Specialist leisure property adviser, Christie & Co, has been instructed to sell one of the UK’s most iconic, award-winning visitor attractions – Eden Camp Modern History Museum in Malton, North Yorkshire.
Originally a prisoner of war camp, Eden Camp was built on the outskirts of Malton in early 1942 to accommodate Italian POWs.
In 1985 the site was purchased by Stan Johnson and following an initial £750,000 investment, the world’s only modern history museum was created within what was the original camp, opening in 1987.
Today, the museum tells the story of The People’s War, the social history of life in Britain from 1939 to 1945, with realistic tableaux, moving figures, authentic sounds and even smells, recreated to “transport you back in time”.
Paula Peace, Director and daughter of the late Stan Johnson, commented: “Following the announcement of the planned sale, it is very much business as usual. We are busy preparing for another fantastic year after the success of 2024, welcoming visitors to explore the collections and enjoy a host of events. Our sights are very much set on February half-term and the season opening in March.
“Howard and I are extremely proud that this has been a family business for 40 years and want to ensure Eden Camp is being sold with the intention that it stays as a museum for future generations to enjoy and continues to safeguard the incredible artefacts remain as part of this unique collection.”
The business enjoys close collaboration with veterans’ groups, providing immersive displays that cover both social and military history, and its archive has grown into a resource of national historical and educational importance.
Eden Camp attracts around 125,000 visitors each year, and is a popular venue for school groups, with around 25,000 children visiting each year. The museum has received both TripAdvisor’s Travellers’ Choice and Certificates of Excellence awards. In 2024 the centre celebrated a record-breaking year, with unprecedented visitor numbers drawn to its programme of experiences and events.
Howard Johnson, Director and son of the late Stan Johnson, added: “Since our father passed away in 2015, my sister and I have continued as custodians of this incredible business. We have consistently invested in improving the facilities and customer experience and have a fantastic team we work with here, but we too are at that time in our lives where it makes sense to pass the reigns to new owners. I’ve been contacted several times over the years asking if we would sell and so this tremendous opportunity now becomes a reality.”
