As you are probably aware, the new museum space was not the only refurbishment work carried out at SPRI. Downstairs in the basement two new storage areas were created, and a third for large/oversize objects is in the final stages.
So what will go into the new store?
The Lecture Theatre in use (again) as a conservation area.
As you can see from the image, the large objects are predominantly sledges, tents and ration boxes. The image also suggests that I am ‘Super Conservator’ cleaning all these objects by myself, but of course this is not true.
Volunteers surface cleaning objects.
I have been ably assisted in this project by a willing band of volunteers, some of whom also volunteer in the museum (that’s dedication for you).
After some training on conservation cleaning techniques they were all systems go on the sledges. They have been coming back week after week, so I’m pretty confident that they have been enjoying swabbing and vacuuming off muck. As the objects are so dirty (having been stored for years in the attic space), you get quite a sense of achievement when the cleaning is finished.
The deadline of mid-September is tight, but I’m sure we’ll make it; otherwise the students will have to clean objects whilst attending lectures!
(Images © SPRI / Willow Silvani)