This treasured British natural history museum is getting a £5 million glow-up

For nearly two years, Colchester’s city centre has been without one of its great historic landmarks. A former All Saints Church, some parts of which date back to Norman times, has been shrouded in scaffolding since bits of the roof started falling from its tower in September 2024. The local council warned that key parts of the Grade-II listed building’s exterior, roof and tower were at risk of collapse.

The old church’s significance isn’t just historical either. Anyone familiar with the Essex city will have spent a rainy afternoon or two, maybe even a school trip, within its walls, which house the city’s Natural History Museum. The aforementioned roof problems forced the museum to shut for a year, but now we have good news: not only is it back open, but it’s set for a major upgrade. 

Colchester Museums, which is leading the redevelopment, has big plans for the place. The organisation intends to give the space a complete redesign, reinterpreting its impressive natural history collections for the first time in 40 years. 

The team behind the project have also turned to the community to help shape the building’s future. After early consultations with Colchester locals, the museum revamp will mean that exhibitions focus more on local habitats and conservation.

The all-important free entry to the museum has also been secured for the future. 

‘We’ve also heard that visitors find the displays dated and a bit unloved, and many would like to see the Museum working with partners to put on activities for a wider range of people,’ Colchester Museums said about the upgrade.

Plans, which are yet to be fully revealed, intend to ‘make the museum a more relevant, exciting and welcoming place to visit’.

The medieval church’s exterior is also getting some much-needed TLC. Repairs have been approved by the council to replace the roof and repair the outer walls, which officials have said they want to start as soon as possible, although they will have to wait for planning permission and a contractor before the works can get underway.

The external works are expected to cost over £1 million as part of the wider £5 million Wild About Essex project which will redevelop the museum’s interior exhibitions. 

As for when we can expect everything to be completed, the museum is due to close in 2027 and will reopen, transformed, in 2029. But don’t worry, it will still be running events at Colchester Castle and Hollytrees Museum while the construction takes place.

Did you see that one of the most important archaeological discoveries ever has been uncovered in England?

Plus: this famous 145-year-old English pier will reopen this week after a six-month closure.