8:00am, 13 May 2013
Good morning everyone, and welcome to our live blog about our walrus move. We’ll be updating this throughout the day to let you know how the move is going.
While the move is happening, our Natural History Gallery will be closed to visitors, so we hope that this blog will take you behind the scenes and give you a sense of what’s happening.
So far, the Walrus has been cleaned in advance of his visit to Margate. Also, the iceberg which surrounds the Walrus has been removed.
Climate change hits the @HornimanMuseum causing the @HornimanWalrus iceberg to start breaking up pic.twitter.com/gDtL44VNjU
— Paolo Viscardi (@PaoloViscardi) May 10, 2013
9.30am
Moving the Walrus is giving us a chance to learn more about him, including what’s inside.
While the gantry is being built, the walrus is being x-rayed. pic.twitter.com/147y9Hp2Un
— Horniman Museum and Gardens (@HornimanMuseum) May 13, 2013
10.25am
The scaffolding is going up around the Natural History Gallery in preparation for the lift. It’s…purple?
11.14am
We’ve now moved on to x-raying the Walrus’ head.
Now x-raying the walrus’s head. pic.twitter.com/cfadxjpLwW
— Horniman Museum and Gardens (@HornimanMuseum) May 13, 2013
11.27am
Currently preparing the crate in which the Walrus will be transported.
12.08pm
Scaffolding: rising.
Scaffolding rising to impressive heights now pic.twitter.com/RD2Fvmci6R
— Horniman Museum and Gardens (@HornimanMuseum) May 13, 2013
13.10pm
The gantry which will hold the walrus as he is lifted is now complete.
The gantry is now complete. Next step is to lift @HornimanWalrus onto a platform. pic.twitter.com/BHm4v2rS4Z
— Horniman Museum and Gardens (@HornimanMuseum) May 13, 2013
14.10pm
Walrus wheeled into position before his upward move.
14.17pm
He’s in the air!
14.23pm
Being lowered on to a new platform to take his weight for the big lift.
Being lowered onto his platform. @HornimanWalrus looks like he’s enjoying himself. pic.twitter.com/Y5KY9AFdLQ
— Horniman Museum and Gardens (@HornimanMuseum) May 13, 2013
14.38pm
14.47pm
He’s made it to the other side. Applause for all involved, especially @HornimanWalrus who was a trooper! pic.twitter.com/YcqVDAqJf6
— Horniman Museum and Gardens (@HornimanMuseum) May 13, 2013
15.10pm
We’re very happy, relieved and glad to report that our wonderful walrus has been moved successfully. He’s currently being packed up in a crate in advance of his trip to Margate. Here’s a short video of him in the air – we’ll have a longer video about the whole procedure later in the week.
9.15am, 14 May 2013
The Walrus has spent the night on his new platform at the front of the gallery. Today he will be carefully packed by the Conservation team and safely crated up ready for his journey to Margate.
9.57am
The first task for today is for our conservation department to check the Walrus’s condition, and make sure he’s ship-shape for his trip to Margate.
Conservation are on the scene. It’s time for the condition report. pic.twitter.com/8kBCji6PpW
— Horniman Museum and Gardens (@HornimanMuseum) May 14, 2013
10.53am
We’re packing the Walrus to make sure he will be safe when he’s in transit.
Packing, step 1: insulate the tusks against temperature and humidity changes in transit. pic.twitter.com/hPnOBzKXx3
— Horniman Museum and Gardens (@HornimanMuseum) May 14, 2013
11.45am
Packing the Walrus is continuing, including a ‘blindfold’ to protect his eyes.
.@HornimanWalrus will have restricted viewing of his journey from this point. pic.twitter.com/Kpem8D1f6n
— Horniman Museum and Gardens (@HornimanMuseum) May 14, 2013
12.27pm
Having placed protective covers around the Walrus, we’re now beginning to build the remainder of his crate around him.
Time to tuck him in. pic.twitter.com/P4iIfTTYLf
— Horniman Museum and Gardens (@HornimanMuseum) May 14, 2013
Safely tucked in for the journey. pic.twitter.com/PZmth2EXCm
— Horniman Museum and Gardens (@HornimanMuseum) May 14, 2013
3.14pm
Just putting the finishing touches to the crate packing to make sure he can’t shift about while on the road.
Last few finishing touches being added to make sure @HornimanWalrus is super secure. pic.twitter.com/3NHYAt6uI1
— Horniman Museum and Gardens (@HornimanMuseum) May 14, 2013
3.30pm
The last job for today is to put the last pieces of the crate together, so it is ready to leave the museum tomorrow morning.
And now the time is near… @HornimanWalrus is all boxed up. Bon voyage! pic.twitter.com/OS1012Suee
— Horniman Museum and Gardens (@HornimanMuseum) May 14, 2013
4.02pm
That’s it for the Walrus updates today. Tomorrow, he finally leaves the Natural History Gallery and makes his way to Margate.
8.39am, 15 May 2013
This morning the Walrus in his crate was maneuvered out of the Museum and into the fresh air.
This is the first time he has left the Natural History Gallery for well over 100 years.
Morning all. @HornimanWalrus is just about to depart us. It’s positively Arctic! pic.twitter.com/G7DNJiDpGt
— Horniman Museum and Gardens (@HornimanMuseum) May 15, 2013
9.30am
The Horniman Walrus is loaded up and on his way to Margate!
Margate, here I come! The biggest thing to hit the town since Mary Portas.
— Icicle Bear (@HornimanWalrus) May 15, 2013
12.01pm
He’s arrived safely! And with a big audience, naturally.
The @hornimanwalrus had his own paparazzi today as he came to the gallery – we’re not surprised, he’s pretty special pic.twitter.com/GifTHs5jCy
— Turner Contemporary (@TCMargate) May 15, 2013
The @HornimanWalrus is here! And looking slightly bewildered w his face in padding #CuriousMargate @HornimanMuseum pic.twitter.com/tnsWY7jSzB
— Turner Contemporary (@TCMargate) May 15, 2013
1.25pm
The Walrus’ air travel isn’t quite over. He still has to make his way up onto his new plinth.
Check out our Instagram account for more pictures of the Walrus being lifted, given his new plinth, settling in and getting checked over by the Conservation team.