West Berkshire Museum's Exciting Clear Out!

West Berkshire Museum is clearing out to free up space. It says it would rather pass items to schools, colleges or other museums than destroy them.

Items include a wooden chair with woodworm and bird droppings. Shaw House has already turned down a pile of desks, sinks and other bits removed during 2003 renovations.

The museum has three jail doors. One, probably salvaged when the Old Guildhall was demolished in 1828 and maybe from the Bridewell, will be offered first to Weald and Downland Living Museum.

There is also an old door from the prison at the Old Guildhall. One was stolen in 1996 and later returned. One of the two doors has metal spikes protruding.

Hampstead Norreys could get parts of an old clock frame that supported a 17th-century clock. An angel carving from St Marys Church in Kingsclere could be returned, and a large cartwheel has been offered to the Rural History Museum.

The Collections Development Panel made up of the curators, the heritage access assistant, the museum learning participation officer, the archaeology team and volunteer representatives decides what stays and what goes.

The Museums Association guidance is that once disposal is agreed by the governing body the museum can contact other museums directly, list items online and share details with interested organisations. If museums arent interested, items can be offered to local people or groups. Destruction is the last option. The museum prefers transfers over sales, and any sale income must be put back into supporting the collections.

Niki Hinman, Local Democracy Reporter