Buffs Regimental Museum
Buffs Regimental Museum
c/o The National Army Museum
Hospital Road
Chelsea, London SW3 4HT
Tel: + 44 (0)207 730 0717
Email: info@national-army-museum.ac.uk
Website:Http://www.national-army-museum.ac.uk
BUFFS GALLERY CLOSED FOR BEANEY WORK
The Buffs Gallery at the Beaney Institute in Canterbury closed to the public on Saturday 8 November 2008 as part of preparatory work leading to the closure of the whole building for restoration and refurbishment.
The museum collections of The Buffs (the former Royal East Kent Regiment) belong to the National Army Museum, as a result of the ownership transfer made by Buffs regimental trustees in 2000.
Therefore, National Army Museum staff were responsible for the professional packing of the collections and move to the museum's London base, where their conservators have begun the lengthy job of cleaning and conservation to be ready for the Beaney reopening in 2012.
The amount of time this specialist work will take is one of the reasons why The Buffs Gallery was among the first of the displays in the Beaney to be closed. There is also a considerable amount of work to be carried out to the space currently occupied by the Buffs, and this could not be started safely while the collections were in place.
Canterbury City Council's Deputy Leader, Cllr Jean Law, said: New displays about The Buffs, incorporating collections on loan from the National Army Museum, will be part of the reopened Beaney, so the removal is only temporary.
We are delighted to be working in partnership with the National Army Museum, and to have their conservation expertise to enhance this collection. The displays have significant relevance for local residents and have brought enjoyment to thousands of people over the years, and we thank the museum for that.
Director of the National Army Museum, Dr Alan Guy, said: The NAM Council, its governing body, looks forward to continuing to work with Canterbury City Council and all our friends in the city to tell the story of the Buffs in Canterbury.
The rest of the museum and library in the Beaney has now closed to the public.
The Beaney project is to restore and refurbish the existing building, and add an extension at the rear. The aim is to transform the building's spaces and services, provide a new library for the 21st century, and create enlarged spaces for museum and gallery collections, exhibitions and educational activities.
The project is being funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, the South East England Development Agency and the city and county councils. Reopening is planned for 2012.
As a result of a new partnership agreement betweeen The Buffs Trustees, Canterbury City Council and the National Army Museum, ownership of the collection has been transferred to the National Army Museum. For enquiries please write to:
National Army Museum (external website)
Royal Hospital Road
Chelsea
LONDON SW3 4HT
Tel: + 44 (0)20 7730 0717
