Montgomery Room Map sent for Conservation

Over the Easter holiday, the Montgomery Room Map was taken down and sent for conservation and reframing thanks to a generous donation from the Old Pauline Club.

This unique item was used by Field Marshall Viscount Montgomery during the planning of the D-Day invasions at the school’s West Kensington site. When the buildings were returned to school use, the map was left behind and is now one of our most treasured items. Although faded now, it is still easy to see the red pen marks which show the two sets of landing sites along the French coast being considered by the invasion planners.

Last framed in the 1950s, as far as we know, we have long been concerned about the condition of the map. The conservators will check the condition of the paper and the security of the individual maps ,which were stuck together to make up the Monty Map. It will then be reframed to modern standards with light protection and with a secure seal to prevent damage by insects. Such a large object will take a lot of conservation time but we hope it will be reinstated in September.