20 Nov 08

New cast iron pillars are being installed at the Pitt Rivers Museum.

Work is progressing well at two of Oxford University’s most famous museums, the Pitt Rivers Museum and the Ashmolean Museum.

The Pitt Rivers Museum of Anthropology and World Archaeology closed in July 2008 while the entrance is remodeled and visitor facilities improved.

New cast iron pillars, matching the Victorian originals, have just arrived at the Museum, where a team from Beard Construction are carrying out the building work.

The 16 week project involves the construction of a new entrance platform with views across the museum floor, wider access steps, a platform lift for wheel chair access and re-located shop and reception areas. Improvements to lighting and new passive ventilation will help preserve the Museum’s collections for the future. The Museum is due to reopen in late spring 2009 once the displays have been reinstated.

The museum presents a highly challenging construction environment not least because of its priceless collection of artefacts, some of which remain in-situ and which are susceptible to damage from light, dust and moisture, together with the historical nature of the building itself.

Beard’s Property Services and Special Works team, which is carrying out the work, was selected because of its wide experience in dealing with sensitive high profile historic buildings. Recent projects have included work at Oxford’s Sheldonian Theatre, The Radcliffe Camera, as well as The Ashmolean Museum. Work has been ongoing at the Ashmolean Museum and now is the last chance for the public to visit the museum before it temporarily closes to the public after 23 December 2008 in preparation for its opening in November 2009.

To build on its strengths as a world-class museum of art and archaeology, the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford is undergoing a major development, with support from the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Linbury Trust.

Since construction started in 2006, the development work has had a minimal impact on the existing building to ensure visitors had access to the collections on display. However, in 2009 builders will need increased access to the existing building to undertake the major work of constructing a new front entrance and creating breakthrough points between the new and old building. The Museum’s closure is necessary for the safety of visitors, the collections, and staff, while the final phase of development is being completed.

The Ashmolean is also producing a dramatic series of photographs illustrating its world-renowned collections in the lead-up to the opening of the new Ashmolean building.