Warning over condition of Russell-Cotes museum building

A museum’s Victorian building is “continuing to deteriorate” because of it complicated ownership, its manager has warned.

The Russell-Cotes Museum in Bournemouth was set up as a charity in 1908 with the local council as its sole trustee.

Manager Sarah Newman said the arrangement was restricting its ability to fundraise for crucial repairs.

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council has backed plans for the museum to become independent.

The Grade II* listed building is the former home of Sir Merton Russell-Cotes and his wife Annie, who amassed artefacts from their worldwide travels in the late 19th Century.

The main hall has collection of high Victorian and Pre-Raphaelite art. Other rooms in the house showcase souvenirs from the couple’s travels, with works from Russia, Australia, New Zealand, and a world-renowned Japanese collection.

They set up the museum as a charity, with the then-Bournemouth council as the sole trustee, as a way of passing on a legacy to the town.

Ms Newman said the clifftop Victorian villa was now “fragile – both inside and outside” and was suffering from issues including water leaks, with £4m of investment needed for it to be safeguarded.

“There’s just lots of things that needs a lot of repair and it all adds up,” she said.

She said the “horribly complicated” governance of the museum meant the charity was funded through BCP Council and does not have its own bank account or legal status.

The museum is in the process of moving to become an independent charity, but the existing governance structure meant changes have to go to Parliament for an Order of State.

“Its very complicated and takes a long time – in the meantime, the building continues to deteriorate,” Ms Newman said.

“We are in a serious position at the moment – if you lose something it cant be replaced. We’re very concerned.”

Earlier this week, a meeting of the museum’s management committee heard that “time was of the essence”, with the council needing to agree a financial plan to ensure a new charity was viable.

Andy Martin, the council’s portfolio holder for culture, called the house a “cultural jewel”.

“We absolutely support the move to independent governance as a way of the museum amplifying current fund-raising initiatives,” he said.

“The existing funding gap in the council’s finances is affecting every aspect of economic and social activity across the three towns, and we will be continuing our discussions with the museum team to explore the best way of securing the future of the Russell-Cotes for at least another 100 years.”