Paul’s News Blog

Keep up to date with all of the volunteer news and progress at the museum with Paul’s news blog.

December ‘25

We have been given a grant by the National Association of Road Transport Museums (NARTMs) of £1,450 towards the cost of installing a CCTV system in the Museums for which we are very grateful. Work on the installation will begin in the New Year.

November '25

A recent arrival at the Museum is a cut-away Morris Minor. It belongs to the Museum but has been on loan for some time to BMW Visitor Centre at Cowley. It will shortly be moved into the Morris Museum to replace the cut-away Morris Ital which will be going to the BMW Centre.

Photo shows it being unloaded at the Museum .

October ‘25

A rare 1940s Post Office van has been bought and saved by seven museum volunteers who have clubbed together to buy and restore it.

The 1944 Morris Post Office series Y van, GXK 685 arrived on 7 October and will be stored until restoration starts. The first task is to fit four new tyres so it can be moved more easily.

GXK 685 is a Cowley-built Series Y van, one of a batch of 350 supplied in 1944 to Royal Mail. It spent its early years in rural Cumbria before being sold to a carpenter in Nottinghamshire where, it is believed, it was used in his business for the transportation of coffins.

The Morris series Y 100 cubic foot vans were first used for postal work in 1940, when two were purchased.

This type had a 11.9hp side-valve engine and a 10cwt semi-forward-control with an all-steel construction.

About 20 years ago, GXK 685 was bought by a local collector wishing to save it, because very few former Royal Mail versions of the type still remained. It is believed that only two others survive.

On learning that it was still awaiting restoration, a syndicate of seven museum members have joined together with the aim of restoring it to its original condition for the Museum.

When restoration is complete the van will be donated to the Museum.