Lynn Museum set to give up historic items
HISTORIC objects at Lynn Museum could be given back to their donors, sold off or destroyed if the outcome of a review of collections is approved on Monday.
The museum wants to free up storage space and resources, and protect its important reserve collections from insect and woodworm infestations by getting rid of more than 50 items acquired over the last 30 years.
The review found many of the items, including cycles, mangles and fireplaces, were brought into the museum during the 1970s when it would take almost anything without reference to an official collecting policy or adequate quality control.
As a result many objects have been duplicated, are of poor quality or need significant amounts of conservation money spent on them to bring them up to scratch.
A report before the Lynn and West Norfolk Area Museums Committee says the items also occupy large amounts of space, and some show signs of possible woodworm and infestation which could put other collections at risk.
The committee is being recommended to approve the disposal of the items to free up space, improve access to other collections, focus resources on relevant collections and to free up resources currently being spent on renting additional storage space at Hardwick Narrows.
The museum is considering contacting donors from the last 20 years to see if they would like their item back, speak to lenders who have loaned items and also other museums who could take them off their hands. It will also contact bodies who have given grants for items to see what they would like to see happen to them. Objects in which no interest is expressed will either be sold off or destroyed.
Some of the objects include a farm or road haulage wagon from the 1920s by Savage's of Lynn, a dentist's drill, chair and gas stand from Brown's, London Road, Lynn, dating between 1930 and 1960, a blacksmith's bellows dating from 1872, and several cycles dating between 1890 and 1910.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for King's Lynn
Sunday 27 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North
