ALMOST a year to the date today, it was confirmed that Taunton's newest attraction was to be opened for business by Top Gear legend, Richard Hammond.

The County Classics Motor Museum officially opened last year, bringing a brand new exciting attraction to Taunton.

Confirmed to officially be opened by Richard Hammond on November 20, 2023, the County Classics Motor Museum opened in a historic department store building dating from 1836.

Taking over from where the former legendary County Stores resided, the motor museum revved up a lot of interest ahead of its opening, catching the eye of the celebrity petrolhead.

Entry to members of the public was free, as people were welcomed to see Hammond cut the ribbon to open the museum on the following day (November 21, 2023).

Opened by owner Pat Hawkins, Pat opened the museum to give people in Somerset a chance to view affordable and accessible cars and motorcycles, mostly from the 1960s to the 1990s.

The business is also a personal passion of true car enthusiast, Pat Hawkins, who has sunk his life savings into converting the former County Stores into a car museum.

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Having spent almost all his life in Taunton, he saw the museum as a way he could help breathe life back into the town centre, as it began to suffer from a lack of shops in recent years.

Covid and lockdowns made his task massively more difficult, as materials quadrupled in price and tradesmen became ever harder to find.

Speaking after he agreed to open the new tourist attraction for Taunton, Richard said: "How fun to see this on a high street.

"The story in this one caught my eye - the timing of it for one thing.

"The theme of this museum I found particularly relevant right now because it's about the cars that many of us will remember."