How do you introduce modern exhibition display cases into a building that may itself be hundreds of years old, without compromising the character, integrity or fabric that makes it significant?
A substantial part of Click Netherfield’s decades of experience lies in installing bespoke display cases inside historic sites and listed buildings; this includes having delivered showcase projects across more than 30 Grade I-listed buildings and historic monuments in the UK. This is a significant undertaking as the needs of modern museums and the expectations of their visitors must be met, but so too must our responsibility to respect and preserve history.
We pride ourselves on ensuring the smoothest possible showcase installation for the client by completing thorough risk assessments and meticulous logistical planning, allowing exhibits to be displayed and protected inside our showcases without affecting – and sometimes incorporating – the existing character of the building.
We have proudly worked on projects on some of the UK’s most prestigious heritage sites, such as Norwich Castle, Nottingham Castle, Edinburgh Castle, and many more. Each site presents its own unique set of challenges and risks, however the underlying principle is always the same: modern museum requirements and historic architecture can coexist when the installation is planned around the building, rather than the other way around.
Norwich Castle
At Norwich Castle Keep, a Grade I-listed building and Scheduled Ancient Monument, Click Netherfield designed, manufactured and installed 13 bespoke display cases. The project required careful planning and a heritage-sensitive approach, with restricted access and limited storage presenting significant logistical challenges. Large glass components were transported across the castle bridge using smaller vehicles, while non-invasive installation methods and carefully considered finishes ensured the showcases integrated seamlessly with the historic architecture, protecting both the building and its collections.
Nottingham Castle
As part of the major redevelopment of Nottingham Castle, Click Netherfield provided detailed engineering, manufacture and installation of 65 bespoke showcases across five galleries. Working within a historic site undergoing extensive conservation and restoration, the showcases were designed to integrate sensitively with the castle while supporting the interpretation of Nottingham’s rich history, from rebellion and royal intrigue to its renowned lace industry and art collections.
Edinburgh Castle
For the 2018 “Fight for the Castle” exhibition at Edinburgh Castle, Click Netherfield worked within the 19th-century Argyle Tower, positioned above the historic Portcullis Gate. The exhibition explores the castle’s turbulent history of sieges and changing ownership, using physical objects alongside sound, light and imagery. Displaying artefacts ranging from a 14.5kg trebuchet ball to tiny remnants from a medieval smithy, the project required showcases that complemented the historic setting while supporting an engaging, accessible visitor experience.
Every intervention within a historic building has the potential to leave a lasting impact. From the route a showcase takes through the building to the way it is secured in position, every detail must be carefully considered to protect the existing fabric and character of the space.
For Click Netherfield, working within historic buildings is about more than installing a showcase; it is about understanding the building, anticipating its challenges and finding solutions that respect its past while supporting its future. By ensuring careful planning and a heritage-sensitive approach, modern museum displays can be introduced without compromising the character and significance of the places that house them. The result is a careful balance between past and present, ensuring that these remarkable spaces can continue to tell their stories for years to come.
- Kaya Callander, Marketing Executive