The historic Grade II listed Christ Church on Maryport’s harbourside is undergoing an exciting transformation into the new home of Maryport Maritime Museum. This prominent local landmark, featured in works by LS Lowry and Sheila Fell, will be thoughtfully restored to create a vibrant cultural space. Working alongside Cumberland Borough Council since 2020, we developed mechanical and electrical design solutions that respect the building’s heritage while creating a modern museum environment. The project includes the installation of an innovative timber pod with mezzanine flooring to house both existing collections and future exhibitions.
CLIENT: Cumberland Council
LOCATION: Maryport, Cumbria
VALUE: £1.2m
SERVICES: Mechanical & Electrical Design
CLIENT OBJECTIVES
Following Cumberland Council’s acquisition of Christ Church in 2020, our brief was to support the transformation of this empty 1872 Gothic-style building into a purpose-built maritime museum. The client needed solutions that would preserve and enhance the Grade II listed structure while creating optimal conditions for housing maritime artefacts and welcoming visitors. The environmental control systems needed to protect delicate museum pieces whilst maintaining visitor comfort. A key requirement was to design services that could be sensitively integrated into the historic fabric of the building, ensuring both functionality and preservation of architectural features.
OUR SOLUTION
Our team developed comprehensive mechanical and electrical systems that balance heritage preservation with modern museum requirements. We designed specialist lighting schemes to enhance both the architectural features and museum displays, while minimising potential damage to sensitive exhibits. The environmental strategy incorporates careful temperature and humidity control systems, essential for preserving maritime artefacts. Our design accommodates the new timber pod structure, ensuring services are seamlessly integrated without compromising the historic interior.
Design elements:
- Specialist exhibition lighting design
- Climate control systems for artefact preservation
- Power and data infrastructure for interactive displays
- Energy-efficient heating and ventilation
- Fire detection and security systems
- Emergency lighting scheme
THE OUTCOME
The restored Christ Church will provide an outstanding new home for Maryport’s Maritime Museum, breathing fresh life into this historic harbourside landmark. Our carefully considered building services design ensures the space meets modern museum standards while honouring the building’s architectural heritage. The project demonstrates how historic buildings can be sensitively adapted for new cultural uses, benefiting both the local community and visitors to Maryport.
Images courtesy of Buttress Architects
