Museums - NE London closure fight
WORKERS, FEB 2007 ISSUE
In a packed meeting on 25 January, Waltham Forest residents denounced and pledged to fight the planned weekday closure of the William Morris Gallery and Vestry House Museum, which combined with staff restructuring will badly cripple these two institutions in northeast London.
The loss of expert staff, already a problem after earlier cuts, is likely to prove fatal.
The William Morris Gallery is of international repute as the only museum on the life and art of Morris and the Arts and Crafts Movement, housing the important collection given by Sir Frank Brangwyn. Vestry House, local history museum for the borough, contains its archives, to which by law access must be provided.
Waltham Forest Council hopes to save only £56,000 by these closures, but will lose nearly as much from sales lost on weekdays. Information on the Gallery can be seen at www1.walthamforest.gov.uk/wmg/.