Avro Heritage Museum, Woodford



May 6, 2015 - News

We have just completed a £1.6m aviation museum at the former Woodford Aerodrome site for BAE Systems and Avro Heritage Trust.

The museum provides a showpiece visitor attraction for the North West which will preserve Woodford’s historic links with British aviation history and enable the public to access Avro Heritage Trust’s unparalleled collection of aviation artefacts, including a full-sized Vulcan bomber.

Housed in a former aerodrome fire station, the project involved creating an exhibition hall and new mezzanine gallery with the flexibility to adapt and change the display areas in the museum. A first floor café was also created which offers visitors views of the Vulcan, along with archive, reading and classroom facilities for private study and school visits.

Tim Wallis, project manager from BAE Systems, said:

As a leading company in the UK’s aviation sector, we have been passionate this project which will protect our aviation heritage, continue the links between Woodford and the aviation sector and inspire future generations.

We are delighted with the results and the collaborative approach of Cassidy + Ashton and Conlon Construction, which has helped the project to be delivered so smoothly.  We look forward to seeing the first visitors marvel at the exhibits when the museum opens to the public in August.

Chris Taylor, director at Cassidy + Ashton, added:

The challenge for this project involved working with an existing structure whilst transforming the space into a contemporary visitor attraction that will showcase a huge variety of aviation exhibits, including a full sized plane. We look forward to returning when all the exhibits are in-situ.

Michael Conlon, chairman at Conlon Construction, concluded:

This scheme builds on our track record of refurbishment projects and leisure sector schemes and we are very proud to have made such a contribution to protecting the region’s aviation heritage.

Pictured L to R: Michael McLoughlin, Tim Wallis, John Hicks and Terry Fisher