To relocate over 500 linear metres of books, totalling 11,500 items from the Cathedral’s Library to our heritage storage facility in Upper Heyford while the Library undergoes monitoring and remodelling over the course of two years. The project involves renovating the room, so that it is fit to house the collection of rare religious books, some dating back to the 12th century, for decades to come, and will also make it more accessible to the public.

The triforium or upper level is accessible through a small lift, housed in an original light shaft, but this was not designed for the transit of large quantities of boxes and was therefore ruled out as a method of lowering the books. Another option was to use the geometrical staircase, which was used the last time the books were removed during WWII, but it too was ruled out.

The stairwell is over 88 steps long and the spiral shape can be disconcerting, particularly when moving heavy objects. The only solution was to use a winch and platform system just above the gallery, which is conveniently located near the exit.

Our teams loaded the boxes onto the winch used by the cathedral works department and lowered them to ground level. This part required careful planning as the books needed to be well secured for the ride down. They were then collected in a cordoned off area before being moved out through the Great West Doors, which are only ever opened for royalty!

The move was conducted over five weekly phases organised so that we collect the boxes as they are filled by the library’s team of volunteers who clean, pack, and label the books. Each phase includes the collection and relocation of approximately 240 boxes which are taken to our storage facility at Upper Heyford in Oxfordshire.

The site is approved and recommended by the National Conservation Service because it meets the strict criteria set by them as well as being monitored for quality on a regular basis. It is the ideal space for the heritage sector as it also provides customers access to their collections in situ whenever they need it, or virtually through our web-based asset management software.

The books from the St Paul’s Cathedral Library will be in storage at our Upper Heyford facility until all renovation work is complete. The Restore Harrow Green Heritage Team will then return the books in the same way they were decanted.