Assess, Pack, Transport and Store at the Gurkha Museum

The Gurkha Museum, located in Winchester, is a vital institution dedicated to preserving the history of the legendary Gurkha soldiers. When the museum secured a £5 million National Lottery-funded grant for a major refurbishment, the challenge of temporarily relocating its extensive collection arose. With a diverse array of artifacts—from historical uniforms and edged weapons to archival documents—the museum needed a moving and storage solution that was as precise and careful as it was efficient. We were chosen to provide a comprehensive, multi-phase plan to safeguard the collection during the museum’s transformation.

The Challenge: A Delicate Decant

The project’s scope was significant. The entire museum collection, approximately 3,000 items, needed to be carefully packed, transported, and stored. Unlike a standard commercial move, this project involved a variety of unique and delicate artifacts. The museum’s collection store, located on the second floor, required a separate, shorter-term storage plan.

Key challenges included:

Diverse Collection: The artifacts ranged from fragile textiles and delicate wooden items to large, heavy edged weaponry. This required a flexible approach to packing and handling.

Specialised Handling: Certain items, such as firearms, silver, and medals, were to remain on-site, requiring meticulous inventory management to ensure nothing was misplaced.

Pest Mitigation: During our initial assessment, our conservator identified signs of potential pest activity on some organic materials, such as textiles and wooden items. This necessitated a pre-storage treatment plan to protect the entire collection.

Climate-Controlled Storage: The collection needed to be stored in an environment that maintained a stable temperature of 20°C (±2°C) and a relative humidity of 40-60% RH to prevent deterioration.

Phased Approach: The collection store and the main museum galleries needed to be moved and returned at different times, requiring a phased logistical plan.

Our Solution: Precision, Care, and Flexibility

Our approach was designed to meet the museum’s specific needs while providing them with flexible options to manage costs and project timelines.

Phase 1: Planning and Preparation

We began with a detailed site visit and consultation to fully understand the scope of the project. A key component was providing a detailed, itemized quote broken down by service: packing, transport, storage, and retrieval. This modular pricing allowed the museum to choose to handle some of the packing themselves to reduce costs, while still having the option of our expert assistance. We estimated that the collection store would take one day to pack and move, with the main museum requiring three to four days.

Phase 2: Packing and Pest Treatment

For the items we were contracted to pack, we used museum-grade materials to ensure maximum protection. Uniforms and textiles were placed in Tyvek bags and then packed into custom wardrobe boxes. Loose items were meticulously wrapped in acid-free tissue paper and carefully packed into archival boxes, with each item inventoried and labelled. For delicate items like glazed pictures, we applied specialised glass tape and soft-wrapped the frames to prevent damage. Based on our conservator’s assessment, we decided to freeze some objects, particularly those made of textiles and wood, before placing them in our heritage-level storage.  This non-toxic process, which involves a controlled drop in temperature, is a highly effective method for eradicating pests and their eggs without the use of harmful chemicals. This proactive measure was essential to ensure the long-term preservation of the collection and prevent any infestation from spreading to other items in storage. Our packing crew, which included an ICON-registered conservator for an extra layer of expertise, ensured every item was handled with the utmost care.

Phase 3: Transport and Climate-Controlled Storage

With the items expertly packed, our team transported the collections to a secure, heritage-standard storage facility. This offsite location was equipped with the necessary climate controls to meet the museum’s stringent requirements, ensuring the collection’s long-term preservation. The collection store contents were moved first and stored for a shorter period of two to three months, while the main museum collection was stored for the full 12-month refurbishment period. We also established a protocol for occasional access to the stored items, should it be required.

The Outcome: A Seamless Transition

The project was executed flawlessly, adhering to the tight September deadline. The careful planning and phased approach ensured a smooth transition for the Gurkha Museum, allowing them to proceed with their refurbishment project without any concerns about the safety of their invaluable collection. By providing a flexible, modular service, we empowered the museum to make the most of their funding while securing the highest level of care for their artifacts. This successful decant and storage project stands as a testament to our ability to handle complex, high-value heritage moves with professionalism and precision.