THE TRUSTEES of a Hampshire landmark are celebrating after they were given museum status allowing access to better funding.

Drinks were flowing when the trustees of King John’s House and Heritage Centre in Romsey found out the 12th century house had been marked by funding body Arts Council England as a Fully Accredited Museum.

It comes after staff at the Church Road site spent two years building up evidence for a day-long assessment where they had to provide material showing how they can cope with the numbers of people attending the site.

King John’s House is an early medieval building which was initially thought to be the monarch’s hunting lodge form the early 1200s.

Specialists now believe it dates from the mid-13th century but it has been used for a variety of purposes over the centuries.

More than 80 volunteers work at the centre with only two part-time employees working there.

Gill Maddick, chairman of the trustees said: “What a real difference it will make. We’ve written down all the processes and things that we have been doing. We have now formalised all the things that we were already doing.

Anne James, general manager, said: “I hope the accreditation will make more people realise that we are here and make us much more well known and get more funding for exciting projects for the house.”

Barbara Burbridge, chairman of the management committee, took on the responsibility for the care and recording of the museum’s collection of some 2,000 items.

She said she was “particularly excited” for the house to have achieved this new status.

“Although we’re excited by what we’ve achieved the process have been beneficial for us,” she said.

Former collections manager with Southampton City Council, Karen Wardley, provided her advice as museum mentor helping the centre get this new accreditation.

She said: “I think it’s a wonderful achievement that with only two part-time staff members the team have gained professional museum standards.”