STAFF at a North Yorkshire museum are celebrating after securing the funding for a massive £500,000 development project.

The Ryedale Folk Museum, in Hutton-le-Hole on the North York Moors, has been awarded £418,500 from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Cash is to be spent on a major expansion scheme which will involve creating a new gallery, restoring the museum's Elizabethan manor house, building new stores, a workshop and display areas.

Additional funding from the North York Moors National Park Authority, Ryedale District Council and Yorkshire Arts, will see a grand total of more than £522,000 spent at the visitor attraction over the next two years.

Curator Martin Watts said everyone was over the moon at the news.

"We have suddenly realised that after two years of planning and scheming and working, things are going to bear fruit," he said.

"We have been working away and suddenly we think, this is going to be fantastic.

"It's a big step for the museum and for Ryedale."

Mr Watts said the cash would be put to use on a variety of projects.

Some of the money is to be spent on a gallery, a temporary exhibition space which will be used to house items not on show, and also visiting displays.

"It will have the highest quality of security and environmental control," said the curator.

"We can attract the highest quality of exhibitions to the museum, and the idea is that the gallery could be open throughout the winter months.

"It will extend the opening season of the gallery, although the rest of the museum wouldn't be open."

Mr Watts said restoring the Elizabethan manor house, which was moved to the site in from nearby Harome in the 1960s, was an exciting opportunity.

"We call her the Cinderella of the museum, and restoring her will mean she can go to the ball.

"It's a startling structure and visitors will think, wow."

Much more space would be available to visitors at the museum who are keen to research Ryedale's past, he said.

"Museums are not just about visitors," he explained.

"There will be a new workshop for working on the collections, and new stores giving much greater access to objects."

Mr Watts said it was good news for the local economy, because they would be spending the cash on local contractors and firms to get the building work done.

He added: "It's a really big chance, Ryedale has been given this massive amount of money and we can shout about our heritage.

"Ryedale Folk Museum is all about sustaining local distinctiveness."

liz.todd@ycp.co.uk

Updated: 12:17 Wednesday, December 11, 2002