A HAMPSHIRE museum is poised to become a flagship heritage venue after being awarded a £1.78 million lottery grant.

The St Barbe Museum in New Street, Lymington, has been awarded much of the money it needs to upgrade its art gallery, provide an improved café and install an enhanced entrance.

A new public archive will also be created to give the public both physical and on-line access to local history collections for the first time.

The scheme will cost about £2.3 million, with £545,000 coming from local authorities, charitable trusts and museum supporters.

Welcoming confirmation of the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) grant David Rule, chairman of trustees, said: “This is fantastic news not just for St Barbe, the public and our amazing team which has been dedicated to this project for almost four years.

Stuart McLeod, Head of HLF South East, added: “St Barbe Museum tells the fascinating story of the heritage of Lymington and the New Forest coast.

“An HLF grant helped to establish the Museum back in the 1990s and we’re delighted to be supporting this new chapter in the museum’s development. With new, modern facilities and more objects on display, this National Lottery support will ensure more local people and tourists alike will discover everything St Barbe has to offer.”

The Director of St Barbe, Mark Tomlinson, said: “The HLF grant will enable us to create a landmark cultural attraction for everyone to enjoy and this will support both the local community and economy well into the 2020s.

“Construction work should be underway by early autumn this year and we hope to re-open with a blockbuster exhibition in summer 2017. During the time we are closed we will deliver an exciting programme of events and exhibitions across the area to showcase our local history collections.

“This means that even when our building is closed, St Barbe will still have a strong presence in Lymington and the surrounding area.”