Braintree has made its first multi-million pound summer signing.
After a £1.9m boost from the Heritage Lottery Fund and £700,000 from local benefactors the famed Warner Archive has finally been signed up by Braintree council and the Braintree Museum.
Councillor Lynette Flint, chair of the Trustees of Braintree District Museum, signed the contract with Ian Kirkham, chairman of Walker Greenbank plc, in a deal which will be worth £2.6m for the purchase and conversion of the mills in Braintree where the 80,000-piece textile collection was initially created.
Jackie Pell, chairwoman of Braintree council, said: "I am so delighted it is now signed and sealed and we can get on with the preparation of the original mill building to house the collection. I sincerely hope we can open to the public within my time in office."
The collection has more than 80,000 fabrics and designs and is the only record of Jacquard hand weaving from c1821 to 1971.
Published Thursday May 27, 2004
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