Museum of Science and Industry

The newly-redeveloped MOSI (Museum of Science & Industry, Manchester) has changed the name of its 'Main Building' to 'Great Western Warehouse', in recognition of its former role as a goods warehouse for the Great Western Railway. The warehouse was part of the railway complex at the Liverpool Road station, which opened in 1830 as part of the Liverpool & Manchester Railway. It is now the oldest surviving passenger railway station in the world.

The Great Western Warehouse was built in 1880 for the Great Western Railway Company, and was one of three warehouses which were part of the original station. Over the last year the building has undergone a £9 million redevelopment, which is now open and includes a new coffee shop, gift shop, restaurant, education and conference centres, and the updated interactive science gallery, Experiment.

The redeveloped Great Western Warehouse includes many original features of the building, such as laminated steel girders, arched barrel ceiling and warehouse doors, much of which were not visible before the work was carried out. Work included the removal of metal ramps which cut through the heart of the 130-year-old building, taking up over 1,000 m2 of space. The internal stairwells and lifts have been moved onto the outside wall, to free up this space inside the building.

An innovative new gallery called Revolution Manchester, which features the very latest in digital technology and interactive games and showcases some of Manchester's greatest innovations, will also open at the end of January as part of the redevelopment.

Tony Hill, Director of MOSI said: "Many people are unaware that MOSI is part of the world's oldest surviving passenger railway station. We want to remind visitors that these buildings that form the Museum are themselves a fantastic piece of internationally important heritage and I believe that restoring the new name reflects this."

The redeveloped building is one of five museum buildings with galleries showcasing the scientific and industrial achievements of Manchester - from transport, to power, to the first computer. As well as its distinctive warehouse and station buildings MOSI has several reminders of its past role as a station, including a replica Planet steam locomotive, which ran on the original line, and exhibition on the 1830 Liverpool & Manchester Railway.

Funding for the redevelopment project has come from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), Garfield Weston, SITA, and a number of other trusts and foundations.

For more information please call Sarah Roe, Press and Publicity officer on Tel: 0161 606 0176 or look up www.mosi.or.uk

Notes to editors

• ·         ERDF in the Northwest   

The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) is making a real difference to people and businesses in the Northwest. With €755 million to invest between 2007 and 2013, ERDF is enhancing the competitiveness of the region's economy by supporting growth in enterprise and employment. 

• For more information on museums and galleries in Manchester:

Creativetourist.com is an online magazine, a series of city guides and a collaborative project that has been put together by Manchester Museums Consortium, a group of eight museums and galleries - Cornerhouse, Imperial War Museum North, The Lowry, Manchester Art Gallery, The Manchester Museum, (MOSI) Museum of Science & Industry, People's History Museum, and The Whitworth Art Gallery - in Manchester.  These venues have a dual vision: the desire to stage intelligent, thought-provoking and international exhibitions and events and to celebrate the city in which they live, work and play. Creativetourist.com, with its mix of exclusive features, interviews, arts news and city guides, allows readers to discover more about what's happening in the city, uncover its outstanding cultural programme and collections, and perhaps come to be as passionate about Manchester as its inhabitants.

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