About

As part of a major conservation programme by the National Trust for Scotland, Restore Harrow Green was selected to manage the careful relocation of tens of thousands of culturally significant items from Edinburgh NTS storage facility to Canna House and return of selected items back to Edinburgh. This vital project supports the preservation and future accessibility of the historic archive of Gaelic folklorists John Lorne Campbell and Margaret Faye Shaw.

The Challenges

• Remote Island Logistics: Transporting large volumes of heritage assets required detailed coordination with ferry services and weather-dependent travel from Mallaig to the Isle of Canna.
• Delicate and Diverse Collections: From a grand Steinway piano and a billiards table to fragile rolled carpets, curtains, insect specimens, and Gaelic archives, the range of materials required tailored handling, packaging, and transportation.
• Conservation Sensitivity: Every item – from books to framed artworks – had to be handled with conservation-grade care, respecting both its historical value and physical fragility.

The Solution

Restore Harrow Green’s Glasgow team deployed a specialist relocation crew experienced in heritage and museum moves. Our approach included:

• Comprehensive Pre-Move Planning: Including site surveys, itinerary confirmation, and coordination with ferry crossings, local compound logistics, and museum staff.
• Large items like the piano and billiards table were handled using lifting equipment designed for delicate manoeuvring.
• Island Transportation Logistics: Our fleet, including heavy goods vehicles, travelled via ferry to and from Canna over multiple phases, delivering and collecting items to meet the project’s conservation milestones.
• Phased Reinstallation: Across three major visits, items were methodically transferred to their newly restored rooms in Canna House, including ground floor and upstairs collections, library furniture, and final repositioning of furnishings and artefacts.

The Outcome

• Preservation Achieved: Over 50,000 items were successfully relocated and returned with no damage, ensuring the long-term conservation of the Gaelic cultural archive.
• Client Satisfaction: The National Trust for Scotland commended our team for their professionalism, flexibility, and ability to deliver in a uniquely challenging environment.
• Cultural Impact: This sensitive and complex relocation was key to unlocking public access to a valuable piece of Scottish cultural heritage – safeguarding the life’s work of two renowned folklorists.
• Continued Partnership: Restore Harrow Green is proud to support the National Trust for Scotland in future projects that protect and promote Scotland’s heritage.