50,000 maritime artefacts from the Hull Maritime Museum are to be packed and transported to secure storage.
A decision record published by Hull City Council today confirms the appointment of the specialist company. Constantine, with a proven track record in moving museum objects and fine art throughout the world, has been assigned to undertake this huge piece of work.
Previously completing projects for The Science Museum, National Maritime Museum and The Courtauld Institute of Art, they will now start preparations to pack and move the tens of thousands of objects from the Maritime Museum in Hull.
The chosen company will work alongside the museum team in order to safely dismantle, pack, transport and store and then return the collection.
As part of the 50,000 strong collection, the reserve collection will be placed in storage until the completion of works to the Dock Office Chambers, scheduled for December 2021. The remaining collection will remain in long-term storage until the physical works and display fit-out to the museum are complete, currently programmed for mid-2023. Work to redisplay the collection within the museum will then begin to make them more accessible as part of the new and exciting plans.
Specialist removal and packing materials, techniques and equipment will be carried out to protect the rich maritime collection, ranging from small fragile artefacts, an internationally significant scrimshaw collection, to large industrial objects.
Councillor Daren Hale, Portfolio Holder for Portfolio Holder for Economic Investment, Regeneration, Planning, Land and Property, said: “We’re delighted to be working with Constantine, who have a strong reputation for undertaking this type of complex work.
“Moving such a large collection of maritime artefacts is expected to take eight months and will take careful handling, safe moving and packing.
“It’s a major step in order to decant the building and start the large scale revamp of the museum.”
David Renwick, Director, England, North, at The Fund, commented: “Thanks to National Lottery players, this project is one of our largest investments in the North of England, and we are proud that we can support it to build on the incredible legacy and sense of pride invoked by Hull’s tenure as UK City of Culture.
“Preserving Hull’s maritime heritage and ensuring the communities and places which were shaped by it are at the heart of securing its future is a hugely significant project for the North and showcasing the positive impact that heritage can have on the economic regeneration of the city.”
The collection is ready to be moved into storage, each artefact has been photographed, documented and labelled by the museum team.
Work is expected to get underway after Easter.
Once complete, works to transform and reveal more of the Grade2* listed architecture and showcase the maritime collection like never before will get underway.
The £30.3m project will see the complete physical refurbishment of the Hull Maritime Museum followed by a complete redisplay of the city’s rich maritime collection, the restoration of the Spurn Lightship and the Arctic Corsair and bring a new lease of life to the North End Shipyard.
