The Museum will be closed 3rd November to 31st January.  The 2009 season at Holker Hall will commence 1st February, daily to 1st November. Museum is Moving An application to develop a brown field site at Backbarrow to re-house the award winning Lakeland Motor Museum’s display of over 30,00 exhibits was unanimously approved by the Lake District National Park Authority Planning Committee on the 2nd July. This unique visitor attraction, which spans over 100 years of motoring history, has been housed in the former Shire Horse Stables at Holker Hall since 1978, however the ever growing collections, including the important Campbell Bluebird Exhibition have outgrown the available space. General Manager, Mr. Edwin Maher said: “We intend to move the Museum to the site of the former ‘Dolly Blue’ carton packaging sheds at nearby Backbarrow. This will enable the business to develop in a sustainable manner as a visitor attraction of world class quality”. The new site at Backbarrow provides an idyllic location on the banks of the River Leven, in close proximity to the A590. However it is envisaged that the Museum will largely draw on visitors staying within Central Lakes utilising the public transport links offered by Windermere Lake Cruises and the nearby Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway. Mr Maher added: “We need to double the floor area currently available to enable our car, motorcycle, cycle and automobilia collections to be displayed to their best advantage. We intend to extend the scope of the museum into new areas with improvements to exhibit interpretation, including interactive audio visual displays”. Whilst it had been originally intended to reopen at the new location early next year, an agreement has been reached with Holker Estates to enable the Museum to continue opening to the public at its present location for the 2009 season.  Meanwhile it’s business as usual. Mr Maher said: “We are delighted at the successful outcome to our planning application. From the outset we have worked very closely with the Planning Authority to ensure that our submission would be acceptable. We have invested much time and effort to make certain the development will be sympathetic to an historic former industrial site and in keeping with the local environment.  The new museum is expected to open prior to Easter 2010.” The 2009 season will be the 32nd at Holker Hall and Mr. Maher concluded: “We have enjoyed almost a 1/3 of a century at Holker and are extremely grateful for the support and hospitality of our hosts Lord and Lady Cavendish. We look forward to working with Holker Estates during our final season here and beyond.” October 2008 Edwin L. Maher For further details please contact Mr Edwin Maher, General Manager of the Lakeland Motor Museum on 015395 58509