National Conservation Centre

Word is the Conservation Centre could be CLOSING.
Quite Ironic given the name, apparently «Unless current Government budget predictions prove unfounded, Liverpool’s National Conservation Centre» could close by the end of October…
How sad. I love this place, but it is very rarely busy… Still, I hope it doesn’t close.

I’m not really sure who came up with the idea for this place. Since it’s sole prerogative is informing the public on just how much work goes into preserving historical artifacts, part of me thinks it must have been a disgruntled conservationist who was fed-​up of being neglected. The big-​headed twerp.
The National Conservation Centre does have some interesting pieces. I remember seeing one antique chair that was placed half-​in-​half-​out of a glass tank. The public were invited to touch the unprotected half to show what would happen if museums let you touch things. It was wrecked. It had only been there a few months.
It’s nice to see how stuff is cared for and their work is indeed very important, but ultimately that’s not the side of knowledge you want expanding your cranium after visiting a museum, is it?

I’d overlooked this place for many years mainly because I didn’t think that it was a public building but was probably a local government centre for discovering methods of preservation for the remaining Beatles.
When asked to go along to several exhibitions I have been pleasantly surprised at the scope and interest of these displays. It is probably not my favourite of Liverpool’s galleries or museums as it is small with a limited amount of items on display as it has more to do with the work its staff do behind the scenes — they recently spent many months restoring the large figure of Eros to the fountain of Sefton Park.
It is the type of place to keep an eye on for as they will often have a good selection of photography displays but I am often disappointed if just turning up to what is on unless the painstaking process of preservation is something you’re into.

The National Conservation Centre isn’t like other museums — they show you how science and investigation are used to discover all sorts of things about an object and its history.
There’s one exhibition they show how they look after objects from the past such as Egyptian mummies. There is also a café and a temporary exhibition gallery.
I prefer this museum to other types of museums as it’s far more interactive and in my opinion… interesting. It’s also something a little different.

From what I have been told by employees at other museums, Liverpool is the only English city outside London that receives government funding for museums. As a result, Liverpool boasts more than just Beatles memorabilia at the waterfront, but a host of world class museums.
The National Conservation Centre, perhaps a bit less popular than the other museums, is a treat among Liverpool’s offerings. The Centre allows visitors to view the conservation behind museums firsthand as specialists clean and preserve artifacts not just from ancient history, but from more recent history as well. And I think this is what gives the Centre such a great twist; their interest in preserving the history of this and recent generations, especially with regard to artifacts from Liverpool.
If you have ever been interested in knowing how various aspects of material culture are preserved, presented, and why even the smallest of object is important to our archaeological record, stop in the National Conservation Centre. It’s free, in the center of town, and always has something interesting to look at from mummies to match book cars.

The National Conservation Centre’s interactive learning display reveals how the collections and exhibits at National Museums Liverpool are cared for.
The centre allows you to take part in demonstarions, live-​video links and meet the conservaotrs. One permanent exhibit in particular called Reveal is something a family will enjoy as this details the hidden story of objects with a conservation science lab at its centre. There is also an exhibition now that includes Lewis’s fifth floor (a store in Liverpool that will be closing down soon): A department story running from 26^th February till 30^th August.
Best of all is that entry is free for all.

Free and free and a little bit more free. Yay! I’m a fan.
The award winning centre cares for National Museums Liverpool’s huge and diverse collections.
There is a changing programme of exhitions. Lewis’s Fifth Floor A Department Story is on at the moment, till 30^th August — so don’t miss it.
The fifth floor of Lewis’s department store reopened in 1953 after being damaged during the Blitz. The current exhibition features portraits of current and ex-​employees in their original workplace and their memories of life at Lewis’s.
Really interesting.
As you would expect with these types of places — access is very good with a level entry, accessible toilets and wheelchair access to all floors.