Weardale Museum Volunteers with their award on the steps of the Great North - Hancock Museum , Newcastle

The Weardale Museum at Ireshopeburn in County Durham was Highly Commended for its achievements as a Volunteer Run Museum at the MLA sponsored Renaissance North East Awards Ceremony at the Great North Museum: Hancock on Saturday 12th November.

It was founded in 1984 by members of the local community who restored the old manse next to High House Chapel creating a museum which quickly achieved the MLAs  professional standard of accreditation when it was first introduced in 1997. The volunteers received a beautiful piece of glassware crafted by Newcastle based studio artist Jane Charles.

Secretary to the Trustees, David Heatherington, said,"We are grateful to the MLA for  providing an award scheme which recognises the tremendous work done by volunteers in our sector, and including a category for museums entirely run by volunteers. Everything you see at our Museum bears the stamp of its volunteers and it was very pleasing that so many of them were able to share and enjoy the day with us.”

The Museum which opens 5 afternoons per week between Easter and the end of October and every day in August contains an impressive collection which quite belies the size of the building.

www.weardalemuseum.co.uk