Barry Museum plans spring 2027 reopening following repair work

Barry’s only museum is set to reopen in spring 2027 following substantial maintenance and repair work at its home at Barry Island Station.

The Barry War Museum & Heritage Centre is using the temporary closure to expand its displays, with plans to tell more than 2,000 years of Barry’s history.

Ahead of its planned reopening at the end of March 2027, the volunteer-run museum is also working towards becoming a charity and changing its name to the Barry Museum & Heritage Centre, removing the word ‘War’ from its title.

New additions will include recently donated Roman artefacts and enhanced displays exploring Barry’s Neolithic and Roman past, alongside information about the development of the town’s integrated dock and railway infrastructure.

The museum also plans to introduce new signage, expand its online hub and work with community partners on more outreach activities across Barry.

Although school visits cannot take place at the museum during the winter months, volunteers plan to take the museum into local schools through outreach visits involving re-enactors and exhibits.

Becoming a charity is expected to open up further funding opportunities for the museum while reflecting its wider role within the Barry community.

The museum says it has a positive working relationship with its landlord, Transport for Wales, and is also an active supporter of the Vale of Glamorgan Council’s Barry Placemaking work.

Based within the Grade II-listed Barry Island Station, described as the last surviving building in public use constructed by the historic Barry Dock and Railway Company, the museum has welcomed thousands of visitors from around the world and featured in several national television programmes.

Its expanded displays will focus on cultural history as well as physical artefacts, including the role Barry played in the fight against fascism during the 1940s.

The museum also holds a 5.0 TripAdvisor rating, which it says is the highest of any local tourist attraction.

As preparations for the reopening continue, the museum is appealing for more volunteers to help with a range of projects.

These include expanding its ‘Evacuee experience’ for local schools, developing its digital platform and assisting with filming for its ‘Human Library’, which features local people sharing their memories and stories.

John Buxton, Chairperson and Patron of the Museum said, “While it is frustrating that we cannot at present open our museum to visitors, our landlords are ensuring the building is in in excellent repair and condition. We are looking forward to a new improved museum with over 2,000 years of history on show, to be a museum local people can be rightly proud of/”.

The Barry Museum & Heritage Centre is due to reopen at the end of March 2027.

Anyone interested in finding out more or volunteering can email info@barrywarmuseum.co.uk or visit www.barrymuseum.wales.