The British Postal Museum and Archive (BPMA) has been handed a boost from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) towards a scheme to establish a new £19m home in Swindon.

BPMA has moved closer to securing a grant worth more than £2.6m to help in its bid to provide public access to the former National Postage Museum's collection, which has been in storage since 1998. The HLF has awarded development funding worth nearly £118,000 to help towards the new Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios-designed Postal Museum and Archive at a former railway works in the heart of Swindon

Among the items included in the BPMA's collection are objects such as red pillar boxes and postal vehicles, as well as examples of every British stamp issued since the Penny Black in 1840. The new centre will join English Heritage, the National Trust and STEAM - the Museum of the Great Western Railway at its Swindon location, as well as providing an educational programme for young people.

BPMA director Adrian Steel said: "HLF money will allow us to embark on the next stage of this exciting project to bring this human story of communication, industry and innovation to everyone. "The Chain Testing Works in Swindon is an ideal home for our collections and offers an opportunity to restore and reopen this landmark building.

Image: (c) Feilden Clegg Bradley, courtesy of The British Postal Museum and Archive