PORTHMADOG’S Maritime Museum has been awarded a special status.

The museum, which officially reopened in May 2013, is now accredited by the Arts Council of Wales - a status which ensures the quality and presentation of the facility’s exhibition.

The museum’s roots lie in the 1970s when a small museum of the slate trade was established on the quay alongside the lovingly restored wooden boat “Garlandstone”.

In due course the Gwynedd Maritime Museum was established at the site and the private museum was absorbed into it.

The Garlandstone was eventually purchased by the National Museum of Wales.

Subsequently, financial and maintenance restraints led to the unavoidable decision to relinquish the famous ship which is now kept in the south of England.

A donation from a member of the public and support from Gwynedd Council enabled the present museum to be properly open in 1987.

Eifion Davies of Borth y Gest manned the desk full time until 2007.

A shortage of volunteers then forced the museum to close.

During the 200th anniversary celebration of the building of the “Cob” in 2011 Dr John Jones-Morris, one of the trustees, was asked if he would put on a display of the maritime history of the town.

This was well received and it was decided to make a call for volunteers with the aim of reopening.

A well attended meeting held at the Yacht Club in 2012 resulted in a group of volunteers setting to and tidy up the displays.

A new grant from Magnox enabled the museum to set up new display areas for the re-opening; donations from the Chapman and Rebecca Trusts and income from small admission fee and book sales has allowed the building to be financially independent of local and national governments and the present cuts in funding.

A spokesperson for the Maritime Museum was delighted with the acknowledgment.

“Many services today have the opportunity to become ‘accredited’,” the spokesperson said.

“For museums the accrediting body is the Arts Council and we started the process in 2014 getting through the first stage and achieving Eligibility status.

“Recently, a written submission was made with the Welsh Government’s Museum, Archives and Libraries Division (MALD) and there was an inspection at the end of October.

“A week before Christmas we received the news that we had been awarded full accreditation.

“The benefits are that we have a more professional approach, for new volunteers there is now helpful written guidance and we get greater publicity and recognition.

“It’s great news not only good for the Museum but also for Porthmadog.”