Coronavirus: Mary Rose Museum in Portsmouth to close indefinitely as bosses warn attraction's entire year of revenue is 'at risk'
HERITAGE bosses have confirmed The Mary Rose Museum in Portsmouth will close from 5pm today for ‘the foreseeable future’ because of coronavirus, but warn its whole year of income is now at risk in the wake of Covid-19’s spread.
The museum’s chief executive Helen Bonser-Wilton said it must ‘play its part’ in maintaining public health and ‘balancing the burden on the NHS’.
Heritage bosses hope online donations will recoup some losses experienced and are urging customers who were hoping to visit to make a contribution instead.
Visitor income makes up 90 per cent of the Mary Rose’s revenue and it receives no funding from central government.
Of that 70 per cent is racked up during the museum’s peak months, which would normally start in April and slow around September.
Ms Bonser-Wilton said: ‘I don't think we have ever experienced anything like this, but we have to put it in context.
‘We’re really alarmed like everyone and we have to play our part in not spreading the virus.
‘We’re taking this decision because we have to all help balance the burden on the NHS.’
She added: ‘The trust’s whole income for the year is now at risk.’
While the museum admitted some costs would be avoided as it closes to the public, its overheads remain high to protect its 19,000 artefacts.
Ms Bonser-Wilton added: ‘Mary Rose’s fragile archaeological objects, dramatically rescued from their seabed home in 1982 after 437 years underwater, have to be kept at a set temperature and humidity to preserve them for future generations to enjoy.
‘The costs associated with this include specialist staff time, multiple complex systems and equipment to heat, cool and dehumidify air 24/7, 365 days a year, as well as significant energy bills.
‘We continue to lobby local MPs, government and public funders to help with the costs of caring for Mary Rose during this difficult closed period.’
The government has called on everyone to avoid gatherings and crowded places, including theatres, clubs and pubs, but has not enforced closures.
Professor Dominic Tweddle, the director general, of the National Museum of the Royal Navy, said that the historic dockyard would remain open – for now.
‘The National Museum of the Royal Navy recognises that this is a challenging and uncertain time,’ he said. ‘Having received no instruction to close, our sites do remain open to the public.
‘We are continuing to follow and monitor official guidance from the UK Government and Public Health England carefully, to implement recommendations for precautionary measures, and to take advice from our funding bodies.
‘Our core concerns remain the wellbeing and health of our staff, volunteers and visitors; and the preservation of our collections. As the situation changes further updates will follow.’
Meanwhile a Spinnaker Tower spokeswoman confirmed it will stay open for ‘business as usual’, with greater hygiene measures put in place.
These include hourly cleanses of touch points and the installation of bottles of hand sanitizer at the entrance and exit for visitors.
A spokesman for the Blue Reef Aquarium in Southsea said it too will continue to welcome visitors, while ‘rigorous' cleaning measures.
Portsmouth City Council has confirmed all its museums, including the D-Day Story, Portsmouth Museum and the Cumberland House Natural History Museum, will be closed from March 18.
All its libraries other than Central Library will also be shut, it said.
You can donate to the Mary Rose Museum at maryrose.org/support-us