Thousands of historical artefacts to be moved

Dr Ros Cleal, archaeologist at Avebury Manor, said the current archive is not accessible enough

A manor has begun work to move thousands of historical objects to a more accessible archive.

Avebury Manor in Wiltshire, which is run by the National Trust, is turning its library into storage for historical artefacts from the local area.

The current archive is not accessible enough, Dr Ros Cleal, archaeologist at Avebury Manor, said.

"The manor is teaming with historical archives," Dr Cleal added. "We think probably between 30-40,000 individual artefacts."

She said: "We've got about 1,700 boxes to move - we hope it won't take too long.

"We've got some brilliant collection assistants who are helping - we know where everything's going, it's all got a home waiting for it, so lots of hard work to do."

Avebury Manor is turning its library into storage for historical artefacts

Dr Cleal said that the collection is often visited by researchers which is part of the reason why they want to make it more accessible.

She added: "The whole set up is just sitting in the room so we haven't attached anything to the historic building.

"If it comes out it'll all come out and it'll be just as it was before."

The library is said to be about the size of a netball court

All artefacts have to be individually labelled, dated and made accessible for research.

"We curate a collection which comes from all over Avebury," she said.

"For example, thousands of flint implements collected over decades.

"They were collected by a vicar in the early 20th century, who seems to have spent most of his time field walking in the Avebury area.

"I don't know how much the congregation saw him."