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The Head of Economic
Development and Communities introduced the report and clarified
that deaccessioning refers to the lawful removal of an object from
a museum’s collections.
 
The formal deaccession process,
under which these decisions were being considered, was approved by
Cabinet on 9 January 2025.
 
The following articles were
proposed for deaccession:
 
a)           
LB528 Swathe-Turner – Agricultural
Machinery
 
This piece has been held
off-site at the Science Museum’s National Collections Centre
in Wroughton since 1981.
The Science Museum has
requested a permanent transfer and has demonstrated its ability to
act as a responsible custodian.
 
Recommendation: Approve the
deaccession and transfer, as the Science Museum is a more suitable
location than the Corinium Museum,
which primarily focuses on archaeology.
 
b)           
LO X093 – Eastbury Christening Gowns
 
These gowns were originally
stored in the museum until the donor requested their loan for a
local display, where they have since remained.
Under the museum’s
current policy, such items would not be accepted today.
 
Recommendation: approve the
deaccession of the gowns with return to the donor.
 
c)           
Sly Collection – Hats from the
Cotswold Countryside Collection
 
The collection consists of
various hats donated to the now-closed Cotswold Countryside
Collection.
As the Corinium Museum has an archaeological focus,
retaining the hats is no longer appropriate.
 
Recommendation: De-accession
and return of the collection to the donor’s
representative.
 
The Head of Economic
Development and Communities confirmed that all three deaccession
requests met the necessary criteria outlined in the formal
process.