River & Rowing Museum closes to the public due to financial pressures

The River & Rowing Museum in Henley-on-Thames shut its doors for the last time on 21 September, after announcing the closure in July.

The museum, which opened in 1998 to display artefacts related to Henley’s history and boating culture, warned it was at risk of closure due to financial pressures in March, saying it needed “significant restructuring”.

Kevin Sandhu, the interim director, told Museums Journal the museum was still figuring out what would happen to the collection of more than 35,000 physical items.

“We’re still working through all of the detail, but whatever we do will absolutely be in accordance with the Museum Association’s Code of Ethics,” he said.

“We’re in the process of returning loans to people who have loaned things to us, but nothing around our accessioned items will be known until we’ve completed our internal processes.”

In a statement, the museum said it was “steadfastly committed to the safe, ethical and responsible management” of its collection, and will try to keep original donors abreast of what is happening to their donations.

It has also said it will honour existing bookings for school visits and event space in September, and that the “journey of discovery will continue via our educational work”.

According to the museum’s most recent accounts, it had a deficit of £911,372 in 2023/24. In the year before, it recorded a £1.16m deficit.

The financial difficulties were largely ascribed to increased running costs of the museum’s building and necessary repairs.

The museum was closed from October 2022 to July 2023 when it underwent refurbishment and building works, including replacing the museum’s roof, refitting the shop and cafe, and adding new studio offices.

When it reopened, the chair of trustees David Worthington described the early signs as “positive”, but said “greater local support and input than ever before” was needed.

A three-year strategy was put in place in April 2024, aiming to reach operational break-even by March 2027. However it was considered too risky to continue with the strategy following the departure of the museum’s former director, Steve O'Connor.

Sandhu told Museums Journal the “size and the scale of the building” was the reason for closing indefinitely.

“As much as we were able to grow our income and work on strategies, that work has been offset by the increase in costs that are impacting organisations up and down the country, a lot of which are in the heritage and cultural sector unfortunately,” he said.

The River & Rowing Museum was the first major building in the UK designed by architect David Chipperfield and was named the UK National Heritage Museum of the Year in 1999. 

“I can say almost certainly that this building won’t be opened in the same capacity,” Sandhu said. “The last 27 years have shown that it is not an economic model that can succeed.”

“What we’d like to do is find a new occupier for the building and we’re working very closely with Henley Town Council to explore options for that.”

“If we are able to occupy it, either totally or partially, there is a scenario in which we retain some space there, but there’s so much work to be done before we’re in a position to define that.”