Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall have visited Watts Gallery in Guildford following an £11 million restoration funded by a fundraising campaign and £4.9 million from the National Heritage Lottery Fund
The Prince and Duchess spent time walking around the gallery with the chairman or trustees, Richard Ormund, and director, Perdida Hunt and then unveiled a cornerstone to commemorate the occasion.
The Watts Gallery is a Grade II Arts and Crafts building consisting of paintings, drawings, prints and sculpture by G.F Watts (1817 – 1904), one of the most eminent artists of the Victorian age and whose work has inspired many political figures. It is the only gallery in the UK devoted to one artist. The Watts Gallery will be open to the public from June 18th 2011.
Speaking about the Royal visit Anne Milton MP said: "It was an honour to meet Prince Charles and the Duchess yesterday, and at such a fantastic venue. The Watts Gallery is a great asset and I am very proud to have it in Guildford. Huge congratulations to the gallery’s director, Perdida Hunt, on a job well done."