The British Motor Museum and MG Motor UK have reached an agreement that will secure the long-term future of Lord Austin’s office.
Known to the workforce as “the old man’s office,” this was where many of Austin’s important decisions were made. The office had been kept after Austin’s death, but not in its original position at the Longbridge site. In this revised location, the office was not accessible to the public due to the operational requirements of the plant and the long-term viability of the location could not be guaranteed.
The new agreement will see the re-established office at the British Motor Museum, on display to the thousands of people who visit Gaydon each year. Over the past several months, the Museum’s curatorial team has carefully cataloged and recorded the Office’s objects, installations and accessories, before overseeing their removal and careful packaging, for travel to the Museum.
Stephen Laing, Collections Manager at the British Motor Museum, said: “We are honored to be the new home of Lord Austin’s office. It joins many other significant artifacts from Longbridge’s history in the museum and archives, including the millionth car produced by Austin in 1946 and some of Herbert Austin’s personal effects and papers. He will also join the office of William Morris, Austin’s great rival, kept at the Museum for many years.
David Pugh, Marketing Director of MG Motor UK, added: “MG is very aware of the importance of its stewardship role to the proud legacy of the Longbridge site. At the British Motor Museum, we have found a partner who will make Lord Austin’s office accessible to many more people and who has the expert staff to look after his future.
The museum has already started the next phase of planning the office’s exhibition space and is embarking on a fundraising program both for its reconstruction and to bring a new interpretation of the office and Herbert Austin, in the purpose of opening the exhibition to the public later. on in the year.
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