A LOCAL charitable trust has taken over an ailing South Lakeland museum in the hope of transforming it into a multi-million pound attraction showcasing historic watercraft.
Plans to re-develop Windermere's Steamboat Museum into a national attraction will start in June following the Lakeland Arts Trust's official takeover of the Bowness site and world-renowned boat collection.
After running successfully for almost 20 years, the museum, which was founded by George Pattinson, had run into decline and its previous owner, Windermere Nautical Trust, was almost forced to sell the collection before the Lakeland Arts Trust stepped in.
As reported in The Westmorland Gazette last September, a £465,000 grant from the National Heritage Memorial Fund, along with donations from Mr Pattinson's family.
Now it will be possible for the boats to be removed from the water for the restoration process to begin in the summer.
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