Tullie has been awarded £4.4 million to continue its redevelopment the museum.

The phased redevelopment programme, already underway, to transform the museum over the next 10-15 years has already seen the The Costume Collection updated and are well on the way to having a new and improved welcome area, shop, café and Carlisle Gallery.

A spokesperson for Tullie said: “We are overjoyed to announce that we have been successful in receiving £4.4 million in funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for the next stage of improvements.”

“Our plans for this new stage of work have been closely developed with the local community. We’ve heard loud and clear that people want to see more of the nationally-significant collections we care for.”

The museum has almost 1 million objects that it cares for so there are a lot of stories for them to share.

To do so they have identified the 1990s Border Galleries as the perfect spot for a transformation.

Creating a new ‘Active Gallery’ with more than 100,000 collection items revealed.

Also changing are the railway carriages and badger tunnel, actually a Roman mine, but as the spokesperson said “after almost 30 years it’s time for a change.”

These alterations will offer fresh, exciting and hands-on activities with chances to learn more about the behind the scenes aspects of collections care.

The funding will also allow for the creation of new studio space for Tullie’s schools and community programmes.

The spokesperson added: “We’ll be breathing life and welcoming people back into historic parts of the buildings, with improved accessibility and internal access into the ‘secret’ walled garden.

“There will also be a huge programme of events and activities, changing trails and displays to accompany the physical changes.”

“We want to say a massive thank you to The National Lottery Heritage Fund and, of course, to National Lottery players for making this all possible.”

This phase of work is expected to start in May 2025 with areas of the museum closing to allow work to take place.