Boris Johnson and Margaret Hodge share the same view on the importance of the Museum of London. © MOL

Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, visited the Museum of London yesterday evening to mark the transfer of responsibility of the museum to the Greater London Authority (GLA) from its previous administrator, the Department of Culture Media and Sport. The City Corporation continues in its role sharing funding arrangements with the GLA.

Also attending the ceremony to mark the beginning of this new era in the museum’s development was Culture Minister, Margaret Hodge.

She said of the transfer: “It’s completely appropriate that it should be running in partnership between the City of London and the GLA…it is these two partners that can bring to life for London’s families and London’s children the story of London."

Boris Johnson with a Roman vase from the museum's collection. © MOL

Boris Johnson, commenting on the place the museum has in the lives and history of London said: “It was 2054 years ago some pushy Italians arrived and settled here…clearly an argument for the benefit of immigration.”

He continued to widen out the theme of the importance of museums in keeping history in mind: “We need places like the beautiful Museum of London to remind us that if we forget our history we are in danger of collapse," he said. "And that is why it so vital to preserve and encourage great museums like the Museum of London.”

The move to shift responsibility, funding and administration to the GLA with the City Corporation, comes at a time of major development at the museum. A series of newly designed galleries costing £20.5 million will open in 2010.

These will tell the story of London from 1666 to the present as well as creating better access to the museum’s collections, educational resources and the museum’s location at London Wall.