The Black and White House Museum has returned to its original museum name, Old House Hereford,

[Hereford Voice]

Herefordshire Museum Service is being revitalised, thanks to a grant from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

The grant was made following a successful application by Herefordshire Museum Service Support Group. Their successful application means that the museum service has been able to make changes and create new and more engaging opportunities for visitors than ever before.

Herefordshire Museum Service has unveiled a fresh new identity, ‘Herefordshire Museums & Galleries’, marking an exciting new chapter for the county’s cultural landscape. More than just a collection of historical sites, the rebranded service reflects a commitment to art, heritage, and creativity, ensuring that Herefordshire’s rich cultural offering is accessible and inspiring for all.

Two key sites have been renamed to better reflect their cultural and historical significance, making it easier for visitors to connect with them. The Black and White House Museum has returned to its original museum name, Old House Hereford, reinforcing its identity as a beautifully preserved historic home at the heart of High Town. The Museum Resource and Learning Centre has become The History Store, a name that highlights its role as a treasure trove of local heritage, research, and discovery.

The rebrand is part of a wider initiative called ‘Heritage Reimagined – Revitalising Hereford’s Heritage’, made possible through a £4,500 grant from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Alongside the new names, visitors will notice fresh signage and branding, enhancing the look and feel of these important heritage spaces and making them more welcoming and accessible.

To mark the relaunch, special celebratory events were held this week, giving the public a chance to experience the new identity first hand.

Damian Etheraads, Museum and Art Gallery Lead at Herefordshire Council, said:

We are sure that visitors will notice and embrace the changes we have made, thanks to this funding.

We are incredibly grateful to the Herefordshire Museum Service Support Group and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund for making this possible. We want visitors to get to know and really engage with their local history and heritage - but also with the wider world of art and creativity.

Our museums and galleries are places where stories come alive, creativity flourishes, and every visitor leaves feeling inspired, connected, and part of Herefordshire’s thriving future.

To coincide with the rebrand, Herefordshire Museums & Galleries has released a new spring and summer ‘What’s On’ guide, detailing upcoming events at Old House Hereford and The History Store, as well as in Ross, Ledbury, and Leominster. The guide includes a mix of family-friendly activities, school holiday events, and seasonal programming, ensuring that visitors can engage with art, history, and heritage in new and dynamic ways.

Copies of the guide are available at Old House Hereford, History Store, libraries, and tourist information centres.

The rebrand comes as Hereford Museum and Art Gallery undergoes an ambitious redevelopment to transform it into a modern, engaging space for art, history, and culture. While the main museum is being renovated, the newly rebranded sites will continue to host events, exhibitions, and community activities, ensuring visitors remain connected to Herefordshire’s heritage.