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MUSEUM MUMBO JUMBO
EMMLAC, the East Midlands Museums, Libraries
and Archives Council are the last people that one would
think might be complicit in the neglect,
destruction, and final spiriting away of the Working Farm
and Museum exhibits such as those at Elvaston Castle and
Country Park, some of which have been burned by
Derbyshire County Council.
However, anyone misguided enough to believe
that all 'experts' know their stuff, and that the
protection and preservation of historic artefacts is an
automatic priority for such people, should read the
following email from EMMLAC's Museum Development Officer,
JIm Grevatte, based at Leicester.
In it, Mr Grevatte makes the following
statement: "It is also a shared
responsibility of the whole museum sector to ensure
public confidence in museums as custodians of our
cultural heritage." Look at the
pictures in the Galleries of Shame, read Mr. Grevatte's email to the
East Midlands Museum Service, judge for yourselves! The
email was sent to all East Midlands Museums, and was
kindly forwarded to us by a friendly source in the museum
service.
To
all East Midlands Museums:
In reference to the recent email you received
regarding Elvaston Castle from the Elvaston Castle Estate
Trust, I would like to assure you that EMMLAC are
entirely satisfied with the manner in which a future is
being found for these collections. Derbyshire County
Council and its officers have been in regular contact
with ourselves, the MA and the V&A Purchase Fund
regarding the rationalization of the Elvaston Collection.
At all times the MA's Code of Ethics for Museums is being
used to inform decisions and the Council is entirely
committed to a practical and ethical solution to problems
posed by the closure of the site.
In my role as the Museum Development Officer
for the region I visited the site in September 2004 to
see for myself the activity there and was satisfied that
everything possible was being done to safeguard the
collection and ensure future public access. I know you
will appreciate that inevitably disposal and sale are
often the only option for some artifacts and this is
recognized in the Code of Ethics.
It is one of EMMLAC's primary roles to uphold
and support professional practice in Museums, Libraries
and Archives. This is achieved through workforce
development, professional networks and the Museums
Registration (now Accreditation) Scheme. It is also a
shared responsibility of the whole museum sector to
ensure public confidence in museums as custodians of our
cultural heritage. We appreciate your continued and vital
support in presenting a responsible and professional
profile for the sector and profession.
Jim Grevatte, Museum Development Officer
EMMLAC
56 King Street
Leicester
LE1 6RL
THE TITHE BARN
Could it be that this response has anything to do with a certain mediaeval
tithe barn that was given to the Leicestershire Museums'
Service by Derbyshire County Council? Such a rare
and prized building was left dismantled and propped up in
the open under a Dutch barn at Home Farm.
This is what happened. An extremely
rare item, a mediaeval tithe barn was given to Derbyshire
County Council by a farmer, whose land it had stood on
since it was built. It is believed that this farm is at
Sandiacre. As has been the case with anything else rare
and valuable this tithe barn was stored in the open for
some years, under the Dutch barn at Home Farm, until it
resembled all the many of the other exhibits that are under the care
of Derbyshire County Council at Elvaston Castle Country
Park.
Somehow, (We wonder!), the
Leicestershire Museum Service found out about it, and
asked if they could have it. Apparently, it was loaded
onto the back of a truck and driven over to
Leicestershire, where it was lovingly restored and
erected at Bosworth battlefield. Why could this not have been achieved
by Derbyshire County Council?
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