The museum has taken over control of the gallery from the council, and it expects to re-open the tourist attraction this April. The Flora Twort Gallery, which is situated beside St Peter's Church, has been closed since last June after the restaurant there closed.

Hampshire County Council's executive member for recreation, heritage and communities, Margaret Snaith, said: "The council was able to keep the museum open full time at minimum cost to local council tax payers through a concession with a local restaurant proprietor on the site, but this arrangement has now come to an end.

"After consideration of all the options for keeping the gallery open and for meeting the terms of Miss Twort's will, the most viable option was to transfer the gallery and collection to the Petersfield Museum. This is a low-cost, simple way forward that places the trust in the hands of a reputable and well-run local museum and it will secure a sustainable future for the Flora Twort Gallery and art collection."

The move was welcomed by Vaughan Clarke, chairman of the Petersfield Museum Trust.

He said: "We are delighted to be given the challenge of taking over the Flora Twort Gallery.

"Not only will it give us the chance to continue to showcase the work of Flora Twort, it will also allow us to display our extensive costume collection, with over 1,000 pieces, dating back to 1720, which was given to Petersfield Museum by Bedales School.

"The two collections, being based together in the centre of town, will be an added attraction both for visitors to Petersfield and for the local population."

He added that the museum had recently appointed an outreach worker to take the work of both the museum and the gallery out to local groups and schools.

Flora Twort rose to prominence when she moved to Petersfield after the First World War, with many of her watercolours depicting Petersfield life being hung in London galleries.