Colchester's Natural History Museum has secured almost £500,000 in national funding to help protect and preserve the historic building that houses the much‑loved attraction.

The museum has been awarded £499,477 through the Museum Estate and Development (MEND) programme, part of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s Cultural Investment Fund and administered by Arts Council England. The funding will enable Colchester City Council to deliver essential repairs to the Grade II‑listed former All Saints Church.

Scaffolding has surrounded the building since September 2024 after masonry fell from the church tower. Subsequent surveys identified the need for extensive repairs to key areas of the flint exterior, with the overall programme expected to cost around £1 million.

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The announcement follows approval earlier this year to progress a programme of essential conservation and repair works to safeguard the structure and ensure the museum can continue to operate safely.

Although the museum closed temporarily for inspections and initial safety measures, it reopened to visitors in autumn 2025, with protective scaffolding remaining in place while longer‑term repair plans were developed.

Colchester's Natural History Museum is a distinctive cultural and educational venue, focusing on local habitats, wildlife and environments, helping visitors understand the natural world close to home through its collections, displays and learning activities.

The repair work complements Wild About Essex – a major £5 million initiative to completely reimagine the museum for the next generation.

This once‑in‑a‑lifetime transformation will create new exhibitions, hands‑on spaces for families and schools, and a programme focused on nature, climate and community.

With support already secured from national funders, including Art Fund and the National Heritage Lottery Fund, the project aims to make the museum a more vibrant, accessible and future‑ready cultural destination for Colchester.

The MEND grant will help safeguard the building's future, protect visitors, staff and volunteers, and support the museum’s long‑term sustainability as a key part of Colchester’s cultural offer.