A TREASURE trove of artefacts connected to Oxford’s past could remain ‘hidden forever’ if more people do not donate to a £25,000 fundraising campaign.

The drive is part of The Museum of Oxford's £3.2m Hidden Histories redevelopment, which will see the town hall trove triple in size.

The new museum, due to open in summer 2020, will tell the story of Oxford’s people and communities through artefacts, objects and oral accounts.

Oxford Mail:

Earlier this year, the museum was awarded a grant of £1.63 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund, with the rest of the structural funding coming from Oxford City Council.

To help towards a £25,000 target from the public by March 2020 to fully transform the museum and display hundreds of extra artefacts, a crowdfunding page has been running since July 2. But despite an ambitious target of £10,000, just £330 has been raised from five supporters so far, which will be added to £4,000 already raised.

Councillor Mary Clarkson, executive board member for culture and the city centre, said: “These objects all have special conservation requirements, and help us find out more about the history of Oxford.We want to the public to be able to see these objects when the museum redevelopment has been completed, and we want the public to be involved in helping to save them.There are many exciting perks for getting involved in the crowdfunding campaign, and we hope that people will want to help us bring these items back in to public viewing. Without your help these objects might remain hidden forever.”

Oxford Mail:

Set to run until Monday, the crowdfunding page highlights items available to support, which include a penicillin culture vessel, used when Oxford was a hotbed of penicillin production during the Second World War, a bank note from the Old Bank Hotel on High Street and a section of a wall with an intricate floral design from an Elizabethan inn that would have been situated on Corn Market.

Oxford Mail:

One of the more unusual items is a section of spikes which once topped Cutteslowe Wall, a barrier created in 1934 to separate those who lived in estates from middle class homes in North Oxford.

Those who pledge between £5 and £250 on the page will receive a variety of rewards, depending on the amount donated.

Oxford Mail:

These include a VIP invite to the Museum of Oxford relaunch event, a limited-edition tote bag, a supporter’s image, an invitation to the installation of their chosen object and more.

The redevelopment will see the old museum, which was partially closed in 2011, transformed to increase the size, as well as add a new shop and reception desk.

A spokesperson for the city council said the authority was testing ‘different fundraising platforms and opportunities’ adding: “This helps us prove to large grant-giving bodies that the £3.2m redevelopment has public support. So far, we have raised about £2.85m for the project, including a £1.7m grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund and a £900,000 contribution from the city council.”

Visit crowdfunder.co.uk/protecting-oxfords-hidden-histories/