Historic Assize Court helped with Heritage Fund boost
The National Lottery Heritage Fund has given £8.5 million towards a £14.8 million project
Last updated 10th Dec 2025
There's a major boost for Devizes as the town’s historic Assize Court - which has been derelict for decades - is set to become the new home for Wiltshire Museum.
The National Lottery Heritage Fund has given £8.5 million towards a £14.8 million project to restore the derelict building and transform it into a world-class museum.
The plans will bring new galleries and modern facilities to showcase treasures from Stonehenge and Avebury, while saving an iconic building that’s been empty for decades and is currently on the Heritage at Risk register.
Wiltshire Museum now needs to raise just over three million pounds to complete the transformation, with hopes the new site will open by 2030.
The Wiltshire Museum has been engaging visitors since 1874 in its current buildings on Long Street, Devizes and is home to nationally important Designated collections, including stunning treasures from the Stonehenge and Avebury World Heritage Site landscape.
Bosses say this transformational project will enable it to do justice to its internationally important collections and provide excellent and accessible facilities for visitors, whilst also bringing this iconic building in the town back to life, which is currently on the Heritage At Risk register.
'Delighted'
On hearing the news David Dawson, Director of Wiltshire Museum said: “We are delighted that the Heritage Fund has demonstrated its confidence in our plans to transform the former Devizes Assize Court into the new home for a reimagined Wiltshire Museum.
"At last we will be able to give the museum’s internationally significant collections a fitting home, while rescuing an important at-risk listed building and providing a focal point for town centre renewal.
"We are grateful to National Lottery players, our loyal members and our other funders, existing and future, for their commitment and support.”
'Fantastic news'
Peter Troughton, CVO CBE, Chair of Devizes Assize Court Trust, which initially saved the building by purchasing it in 2018 with the support of generous donors, said: “The National Lottery Heritage Fund award to the Wiltshire Museum is fantastic news!
"It will transform the museum, save the historic Assize Court building and give the people of Devizes a community hub like no other.
"It will be an enormous help to the campaign to achieve the vision for the award-winning museum, already supported by the town, Wiltshire County Council and leading charitable foundations."
'Thrilled'
”Eilish McGuinness, Chief Executive of The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “We’re thrilled to support this transformational project that will breathe new life into Devizes Assize Court and create a world-class home for Wiltshire Museum and its significant collections. As the UK’s largest funder for heritage, we understand the lasting benefits that projects like this bring - instilling pride in our communities and the places we call home.
"Thanks to National Lottery players, this investment will not only save an important historic building but also deliver a vibrant cultural hub that benefits the local community and attracts visitors from far and wide.
"The impact of this project will be felt for generations to come.”
In August 2025 the Museum announced that it was honoured that Her Majesty Queen Camilla had become the Museum’s first Royal Patron and that Wiltshire Council had granted Planning Permission for the project.
This news from the Heritage Fund, and the support of a range of other funders, means that the Museum has just over £3 million to raise to fully fund the project. A public fundraising campaign will be launched in the near future.
The plans to bring the building back to life were developed by the Purcell Bristol office and the exciting displays and interpretation have been designed by ImageMakers Design.
The current Museum comprises of five buildings, including two Georgian town houses, with 25 different floors levels which makes access difficult.
Once the Museum moves to its new home at the Assize Court in 2030, it will retain most of the current Long Street site as a Collections Discovery Centre, offering access to 500,000 objects stored on 1.4km of shelving.