A team of 50 volunteers is helping Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery staff with the mammoth task of cataloguing and packing 150,000 artefacts ahead of its move to its new home.

The museum is moving from its current site at Rowley’s House in the county town’s Barker Street to the former Music Hall, with the new facility expected to open to the public in early 2013.

The volunteers have been helping with the preparations for the move for the past few months.

Adrian Plant, a spokesman for the museum, said: “It has been going on for some time and has gradually grown in momentum building up to the move. Shrewsbury Museum is open at the moment and all the collections are still here.”

He said no date has yet been set for the museum’s closure at Rowley’s House.

A new website is to be launched in the next few weeks giving more information about what is happening to prepare for the new museum, as well as a taste of the future gallery designs.

Mike Owen, Shropshire Council’s cabinet member for culture, said: “A large number of people are working extremely hard to restore the Music Hall, ready for the museum’s move to its new home.

“We’re looking forward to announcing more news on the whole Music Hall project over the coming months as work comes closer to completion.”

Andrew Bannerman, Shropshire councillor for Quarry and Coton Hill, added that he was also looking forward to the new facility.

“We are all eagerly awaiting the unveiling of the restored and redesigned Music Hall.

“The Square is the heart of Shrewsbury and the Music Hall will reclaim its rightful place there and prove a great attraction.”

Ahead of the move, a new range of products featuring illustrations from Shrewsbury-based artist Linda Edwards and inspired by Shropshire and its museum collection is being sold at Rowley’s House.

Tim Jenkins, museum manager, said: “Linda’s contribution has been a boost for us to see how inspirational our cultural heritage can be.

By Chris Burn