One of Warwickshire's most beloved museum residents is preparing for an exciting new adventure.
For generations, visitors to Market Hall Museum, Warwick have been greeted by the impressive sight of Oisin, the Giant Irish Deer skeleton. This autumn, however, the prehistoric giant will be taking a temporary break from public display as he embarks on a carefully planned conservation and relocation project designed to safeguard his future for generations to come.
The much-loved specimen will be meticulously dismantled by the museum team alongside renowned palaeontological conservator Nigel Larkin, before travelling to Nigel's specialist workshop. There, Oisin will undergo detailed conservation, assessment and remounting work to improve his long-term stability and ensure he can continue to inspire visitors long into the future.
While it may sound like a well-earned spa retreat for a specimen that is around 11,000 years old, the project represents an important investment in the care and preservation of one of Warwickshire Museum's largest and most iconic objects.
@Oisinthedeer has been a mascot for the museum on X (Twitter) since 2010 and says:
‘‘Dear friends, it’s time for me to hang up my antlers and step back from the twittersphere. I’ve had a wonderful sixteen years since my very first tweet in 2010, sharing life at Warwickshire Museum, conversations with my museum mascot friends, tales of antler-warmers, extinct relatives and Vikings, my love of maps and art deco, memories of my former (sleepy) life in a cosy peat bog, the Wilmcote Plesiosaur, the museum bees and much more.
“And so, with my final tweet I’d like to say thank you, with antler-waves to one and all.
“I’ll soon be leaving the Market Hall Museum for some much-needed TLC. Afterwards, I’ll be settling into my new home at the Warwickshire Museum Collections Centre, where I’ve been promised a warm welcome. Hopefully I’ll see some of you there and, in the meantime, keep tweeting! All the very best.”
Following his makeover, Oisin will begin a new chapter at Warwickshire Museum's Collections Centre, where he will remain accessible to visitors through the museum's popular behind-the-scenes store tours. His new home will not only provide an appropriate environment for his long-term care but will also help tell the fascinating story of how museums preserve and protect collections held in trust for the public.
Jon Radley, Curator of Natural Sciences says, “Dating from around 11,000 years ago, Oisin is a composite skeleton of the extinct Giant Irish Deer, assembled during the nineteenth century from remains recovered from Irish peat bogs. He joined Warwickshire Museum's collections during the Victorian era and has fascinated generations of visitors ever since. He will be accessible to visitors through behind-the-scenes tours and other events. This move marks a new chapter in Oisin’s long museum life, securing his long-term protection and preservation, and public access.”
Councillor Darren Cheshire, Warwickshire County Council Portfolio Holder for Environment, Heritage and Culture, said: "Oisin is one of Warwickshire Museum's most recognisable and treasured residents, so we're pleased to be giving him the care and attention he deserves.
“This conservation project is an investment in preserving an important part of our heritage, ensuring that this prehistoric giant can continue to inspire curiosity and fascination for many years to come. We look forward to welcoming him to his new home at the Museum Collections Centre and sharing the next stage of his journey with visitors."
Although his prehistoric origins lie in Ireland, Oisin has become an important part of Warwickshire's heritage through his long-standing association with the museum and its founders. His relocation marks not an end, but the beginning of a new era that will ensure this remarkable specimen can continue sharing its story well into the future.
For more information about the Warwickshire Museum Service, including Market Hall Museum and the Museum Collections Centre visit: heritage.warwickshire.gov.uk/museum