history as the Gaol of the Bishop of Ely. It was originally converted into a museum in 1997, with the addition of a small extension, and numerous internal alterations which obscured the historic plan form and features.

We stripped out the unsympathetic alterations so that historic features, such as the original medieval stair and prisoner graffiti, could become part of the museum displays and experience. An additional storey was added to the 1997 extension, clad in handmade local tiles and with a beautiful copper-toned bay window overlooking Lynn Road, acting as a beacon for the museum.

The whole building is now fully accessible for the first time, with the addition of a lift and level floors throughout. All the museum displays have been renewed, with exhibition design completed by Simon Leach Design, allowing unique items such as the Gold Torc to be showcased fittingly alongside other treasures from the Museum’s collections. Archive and storage facilities have also been improved, enabling the museum to improve its income and ensure its future sustainability.