Knaresborough Museum gets backing from Downton Abbey actor
Harrogate-born Jim Carter, who played Mr Carson, is supporting the campaign
Last updated 9th Feb 2021
Downton Abbey’s famous butler, Mr Carson, is supporting a campaign to open a museum in Knaresborough.
Jim Carter, who is originally from Harrogate, has recorded the voiceover for Knaresborough Museum Association's promotional video.
The association need to raise £35,000 to be able to open the centre and hope the voice of Mr Carson will help.
Knaresborough Museum Association are currently campaigning to raise funds to establish a new Museum in Knaresborough. They plan to renovate the former Castle Girls' School in the town which will become the museum's home.
A spokesperson said: "The town has a vast history and yet visitors would be hard pressed to find it. Knaresborough Museum Association aim to rectify that taking the lease of the ground floor of the former Castle Girls’ School in Knaresborough and establishing a new museum where Knaresborough’s history, archaeology and geology can be celebrated."
The Chair of Knaresborough's Museum Association, Kathy Allday, decided to contact actor Jim Carter who heralds from Harrogate to see if he would be willing to do the video’s voice over.
The actor's agent had informed the Chair that he had been inundated with requests for help from charities throughout the pandemic and as such Kathy had not been optimistic that Jim would help. But, to her and Knaresborough Museum Association's delight, he agreed immediately and has already recorded his voice over.
Speaking to Greatest Hits Radio previously, Kathy Allday, Chair of Knaresborough Museum Association, said:
"Knaresborough has such fantastic history but it's just not being celebrated. We held these pop up museums and people loved them. They were so successful!
"Everyone said we should have a permanent museum so we started working on what will be a fantastic centre for the town and the entire community to enjoy."
Jim Carter is perhaps best known to today’s audiences for his portrayal of Mr Carson, the butler, in ITV s hit drama Downton Abbey, for which he has received 4 nominations as Best Supporting Actor at the Emmy Awards.
His career spans 45 years starting out in fringe theatre, progressing to seasons at the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Royal National Theatre, London’s West End and also circus skills and a comedy magic act which he performed for over 30 years.
His decision to help with the Museum campaign was most likely influenced by the fact that he was brought up in Harrogate and went to Woodlands Primary School on Wetherby Road, Harrogate.
The current fundraising total stands at £13,650. Anyone wishing to donate can go do so by clicking here.
The video recorded by Jim Carter will be available to watch on their website and Facebook page by the end of the week.