Wallace Collection during Wartime
Discover how the collection survived WWII, its evacuation, and its role in wartime London.
ReadHistory of Hertford House Hertford House (2020) by UnknownThe Wallace Collection
The Wallace Collection endured WWII. Explore its evacuation and its significant role in wartime London.
Treasure Cave (1942-09-01) by Fred RamageGetty Images
In May 1940, Sir Winston Churchill famously said of the nation's art treasures: "Hide them in caves and cellars, but not one picture shall leave this island."
Records in the Wallace Collection Archive show that planning for the possible evacuation of our collection started long before he uttered these immortal words. From as early as 1933, the museum staff were preparing for the possibility of another war.
Garniture of Three Vases (18th Century) by Sevres ManufactoryThe Wallace Collection
When the Munich Crisis occurred in 1938, the rarest Sèvres porcelain and majolica in the collection was packed away as a precaution. Priority lists of works of art were created, and practice drills started.
Evacuation of the Rising of the Sun (1939) by UnknownThe Wallace Collection
On 23rd August 1939, when the Home Office gave the word to all national museums and galleries to start evacuating their artworks, the Wallace Collection was well prepared to start work.
By the time war was declared on the 3rd September 1939, the majority of the collection had been carefully packed for transport and was already safely out of London. It would remain so for the duration of the war.
History of Hertford House Thomson Album (Picture 1) (1900) by ThomsonThe Wallace Collection
The collection travelled to two historic houses not far from London; Hall Barn in Buckinghamshire and Balls Park in Hertfordshire. At the time these locations were a closely guarded secret, and only became known after the war was over and the works had been returned.
Only items that were either too large or heavy to safely move stayed in the basement of Hertford House, which was reinforced with concrete in case of bombing. Some staff also remained onsite as fire wardens in case anything happened to the building.
September and October 1940 saw the advent of 'the Blitz', when the centre of London was heavily bombed for 57 consecutive nights, which caused severe damage and casualties across the city.
History of Hertford House Bomb Damage (1940) by UnknownThe Wallace Collection
On the night of September 18th 1940, a high explosive bomb fell in the front garden but only damaged the front gates and other parts of Manchester Square. The main building survived unscathed.
While Hertford House was mostly empty of Wallace Collection artworks, it still played a key part in the cultural role of London. Spaces were made available for temporary exhibitions during wartime, such as Artists Aid Russia (1942) exhibitions.
Artist's Aid Russia Display Pamphlet (1942) by Wallace CollectionThe Wallace Collection
Above is a catalogue for the later exhibition signed by Sir Winston Churchill, which was auctioned for Mrs Churchill’s Aid for Russia fund and presented to the Wallace Collection by Sir Alec Martin in 1942.
History of Hertford House Thomson Album (Picture 2) (1900/1980) by ThomsomThe Wallace Collection
Following Germany's military surrender, and the announcement to British people over the radio that war had ended late in the day on 7th May, the collection returned to Hertford House and was able to reopen 20th July 1945.
