'Knowledge will be lost,' a group of archivists are warning as they struggle to meet an imminent deadline to save their collection of historical miscellanea.
In just over a week the remaining volunteers of the Stroud Mills Heritage Centre must complete their exit operation from an old mill at Sainsbury's in Dudbridge, having been asked to leave the building by the supermarket in the summer over safety concerns.
But the group, which has occupied Kimmins Mill in the store's car park since 2000, say they have only managed to find a new home for a third of their collection, which ranges from specialist construction archive material to esoteric artefacts from Stroud and beyond.
Curator John Keenan says the move has been "mission impossible" - and is hoping Sainsbury's extends its deadline so the group can find more space and finalise offers from those willing to take on items.
"Not even Tom Cruise could have got everything out," he said.
"We don't have a team of a dozen men. We don't have the equipment to set everything up.
"We've made progress but we aren't going to make it."
John fears that by missing the deadline, and handing over the keys to Sainsbury's, some items still in the mill may have to be binned without being checked for their historical significance.
"If that happens, this knowledge will be lost."
Sainsbury's has been contacted for comment.
If you have space the group could use, contact John on 07539 213521.
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