A 100 CE roof tile and one very cheeky cat. Tap to see August’s object of the month.

A deep dive into our Natural History Store has helped us identify key hazards across taxidermy, herbariums and minerals, and improve how we manage and record them. From understanding radioactive minerals to refining PPE, ventilation and handling procedures, the team now has clearer processes, better documentation and a stronger grasp of how to keep both people and collections safe.

Find out more about radioactive materials, which ones we have in our collection and how we care for them.

This second post in our Hazards in Collections series explores asbestos: what it is, why it’s dangerous, and the many unexpected places it can show up in historic objects. From minerals and early electrics to Bakelite, gas masks and even old ceramic repairs, it appears more often than you’d think. We also touch on how risk varies with an item’s condition and how teams manage it safely, with some higher‑risk pieces needing specialist removal or disposal.

We reflect on the hidden hazards within our collections and how recent training has helped us better identify and manage risks like asbestos, heavy metals and mould. With support from a Museum Development South West grant, we’ve also been able to make our Natural History Store safer for our team and visitors.

Disposals might sound alarming in a museum context, but at the Museum of Gloucester they’re anything but. As we continue reviewing our social history collection, we’ve recently rehomed around 100 objects, including an impressive 87 can openers, to the Ken Hawley Collection Trust in Sheffield. These items, once tucked away in storage, now have a new life within a nationally significant tool-making collection, where their stories can shine. This “delightful disposal” is a perfect example of how responsible collections care ensures objects find the places where they truly belong.

A rare discovery from the Museum’s timber samples has just been confirmed by Swansea University, marking an exciting milestone in our dendrochronology project. Find out why this result matters and what it means for future research.