Dorset is set to gain a new ‘go to destination’ after a museum received more than £11m in lottery funding.

Dorset County Museum has received one of the largest single Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) grants ever made to the county - a staggering £11,349,200.

The grant will help fund a major redevelopment project, the Tomorrow’s Museum Campaign - Making Dorset Proud.

This project will transform the museum into a state of the art, fit for the 21st century museum, complete with a learning and research centre, improved visitor facilities and five new exhibition spaces.

Dr. Jon Murden, Director of Dorset County Museum, said: “We are overjoyed that the HLF have given us this opportunity. For the first time, we will have the space to do justice to our amazing collections, whilst ensuring they are safely preserved for future generations to enjoy.”

Currently only 1.5 per cent of the museum’s vast collection is on display and the enhanced exhibition spaces will allow more of the four million artefacts held at the museum to see the light of day.

Award-winning architects Carmody Groarke have designed the space to complement the existing building and its historical setting and aims to make the museum one the county’s 'go to destinations'.

Visitors will be able to oversee the inner workings of the museum and its staff from public galleries in specially designed archive and conservation workshops.

Ros Kerslake, Chief Executive of the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) said: “Thanks to National Lottery players, our major investment in Dorset County Museum will enable it to tell more effectively the story of Dorset, spanning more than 200 million years of history.

“Treasures of national significance such as a rare first edition of Charles Darwin’s ‘On the Origin of Species’, and the largest Thomas Hardy collection in the world, will be able to be seen and understood by many more visitors, in a truly remarkable setting.”

Following the grant, the ‘Tomorrow’s Museum’ campaign now requires just £1.6m to reach its target of £15m to complete the ambitious project.

Next month sees the launch of the museum’s public fund-raising campaign entitled ‘Hidden Gems’.

Cllr Peter Wharf, Dorset County Council Cabinet member for workforce, said: “The County Council is delighted to hear about the investment in the Dorset County Museum by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

“We appreciate it will raise Dorset’s cultural offer for local people and tourists, we know the positive impact that such a great community asset has on health and wellbeing and that this injection of funds will boost the local economy.”

He added the council had committed £200,000 to the project.