The first phase of a half a million pound revamp of Billericay's top tourist attraction has been completed which is set to attract hundreds of extra visitors to the centre.

A new museum at Barleylands Farm and Visitors Centre has opened its doors, and several of the farm's huge engines are now stored in the building rather than outside.

This new centre is part of a three phase revamp of the Barleylands Road farm which will see a tea room, 17 extra craft studios built plus the visitors centre will receive a facelift with extra trees and shrubs planted.

The wraps were taken off the museum on Sunday, and MP for Billericay and Wickford, John Baron was there to cut the ribbon and celebrate the museum opening with museum manger, Chris Philpot.

The work started on the museum in December and farm bosses are delighted the first phase was completed to deadline and within budget.

Mr Philpot said: "We are thrilled with the new museum. We hoped it would be ready in April and thanks to a lot of hard work from everyone involved we have met our target.

"The museum will hold several displays that were formally kept outside. This will mean that all the structures will be protected from the elements and will enable them to better preserved.

"The refurbishments are in three parts and the remaining work will be carried out over the next few months.

"The tea room is the next improvement to be built which will start in the next month or so and building will start in the autumn for the extra craft studios.

"These improvements will allow us to have more of a sustainable future and secure Barleylands as the biggest tourist attraction in Billericay. The refit will allow us to improve our facilities for visitors and we also hope to extend the range of activities we hold here for local schools."

The £500,000 project has been funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund.

Published Monday, April 7 , 2003

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