Wycombe’s rich heritage will be displayed in new ways as Wycombe Museum prepares to reopen its doors to the public for the first time in almost six months after a major refurbishment and improvement work.

The Priory Avenue-based museum, previously known as Castle Hill House, will start a phased re-opening to visitors from Tuesday, December 1, following a revamp which began in June.

People with disabilities will be able to access the exhibitions and galleries on the first floor for the first time after a lift was installed in the Grade II Listed building.

A new learning room has also been expanded to enable a full class of schoolchildren to visit and use the facility for events.

Wycombe District Council’s cabinet member for community, Cllr Julia Adey, said: “Wycombe has a rich heritage that we can be proud of, and following the hard work of the museum team - including a team of dedicated volunteers - to redevelop the facility, this magnificent building is now ready to open its doors again.”

From Tuesday, visitors will be able to look around the 1920’s kitchen on the ground floor and Wycombe in Ten Objects - the largest of the new exhibitions.

It offers a new interpretation of some of the objects and activities that the Wycombe district is best known for, and features some of the most important and best loved objects in the museum’s collection.

Other new galleries, including a fresh take on the famous furniture exhibition for which Wycombe is internationally renowned, will be reopened by February.

It is hoped the museum will be handed over to the Wycombe Heritage and Arts Trust (WHAT) in 2016.

For more information about the museum and upcoming events it will be hosting, visit www.wycombe.gov.uk/museum