Eden Camp Modern History Museum, a renowned visitor attraction in North Yorkshire, is on the market as the founding family plans to retire.
The museum, which was originally a prisoner of war camp during World War II, has been put up for sale by specialist leisure property adviser, Christie and Co. The site, located on the outskirts of Malton, was constructed in 1942 to house POWs, most of whom were ordinary men conscripted into the German forces rather than Nazis.
Stan Johnson purchased the site four decades ago and invested £750,000 into transforming it into the Eden Camp Modern History Museum, which opened its doors to the public in 1987. The museum narrates the story of The People’s War, depicting life in Britain from 1939 to 1945, alongside its historical significance as a POW camp.
Visitors are transported back in time through moving figures, authentic sounds, and even smells. Over recent years, the owners have invested over £1.25m in renovations and restorations, introducing new features such as the ‘Blitz Experience’, revamped entrance, additional exhibition spaces, and the Heritage Exhibition Hall showcasing a collection of unique and rare military vehicles and equipment.
The business, which has forged strong ties with veterans groups, has seen its archive grow into a treasure trove of national historical and educational significance. Attracting roughly 125,000 visitors annually, the museum is a hit among school parties, with about 25,000 children having passed through its doors in 2023 alone.
The establishment has been recognised repeatedly with TripAdvisor’s Travellers’ Choice and Certificates of Excellence awards. Now, after nearly four decades under the stewardship of one family, Christie and Co is handling the sale as the current proprietors are set to retire, inviting “substantial” bids for this esteemed freehold property, reports Business Live.
Howard Johnson, son of the late Stan Johnson, remarked: “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 a number of times over the years asking if we would sell and so this tremendous opportunity now becomes a reality.”
Jon Patrick, head of leisure and development at Christie and Co, who is managing the sale, said: “There are many people, particularly those from Yorkshire, who will have visited Eden Camp as a child and returned with their own children, parents and even grand-parents as there is something here for everyone. With over 105,000 items of memorabilia we can see Eden Camp appealing to a national and even international buyer audience, such is the interest in the subject matter.”
He added: “From a tourist perspective, it also benefits from the vast majority of its displays being undercover and so would provide a great hedge against inclement weather for visitor attraction operators with primarily outdoor facilities.
“We can also envisage Eden Camp being of interest to other museums, collections and collectors and whilst not forming part of the operating business itself, our clients own a number of rare and valuable military vehicles outside the company structure on offer, which could be made available to purchase or lease by way of separate negotiation.”
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