Overview

The Museum of Military Medicine holds a collection that records more than 200 years of military medical history. It is a working museum collection rather than a single category of material, and it has to be moved as one whole while its permanent home changes.

Collection scope

The collection includes museum objects, medical equipment, archive and library material, displays, uniforms, artefacts and artwork. Each of those formats carries its own packing, handling and storage requirements, from boxed archive material through to large vehicles, display cases and framed portraits.

The challenge

Relocating a complete museum collection requires every item to be systematically removed, packed, identified, transported and placed into storage while preserving the organisation and traceability the museum team relies on. The interim facility also has to stay flexible enough to support the collection throughout redevelopment and preparation of the new museum.

Key requirements included:

Our solution

Jamie Briggs Heritage is managing the museum's contents as one organised heritage asset rather than a series of unrelated items. Objects are packed and prepared while retaining the information needed to identify and locate them once they enter storage.

Specialist artwork packing and crating

Artwork forms an important part of the collection and requires individual consideration. Each piece is assessed for its size, construction, frame, surface and handling requirements rather than simply wrapped and loaded.

Where appropriate, a travel frame creates a rigid protective structure around the artwork. That frame can then be incorporated into a bespoke protective crate, producing a secure package for handling, transport and storage. The approach reduces unnecessary contact with the artwork itself and protects vulnerable pieces through removal from the existing building, movement across the site, loading, transportation, unloading and placement into storage.

Moving the complete collection

Clear identification and organisation matter more than usual while the entire collection is away from the museum. Accurate storage records allow individual objects or groups of material to be found and made available when required, so the museum team can continue to access its collection during the transition.

Packing, labelling and location recording are therefore treated as part of the same task rather than separate administrative steps carried out afterwards.

Secure storage, access and staged return

The collection's temporary home

The complete collection is being stored with Jamie Briggs Heritage until the facilities at Whittington Barracks are ready. The storage facility provides a secure interim home and effectively becomes an extension of the museum's operations during the transition.

An integrated service removes the need for separate storage, transport and logistics providers. Collections remain protected and organised, with controlled access available whenever the museum team needs specific material.

A flexible solution until Whittington Barracks is ready

Because the storage period continues through construction, fit out and exhibition preparation, flexibility is essential. Jamie Briggs Heritage can retrieve individual items during storage and plan the eventual return in stages.

As areas of the new museum become ready, selected collection material can be prepared for onward transport and delivered in a controlled sequence. That avoids forcing one large scale move at the end and allows delivery to align with the museum's installation programme.

From Keogh Barracks to Whittington Barracks

By taking responsibility for the collection during the interim period, Jamie Briggs Heritage provides continuity between the museum's former and future locations.

Complete heritage logistics solution

The service runs end to end, from the first assessment at Keogh Barracks through to staged delivery into the new museum.

The result

Jamie Briggs Heritage is providing a secure and flexible solution for one of the most significant periods in the museum's history. Specialist moving, artwork protection, travel frame preparation, crating, transportation and long term temporary storage are combined in one coordinated service.

Most importantly, the collection remains secure, protected, organised and accessible while the new museum is prepared. When Whittington Barracks is ready, Jamie Briggs Heritage can retrieve and transport the collection to its permanent home in a controlled sequence.

Key outcomes to date:

• The complete collection packed, protected and removed from Keogh Barracks as one organised heritage asset.
• Artwork individually assessed, surface protected, travel framed and crated where required.
• Objects, archives and library material identified and recorded so they can be located while in storage.
• A single provider covering packing, handling, transport, storage and retrieval, removing the need to coordinate separate suppliers.
• Controlled access maintained so the museum team can continue to reach its collection during the transition.
• Flexible staged return planned around the construction, fit out and installation programme at Whittington Barracks.

Why Jamie Briggs Heritage

Jamie Briggs Heritage combines specialist relocation expertise with secure heritage storage, conservation led packing methods and detailed collection control. For museums, archives, universities, libraries and cultural institutions, the team provides a trusted end to end service for the safe movement, storage and long term care of important collections.