Rural museum selected for award

A horse wearing a gas mask is one of the pictures in the archive

A year-long project to save thousands of historic photographs has been shortlisted for a prestigious award.

The Museum of English Rural Life in Reading, Berkshire, has been nominated for the 2005 Conservation Awards.

More than 40 volunteers worked on preserving unique photographs of rural life, including unusual images such as horses in gas masks from the war years.

The winners of the awards, which recognise efforts to preserve cultural heritage, are announced in November.

Another unusual item in the archive is a camel with spraying gear

The museum's Preservation of Images of Rural Life Project involved re-housing 130,000 agricultural glass plate negatives.

Also shortlisted for the Award for Care of Collections 2005 is the National Railway Museum and The Museum of London.

John Fidler, conservation director at English Heritage, said: "The Conservation Awards focus attention on the multidisciplinary skills necessary in the field, and the importance of engaging the public in the value of our collective heritage."

The award would be worth £10,000 to the museum.