Beaulieu has moved to reassure Jaguar enthusiasts that cars and motoring will remain at the heart of the attraction, following the announcement that the National Motor Museum Trust is seeking a new home for its collection when its current lease expires in 2030.
News that the National Motor Museum could leave its home of more than half a century has inevitably caused concern among enthusiasts, particularly as the Beaulieu name has become almost inseparable from the museum and its internationally significant collection.
The National Motor Museum Trust has confirmed that it has begun looking for what it describes as a “transformational new home”, as its lease at the Beaulieu estate approaches the end of its 60-year term.
The Trust has been given notice that the lease will not be renewed when it expires in 2030, potentially requiring the majority of the museum’s collection of more than 280 vehicles, together with its extensive archive of some 1.9 million artefacts and its education facilities, to relocate.
However, this does not mean that the familiar motor museum at Beaulieu is about to disappear – nor that the estate is turning its back on motoring.
Following the announcement, Beaulieu has issued further clarification and has also contacted the Jaguar Enthusiasts’ Club directly ahead of this weekend’s Simply Jaguar event to reassure members about what the changes mean.
Museum to remain open for another four years
Crucially, nothing is changing immediately. The National Motor Museum Trust’s existing lease at Beaulieu has another four years to run, during which the museum will continue operating as it does today.
Beyond 2030, Beaulieu says it intends to continue operating a motor museum on the site, even if the National Motor Museum Trust and much of the collection currently under its care have relocated elsewhere.
In its official statement, Beaulieu explained:
“The day-to-day operation of the museum will not change from a visitor experience perspective and Beaulieu intends to continue to operate a motor museum in the future, as it has for over 70 years.”
Importantly, not every vehicle currently displayed within the National Motor Museum belongs to the Trust.
A significant number are either owned by the Montagu family or loaned to Beaulieu and are expected to remain, including around 29 vehicles belonging to the Montagu Collection, such as the Sunbeam 350hp and 1000hp Land Speed Record cars, a 1903 De Dion Bouton, and a 1909 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost.
Exactly what the post-2030 Beaulieu motor museum will contain and how it will be presented has yet to be determined.
Beaulieu says the end of the existing arrangement presents “an exciting opportunity to look to the future and reshape how the museum at Beaulieu will look and feel”.
Why is the National Motor Museum moving?
The separation represents a significant change to a relationship whose origins stretch back more than 70 years.
Edward, Lord Montagu opened Palace House to the public in 1952 and displayed five veteran cars in its entrance hall in tribute to his father, John Scott Montagu, a pioneering figure in the early history of British motoring.
That small display developed into the Montagu Motor Museum, before the National Motor Museum was established in 1972 with the support of the charitable National Motor Museum Trust.
The Trust has considerably expanded its activities since then. Its current strategy is intended to increase access to the national motoring collection, develop educational and community programmes and engage new generations with Britain’s motoring history. Plans have also included ambitions for heritage engineering apprenticeship training.
Discussions have taken place between the Trust and Montagu family over the past two years about whether those ambitions could be accommodated through investment and redevelopment at Beaulieu. The conclusion is that the Trust’s long-term objectives may be better achieved at a new location.
Robert MacGregor, chairman of the National Motor Museum Trust’s board of trustees, said the organisation was sad to be leaving Beaulieu but described the situation as a “once in a generation opportunity to transform the Museum for the future”.
Lord Montagu has similarly stressed that the change should allow the Trust to pursue ambitions which have grown substantially since his father established it.
“My father’s underlying ambition was to record and celebrate the story of motoring for the benefit of the nation,” he said.
While supporting the Trust in finding its new home, Lord Montagu has also made clear that cars will remain fundamental to Beaulieu, saying that the attraction will continue to offer a comparable range of experiences, “with cars remaining very much a part of our identity”.
Beaulieu reassures JEC members
For Jaguar enthusiasts in particular, Beaulieu has provided further reassurance directly to the Jaguar Enthusiasts’ Club.
In correspondence with the JEC, Beaulieu explained that the announcement follows a review of how Beaulieu Enterprises and the National Motor Museum Trust work together, allowing the two organisations to pursue their respective plans for the future.
It stressed that the proposed departure of the Trust is neither immediate nor the end of motoring at Beaulieu:
“We would like to reassure you that firstly this isn’t an immediate change, and that secondly Beaulieu intends to continue being a leading visitor attraction on the south coast and operate a motor museum as part of the visitor experience, as it has done for over 70 years.”
That reassurance is particularly timely because Beaulieu will welcome Jaguar owners from across the country this Sunday, 16 August, for Simply Jaguar.
The event remains completely unaffected by the museum announcement. Beaulieu has confirmed that its wider programme of motoring events will continue without change, including the International Autojumble in September.
Its message to the JEC concludes: “Thank you for your ongoing support and we look forward to continuing our working relationship with JEC for Simply Jaguar.”
Beaulieu’s published programme confirms Simply Jaguar will go ahead on Sunday from 10am until 5pm, with Jaguar and Daimler models of all ages invited to gather within the National Motor Museum grounds.
The National Motor Museum remains at Beaulieu for the next four years, Beaulieu intends to retain a motor museum beyond 2030, and its programme of motoring events – including Simply Jaguar – is continuing as normal.
