MUSEUM MUMBO JUMBO

EMMLAC, the East Midlands Museums, Libraries and Archives Council are the last people that one would think would be complicit in the deliberate 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.

Derbyshire County Council are responding separately to the statements made in this email from the ECET.

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

A SMELL IN THE TITHE BARN?
Could it be that this response from Jim Grevatte has anything to do with a certain mediaeval tithe barn that was given to the Leicestershire Museums' Service by Derbyshire County Council? Naturally, it didn't matter to Derbyshire County Council. Such a rare and prized building was left until it had nearly disintegrated, by this uncultured County Council, who preside over their own ignorance with such total enthusiasm.

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 other exhibits that are under the care of Derbyshire County Council, it was literally rotting away!

Somehow, 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. Could this be the reason why Mr. Grevatte should make such a shallow and ridiculous defence of the Derbyshire County Council's sad and indefensible treatment of the exhibits at Home Farm Elvaston? Excalibur