Museum building lined up to be sold off

A former museum in the Black County is the latest building set to be sold off by a cash-strapped council, it has emerged.

Galton Valley Canal Museum in Brasshouse Lane, Smethwick, which dates back to the 1930s will be sold on the open market as Sandwell Council battles to save £75 million over the next four years.

The museum, which started life as the Old Cock Inn pub closed to the public in November last year.

And the borough's museums boss Frank Caldwell said today plans are being drawn up for the disposal of the site.

The 1930s purpose-built pub opened as the canal heritage centre in the late 1980s. Since the 1990s it has operated as the Galton Valley Canal Heritage Centre and later as the Galton Valley Canal Museum.

It closed last November when it was decided to relocate the canal museum exhibits and displays to the 1920s New Pumping Station located next to the canal.