Bespoke Museum display case and on-site support at St Mary’s Church, Stebbing

Case Study
Bespoke glass table display cabinet on a black plinth, sitting on oak cabinetry beneath a leaded Gothic window at St Mary’s Church, Stebbing, showing a carved stone fragment and other historic finds

Access Displays supplied a bespoke table display cabinet for St Mary’s Church in Stebbing, Essex, as part of a major restoration of the Grade I listed church worth around £1.5 million. During the works, a number of historic items were uncovered beneath the church, and the parish wanted to keep them on display within the building for visitors and the local community to enjoy.

Client requirements

The church needed a display case built around the items themselves and the space available to show them. The case had to protect the finds, present them clearly and make them easy to view, while sitting comfortably within a historic interior.

Design solution

We designed and supplied a bespoke-sized table display cabinet, made to fit both the collection and the chosen display area. Integrated LED lighting was built into the case to light the finds evenly and bring out their detail, without the need for extra lighting in the church.

Close-up inside a bespoke glass display case at St Mary’s Church, Stebbing, showing historic floor tile fragments, a carved stone fragment on a white mount and small metal finds, lit by black adjustable LED spotlights

On-site support

After installation, the church contacted us because the LED lighting had stopped working. Instead of assuming the lights had failed and sending out replacement parts, our technician visited the church to find the cause first-hand.

On inspection, the LED lighting itself was working correctly. The problem was traced to the small plug-and-socket connectors between the lighting components, which had come apart. We reconnected them and the lighting came back on straight away. No replacement parts or repairs were needed.

Empty bespoke glass table display cabinet at St Mary’s Church, Stebbing, with one black LED spotlight arm unplugged and lying on the white base during the on-site inspection

The result

The lighting was restored during a single visit with minimal disruption to the church. The display case is back in full working order, and the items found during the restoration are once again lit and on show as intended. By diagnosing the actual cause, the church avoided the cost and delay of unnecessary replacement parts.

Conclusion

This project shows that our support doesn’t stop at installation. From designing a case around a unique collection to diagnosing a fault on site, we aim to keep every display looking its best for the long term.

Planning a display for your own collection?

Whether you’re preserving finds from a restoration, displaying artefacts in a heritage building or creating a permanent exhibit, we’d love to help.

Explore our museum displays and get in touch to start the conversation.

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