Museum and heritage collections are not stock. They are objects that are often unique, fragile and irreplaceable, so moving them is a conservation exercise as much as a logistical one. Ede's relocates museum, gallery and heritage collections across London and the UK, working with curators and conservators so that every object is handled, packed and moved in a way that protects its condition, from the initial survey through to reinstallation in its new home.
A museum move is led by the people responsible for the collection. We work with your curators and conservators from the survey onwards, so handling decisions are made by the right people:
Condition reporting.
Objects are condition-reported before the move, so their state is documented and can be checked again on arrival. This is standard practice in the sector and it protects both sides.
Conservation-led handling.
How each object is lifted, supported, packed and moved is agreed with your conservators, not decided on the day.
Sign-off.
Your team approves the handling and packing approach for sensitive or high-value items before work starts, and checks objects against the condition reports at the destination.
A standard crate does not fit a suit of armour, a large canvas or an irregular artefact. For objects that need it we design and build bespoke packing cases, shaped and cushioned to the individual object, with internal mounts, padding and fixings that hold it still and absorb shock in transit. Cases can be built for single objects or for sets, and reused for the return leg or future moves. The point of a bespoke case is simple: the object should not be able to move inside it. For large or exceptionally heavy objects, this is combined with the lifting expertise of our machinery moves team.
Refurbishments and gallery redisplays usually mean decanting all or part of a collection: moving it out, storing it, and bringing it back, sometimes into a changed layout. We plan decants section by section, track where every object goes, and can hold parts of the collection in storage while work is carried out, so it returns in order and in the same condition it left. Where a collection includes books, journals or records, it is handled alongside our library moves work.
Objects in transit need protecting from more than knocks. We plan each move around the security and environmental risks: directly employed, security-cleared crews, tracked vehicles, and packing that buffers objects against vibration and short-term changes in conditions. Where a collection needs climate-controlled transport or storage, we arrange it with the appropriate specialists and work to the requirements your conservators set, rather than treating every object the same.
Ede's has delivered relocation work for the V&A, one of the world's leading museums. It is the kind of project where the margin for error is zero, and it is documented in our V&A case study. If you are shortlisting for a museum or heritage move, that reference is worth more than any claim we could make on this page.
Fragile and high-value objects are handled to an approach agreed with your conservators, packed in protective or bespoke cases built to the object, and moved by trained, directly employed crews. The aim is that the object cannot move inside its case and is never handled in a way your team has not approved.
Yes. Objects are condition-reported before the move so their state is documented, and they are checked against those reports on arrival. This is standard practice for museum and heritage work and protects both you and us.
Yes. Where an object does not fit a standard crate, we design and build a bespoke case shaped and cushioned to it, with internal mounts and fixings that hold it still in transit. Cases can be reused for the return leg or future moves.
Yes. Curators and conservators are involved from the survey onwards. Handling and packing decisions for sensitive items are agreed and signed off with your team before any object is moved.
Yes. All or part of a collection can be held in managed or secure archive storage during a refurbishment or redisplay, tracked throughout and returned in order when the space is ready.
Yes. Ede's has delivered relocation work for the V&A, one of the world's leading museums, documented in our V&A case study.
To plan a museum or heritage relocation or arrange a survey, contact our team.
Our relocation crews are permanently employed, trained in-house and Enhanced DBS checked, as standard. This gives our clients complete confidence that experienced, trusted professionals are supporting them.
Accredited to ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001, Ede's combines industry-recognised quality, environmental and health & safety management systems with secure GDPR-compliant data handling and responsive customer support.
From straight-forward office moves to complex multi-site relocations, we develop bespoke solutions that are tailored to your business, your objectives and your budget.
