An exclusive visitor attraction is scheduled to open in Durham this summer.
Named ‘The Story,’ the brand new cultural venue and register office will be located in the recently restored Grade II listed Mount Oswald manor house.
The manor house has been extended to incorporate the purpose-built, modern facility, offering an elegant wedding and civil ceremony venue. It is scheduled to open to the public from Friday 14 June.
The Story will also allow for visitors to explore the heritage of County Durham through ancient archives and archaeological finds that demonstrate the lives of the local people’s lives from birth to death.
It will also be the new permanent home for the entire Durham Light Infantry (DLI) Collection, which will be reunited with the DLI Archive for the first time since 1998.
Accessing the data will be made easier than ever, with free exhibitions, activities and talks, enhanced search facilities and cutting-edge digital tools.
A grant worth £1.2million from The National Lottery Heritage Fund will be contributed towards The Story, allowing for activities for younger people too - storytelling sessions, kids’ takeover days and behind the scenes tours will all be made available thanks to the funding.
The council’s collection teams are working on transporting more than 15,000 objects and approximately six miles worth of archives covering 900 years of local history to the building.
Cllr Elizabeth Scott, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for economy and partnerships, said: “The exciting new venue will bring to life the fascinating history of the county, from prehistory through to the modern day, in the spectacular setting of Mount Oswald.
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“This ambitious project will see a world class facility that will be home to some of the county’s most important heritage collections and a place for life-changing events.
"It supports our commitment to creating new attractions and opportunities for our residents and visitors, and further cements Durham’s position as the ‘culture county’.”
For more information, visit www.thestorydurham.org
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