Our marketing team here at Gerson Relocation have been reviewing some of our more prestigious domestic relocation projects – we were asked to carry out a move that would make even the most experienced removals people just a little bit nervous – a piece of furniture designed by the Queen’s grandson and which took eight thousand man hours to build.
The Blenheim Bureau, a bureau/bookcase crafted by Viscount Linley, was built in 1999 to celebrate the millennium, and depicts Sir John Vanburgh’s and Nicholas Hawksmoor’s baroque masterpiece, Blenheim Palace, where the bureau is housed. It is constructed in beautiful French polished mahogany and flame mahogany veneers. On the roll top of the desk section is a scenic view depicting a view of the palace and grounds across the lake with the bridge in the foreground. The desk contains 34 secret compartments.
A lot of thought and pre-planning went into moving this unique piece of furniture, and a representative of the owner was on hand to oversee the dismantling, packing and casing.
The bureau itself was in a restricted space, surrounded by many priceless artefacts within Blenheim Palace, none of which were allowed to be touched or moved, but around which the staff of Gerson had to manoeuvre very carefully when moving the bureau. Due to the great weight of the lower base of the bureau, the carpets and floor tiling of the palace required protection, so as not to leave any marks, indentations or cracks. This involved a very long carry around the corridors of Blenheim Palace and the negotiation of many steps. Complicating matters further, the whole packing and collection process had to be completed before 10.30am, when the Palace opens to the public. The whole process was overseen by a senior member of staff from Blenheim Palace who commented afterwards on the care, attention to detail, concern for the palace surroundings and professionalism of the Gerson crew, foreman Graham Green, Ryan Roirdan, John Buckland and Steve Wheldon.
The whole process was managed by Graham Horsler with the assistance of Phil Knee and Tony Swain in the Gerson office. Thanks to careful planning, the Gerson crew left at 10.25am on schedule, proceeding to the bureau’s new location where they assisted with its re-assembly and installation under the watchful eye of one very satisfied, and relieved, customer.
Our domestic relocation teams are always on hand to answer any specific and unusual client needs. If you’d like to find out more about Gerson Relocation and our corporate relocation, domestic relocation, international moving and global mobility services, please feel free to contact us here.
Credit: Removals & Storage Magazine July 2011 issue 444
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