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The flood |
Rescue work |
Extent of the damage |
The aftermath
Rescue work
Once Aitken arrived at the scene he immediately summoned staff, and ordered pumps to be set up.
As the water level began to fall, Tate staff were joined by volunteers from the National Gallery, British Museum and Victoria & Albert Museum as well
as many individuals, who braved icy flood waters to launch a major rescue operation. |
Staff working on the removal of works
© Tate Archive 2003
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photographs of
works being removed
© Tate Archive 2003 |
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Most of the collection was exhibited in the galleries on the ground floor, which were left largely untouched by the flooding, but nine basement galleries
were submerged.
Submerged pictures were retrieved and taken to the upper galleries where they were removed from their frames, and spread out to dry with the aid of blotting
paper.
Rescue work continued throughout the day until the failing evening light forced an end to their efforts.
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