Relocating unique and valuable RCVS collections

When RCVS announced, in November 2021, they would be moving out of Belgravia House – the premises for the College since 1995 – the RCVS Knowledge Archive and Library team began the process of moving the extensive Library and over 500 years of veterinary history to a new, temporary home. The project would be of considerable magnitude, and one that would require detailed planning, precision in execution, and a lot of hard work by all involved.

The team recruited an extra member of staff in December 2021, and by January 2022 the Library was being packed away in hundreds of boxes, gradually accumulating and being carefully stacked. In February 2022, the process began of moving into storage the collection of 37 large oil paintings and memorials. Priority collections for frequent and urgent use were relocated to the City of Westminster Archive Centre, from which the Library and Archive service will run in the interim. An incredible seven lorries were filled with the remaining library, archive, artwork, objects and furniture collections and moved into DeepStore. This specialist facility is located in a salt mine in Cheshire, 150m below ground – providing the gold standard of heritage preservation storage.

The oil paintings and Charters were carefully packed into bespoke made-to-measure wooden crates. The largest of these was the portrait of prominent equine vet J A W Dollar, (RCVS President from 1904-1905), measuring nearly two metres high and 1.5 metres across. The team also moved 125 other framed artworks including paintings, sketches, photographs and certificates. They were all individually measured and photographed ahead of going into storage.

One challenge posed was removing the RCVS First and Second World War Memorials which were attached to the wall with no visible brackets or chains. It turned out the Memorials were held by screws that were hidden by decorative panels of wood.

Lorna Bannister, RCVS Knowledge Archivist says: “Safe removal of our extensive and unique collections to temporary storage was a huge task, and especially difficult to manage during the pandemic. However, we were fortunate to find a suitable temporary location for our services just around the corner from Belgravia House. The removal process also required Archive and Library staff to delve into every nook and cranny of Belgravia House, which resulted in the discovery of historical items previously unknown to our team!”

By March 2022, Belgravia House had been vacated and the Library and Archive team moved into their new temporary home at the City of Westminster Archives Centre. This is an Accredited Archive Service representing the highest standard of archival practice. The space features an environmentally controlled and secure storage space and larger study room area.

Chris Gush, Executive Director of RCVS Knowledge, said: “The RCVS Knowledge and College teams worked incredibly hard and meticulously to safely move over 500 years of UK veterinary history into its new temporary home, whilst incredibly continuing to provide our Library service to the professions. We are grateful for the support from RCVS, with whom we are working closely to continue providing access for the veterinary professions to utilise our Library and Historical Collections, and preserving the history of the profession for the future benefit of society.”

Veterinary professionals, researchers, and the general public are all welcome to consult the Library and Archives collections in person and can use the City of Westminster Archives Centre Reading Room Tuesday to Thursday 10am to 4pm. Contact the Library and Archive team for more information library@rcvsknowledge.org

Objects moved into storage

• 14 panes of stained glass – depicting RCVS and veterinary college crests
• 4 busts, and 28 other ceramic, glass and bronze items
• Portable wooden steps from the original Library at Red Lion Square
• The chair of Fred Bullock, RCVS Registrar and Secretary from 1907 to 1946
• The President’s Chair
• 7 Plaques & Memorials (including WW1, WW2 and South African War)
• 6 large boards listing RCVS Presidents, Treasurers and Secretaries

Library (modern and historical)

• 1955 boxes moved into offsite storage (including books, journals, reports, Fellowship diplomas and theses, RCVS publications and the pre-1900 Historical Collection)
• Pre-1900 Historical Library includes nearly 2500 titles
• 300 additional boxes moved to City of Westminster Archives Centre – most frequently used journals and books, and oldest and largest books from Historical Library

Archives

• 240 boxes moved to offsite storage
• 60 additional boxes moved to City of Westminster Archives Centre – RCVS Council Minutes, Rolls of Members, Registers, Examination records, and other frequently consulted items, or material being catalogued.