A WAR museum in Cirencester needs a new home after being evicted from its premises.

The Living Memory Historical Association’s museum, which explores the area’s history during the Second World War, is being forced out by Cotswold District Council.

It has been based at the Old Hospital Cottages in Sheep Street, Cirencester since 2013.

Now the attraction, which usually opens to the public on Saturdays from May to October, is on the hunt for a new home as the building is being sold by landlord CDC.

The museum will retain use of the nearby air raid shelter situated in Sheep Street car park.

CDC says it is unable to maintain the cottages to a safe standard due to a reduction in government funding.

The authority had requested that the museum - which also welcomes school parties and other groups by arrangement - vacated the Old Hospital Cottages by Wednesday, November 13.

Peter Grace, who runs the museum with Bill Irving, with the assistance of Bill’s wife Jane) explained that items from the museum are being placed into storage, with the cost covered by CDC, until the attraction can find a new home.

“We wouldn’t normally open until May anyway, so we’ve got that period to try and find somewhere else,” said Mr Grace.

“The museum has got one or two things in the pipeline but in this town, finding any property you can afford is difficult.

“We’ve already had one offer but it turned out that the service charges were more than we’re paying in rent at the moment.

“However, we’re not going to give up.”

The museum showcases over 2,000 objects that provide an insight into life in the Cotswolds in World War II.

Examples are photos of American big band conductor Glenn Miller visiting Cirencester in 1944.

The collection includes items donated by members of the public.

The Living Memory Historical Association was established in 1983 by enthusiasts involved in the study of life during the Second World War.

It leased additional space in the Old Memorial Hospital in Sheep Street in 2007, with this enabling it to house a bigger exhibition, and moved to the Old Hospital Cottages at the start of 2013.

According to the association, many more school parties paid visits to the museum following the move.

Mr Grace explained that because the museum developed from the air raid shelter and both sites need to be manned, the new museum site needs to be located close to the shelter.

“There are one or two ideas that are being mulled over at the moment, but they might not happen,” he said.

“One thing we’re looking at is trying to find a way of making the museum a more permanent thing so that it will continue when we’re gone.

“If we could get an organisation behind it, we could get more volunteers.

“In WWII, there were 33 military bases within 12 miles of this town, 14 American hospitals were run from what is now Stratton House Hotel & Spa and there were 2,000-bed hospitals in the park.

“I think the museum is important for the town.”

Commenting on the eviction, CDC leader Joe Harris said: “The Living Memory Historical Association provides invaluable insights into Cirencester’s WWII history through its work at both the Old Hospital Cottages and the Sheep Street bomb shelter.

“I’d like to thank Peter and Bill, who give so much of their time to keep it going.

“Unfortunately, the cost of maintaining the cottages to a safe standard is financially unviable for the council because our government funding has been slashed.

“We are, however, helping the museum move out by extending the time it has got at the premises, and we have agreed to support it financially with the cost of temporary storage for a year.

“The museum will still retain use of the bomb shelter, and we intend to work closely with the association to assist it in finding a new location, although this will not be a council-owned property.

“We will also point it in the direction of grant funding that may help it secure its long-term future in Cirencester.”

The museum hopes that the shelter will open in May at the minimum.