Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Maria Miller visited Gunnersbury Park Museum to talk to campaigners about its restoration.

MP for Brentford and Isleworth organised Ms Miller’s tour which took place on Thursday last week (January 16) in support of the attempt to raise funds to restore Gunnersbury Park House and develop and expand the museum, allowing its collections to inspire learning and creativity as well as promoting local heritage.

Ms Miller was welcomed by the Mayor of Ealing, Councillor Kamaljit Dhindsa, and was told of the site’s long and rich history and about the museum’s collections. The Culture Secretary also learnt about the extensive refurbishments and improvements that are to come if the site is successful in gaining full grants from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).

Ealing and Hounslow councils are currently finalising their two HLF bid applications and, if successful, are in line to receive more than £7.7 million to carry out the work.

Ms Miller said: “Gunnersbury House and the wonderful museum inside is a great way for local people to keep in touch with the past. It is fantastic that Heritage Lottery is able to support projects like this and I hope Gunnersbury goes from success to success in the future”.  

The HLF has given more than £6 billion since it was established in 1994 and Gunnersbury Park is one of over 36,000 projects to have received support.