Case Study

The Warner Archive

A combination of static and mobile shelving was the only viable solution. To make best use of the available head room, shelving bays up to 3.3 metres high were mounted on to mobile bases that were fitted with locks to prevent accidental movement and to provide security.

The Client.

The Warner Archive is the only comprehensive record of British high quality Jacquard hand weaving from c1821-1971, with a companion collection of printed textiles, designs, documents and power woven cloths. The collection is a unique record of the history of textile manufacture since the 18th century and includes every example of woven and printed fabric produced by Warner's as well as other companies.

There is an extensive collection of original artwork by leading designers and major artists commissioned by Warner's to produce fabrics for Royal palaces, stately homes, National Trust properties, hotels and No10 Downing Street.

The Challenge.

The Warner Textile Collection originally occupied 250 square metres of an office and archive warehouse facility at Milton Keynes. The entire collection was purchased by Braintree District Museum Trust and moved to the former silk weaving shed of Warner & Sons, that also used to house the Working Silk Mill, in Silks Way, Braintree.

Warner’s Mill, a Grade II listed building, will store and display the Archive which includes over 80,000 fabrics and designs, creating a study space, display areas and additional storage facilities. The project will ensure that everyone can learn about and enjoy the archive, whether members of the public, school children, or the wide range of public bodies and film companies who currently use it as a valuable historic resource. 

The Solution.

In September 2003 Metalrax Storage were invited to conduct an audit at the archive facility in Milton Keynes with a brief to move the entire collection to Braintree.

After making an inventory of all the items contained within the Milton Keynes location a storage solution was proposed that would incorporate the collection and allow an amount of accruals within the new archive area.

This included plan chests, picture frame hanging racks and cantilever shelves for long rolls together with a bolt free shelving system to provide in excess 1000 storage locations required to accommodate the total collection including 1500 books, 1400 boxes, 720 bound volumes and 500 rolled items.

A combination of static and mobile shelving was the only viable solution. To make best use of the available head room, shelving bays up to 3.3 metres high were mounted on to mobile bases that were fitted with locks to prevent accidental movement and to provide security. Widespan wide access and QB2 short span shelving were chosen to store the collection. The QB2 bays were fitted with a combination of shelves and lateral filing rails for the storage of books and other printed material.

Static and Mobile shelving systems designed and manufactured by Metalrax Storage have been installed into many Museums and Records Offices throughout the UK.

The Warner Archive Downloads