Secret's out of amazing music college museum

VENUE'S UNDERGROUND TREASURE TROVE OF INSTRUMENTS

- JENNA CAMPBELL

IT'S one of Manchester's most recognisable buildings - and one of the region's very best music schools but the Royal Northern of College (RNCM) also features its own secret museum.

Arguably one of the city's best kept secrets, the museum, which can be found in the building's basement, is packed with musical collectables and curiosities. Many of these items and artefacts date back as far as 500 years.

And this month, the RNCM Collection of Historical Musical Instruments is inviting visitors to see its extraordinary artefacts up close as part of the National Lottery Open Week. The museum is usually only open for an hour on Mondays and Thursdays during lunchtime concerts, when admission is free.

However, next week, access to the rich and fascinating collection will be extended so that groups of up to four people with proof of purchase of a National Lottery game can visit the museum free of charge. Visitors will be able to head down on Monday and Wednesday, between 1.30pm and 4.30pm.