The Strangest Things Removal Firms Have Moved
When it comes to moving, removal firms often deal with the strangest things removal firms have moved. From mummified cats to hidden treasures, moving companies face strange requests every day. Let’s explore the weirdest things removal firms have had to move.
Strangest Things Removal Firms Have Moved: A 400-year-old Mummified Cat
Richard Parsons, a funeral director, thought he had seen everything. However, during renovations in Devon, builders handed him a perfectly preserved mummified cat. They found it entombed in the walls of the house, making it one of the strangest things removal firms have moved.
Local legend suggests that someone placed the cat in the walls to ward off witches. A previous owner clearly believed in its magical powers. In fact, neighbors reported that another owner discovered the cat 20 years earlier. They quickly put it back in the wall to keep evil forces at bay. Thus, it remains a peculiar tale.
Downing Street Departures: The Secret World of Moving British Prime Ministers
Downing Street has housed British prime ministers since the 1730s. As a result, it has seen numerous arrivals and departures over the years. Each time a new prime minister arrives, moving day becomes an inevitable task for the removal firms involved.
A Guardian article revealed how removal companies handle the task of moving a prime minister and his family. The removal vans are kept unmarked, and staff members undergo vetting to ensure political neutrality. Consequently, these precautions help make the move more secure and discreet. Thus, removal firms handle even the most confidential moves with care.
Strangest Things Removal Firms Have Moved: Odd Cars from the Movies
A London company transported a replica Batmobile, which was quirky enough. Moreover, the next request took things even further: a storage company moved a replica of the Knight Rider car. However, the most unusual find was a Lotus Esprit sports car, featured in *The Spy Who Loved Me*, a 1977 James Bond film. A New York couple discovered the car in a storage unit they bought for $100 in 1989. Later, Elon Musk paid $1 million for the iconic vehicle. These are just some of the strangest things removal firms have moved!
The Lego House: A Challenging Move for Removal Firms
In 2009, TV presenter James May, former host of *Top Gear*, built a massive Lego house for his program *Toy Stories*. Lego donated over 3 million bricks, and 1,000 volunteers helped assemble the 20-foot tall structure, which included a bed and a working toilet. Furthermore, a London-based removals firm moved the entire Lego house to Legoland in Windsor using two Luton trucks. Unfortunately, due to high costs, the theme park scrapped the idea. As a result, moving such an intricate structure proved to be one of the most challenging tasks removal firms have faced.
Right Move? The Funniest Moving Day Stories
Property website RightMove once ran a competition to find the funniest moving day stories from their customers. Some winners included a woman whose husband’s clothes were mistakenly thrown away, burglars posing as removal men, and a firm that mistakenly took every nut, bolt, and screw from a family’s furniture. For example, one winner, a kind gentleman, agreed to move an elderly seller’s few belongings, only to discover a mountain of heavy items that needed to be moved. Clearly, these stories always bring a smile!
And Everything In Between: The Oddest Things Removal Firms Have Moved
Nearly every removal company has at least one story about the strange things they’ve been asked to move. From illegal drugs to adult toys and firearms, homeowners often expect movers to handle the most unusual things. A recent survey by YouGov, commissioned by a UK industrial waste firm, asked householders about the weirdest things they’ve thrown away when moving. Some of the most bizarre items included a human skull, a three-foot mermaid, and a decapitated teddy bear. Indeed, it’s amazing what people discard when moving to a new home.
The strange finds handed to removal companies daily have inspired many sitcoms and reality TV shows. The legendary Ronnie Barker starred in *Clarence* as a furniture mover tasked with relocating a snooty upper-class lady. In the mid-90s, Warren Clarke led a team of removal men through various mishaps while shifting people’s homes. Ultimately, the facts are often stranger than fiction!
If you need help moving house—whatever you’re moving—get in touch with our team today for a free quote.
