By Maritime collection removed from Hull museum
Hull Maritime Museum has had it’s maritime collection removed as a temporary measure while the building prepares for a major overhaul.
The Grade II* listed building is scheduled to receive a £12m refurbishment as part of the wider £30.2m Hull Maritime Project.
As such, 50,000 objects – including the much loved the polar bear – have been packed up and placed into secure storage as part of a major decant.
Working alongside the museum team, Constantine Ltd who specialises in moving museums objects throughout the world, have started to dismantle and pack the maritime artefacts.
The collection ranges from fine ceramics, fragile ship models and irreplaceable artwork to industry machinery, large examples of trawling equipment and objects including a harpoon cannon weighing in excess of 1300kg.
Every item will be individually assessed, packed and moved with expert care and precision.
The objects will be placed in long-term storage at a secret location until the museum’s transformation is complete and the collection is ready to be re-installed.
Ambitious plans for the new exhibitions are now finalised and the objects for display have been identified, according to Hull City Council.
The new displays and the thousands of stories will be told, many for the very first time, but popular favourites will also return with new and improved storytelling.
Councillor Daren Hale, Portfolio Holder for Economic Investment, Regeneration and Planning, Land and Property, said:
“This is a major step in our exciting journey to make this amazing project a reality for the people of Hull.
“Emptying a museum completely of internationally significant collections is a massive undertaking at any time and all the more so in the case of the superb collections at the Hull Maritime Museum.
“It is a huge and complex job that makes a typical house move seem simple because of the significance of all of these collections. Many of the objects are very old and extremely fragile, this means they are at their most vulnerable when they are being moved.
“With the collection being so large it will take some time to complete and great care will be taken under the supervision of our team. Once all the objects have been moved offsite, then the preparations for the major building works will get underway.”
The museum is expected to re-open in 2024, with 50% more objects on display.
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