AROUND 19,000 artefacts are set to be relocated as part of the next steps of rescuing a historic museum facing structural issues.

In March 2020, the Lawrence House Museum in Launceston was closed as a result of the COVID-19 lockdown, however, during this time, structural issues were identified at the site meaning that it would not be reopening its doors unless a significant investment was made.

As a result, Launceston Town Council has been searching for ways to return the building to its former glory, ensuring structural safety to allow its doors to reopen.

In 2022, the council was successful in securing £480,000 as part of the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Levelling Up Fund, which would go towards the necessary repairs alongside match funding by the town council of £180,000.

After being advised that artefacts which were being stored in the museum could stay in place, it was later found that this was not possible.

A spokesperson from Launceston Town Council explained: “It became clear in early 2023 that this was not viable and so a small storage container was leased in May of 2023 on Pennygillam Industrial Estate. Artefacts from the top floor of the museum were removed due to serious concerns of the weight that the floor was bearing at this time. In November 2023 it was decided that the initial unit was no longer big enough to store the original artefacts and a decision was made to relocate to a larger site that is currently still in use.”

Following an unsuccessful planning application for an internal refit of the site, the council resolved that a longer term view of investment, strategy and interpretation of the space was required and therefore appointed architects and quantity surveyors to the project in 2025.

Now, the council has revealed that around 19,000 artefacts need to be relocated, meaning a storage unit more than double the size of its current space would be necessary.

The spokesperson continued: “With the expertise of a quantity surveyor and collections advisers, a site has been identified that can be used subject to some slight modifications as elements of the collection need to be housed in certain climates, so internal adaptations will need to be undertaken.

“The museum currently holds approximately 19,000 artefacts within its collection and the proposed new storage site will allow volunteers the opportunity to house everything in one place and begin undertaking a large scale rationalisation of the collection.

The council says the new space could allow for community open days and school visits, which provide a boost for its ongoing National Lottery funding bid, with the first year at the site funded by the Levelling Up Fund, though, the council has expressed that there is no guarantee this grant funding will be successful, which could result in the council being required to finance he future year costs either via reserves already held or through the precept.