I’ve been working at Farley for about 5 months now – and one of the most common things I get told by first-time visitors is how lucky I am to have a ‘museum’ as an office.

Because, while plenty of other prop hire companies still retain that ‘warehouse’ impression, Farley has managed to combine an antique prop hiring business with the atmosphere of a must-see museum; and here are five reasons why.

1. There are plenty of original, authentic pieces from history

Fully established in 1962, Farley and its incredible collection of antique props now calls itself home to several truly museum-worthy pieces ranging from the 2^nd Century BC to the 20^th Century.

For all you history nerds out there, one of our oldest items (amongst Brian who experts believe is around 2000 years old) is a South Arabian alabaster head dating from the 2^nd Century BC.

And while there are no dinosaur bones or mummies, with three of the team having a grand total of 100 years working here; even the people who work for Farley are prehistoric! (So feel free to quiz them on them anything.)

2. In desperate need of your culture fix?

One day spent here can not only feel like a form of time travel, but just plain travelling! There are items gathered from all the corners of the globe– so a stroll through the showrooms can transport you from Asia to Europe, and back in time for a cup of tea (or coffee), which we serve in antique teapots and on silver trays.

3. You never know what you might discover

We certainly didn’t when the Portrait of Lady Dacre by Sir Anthony Van Dyke was discovered hiding away in our Spiller department. It had been part of their inventory since the 1930’s!

4. And like museums, we also know the importance of good presentation

As well as the collection itself, the displays are sure to rival any museum. From floor to ceiling the items are thoughtfully arranged and presented to inspire.

And you won’t find anything looking sad and forgotten behind a dusty cabinet. All of the props continue to be functioning members of society, and the stock is consistently reorganised as new items come in and others are hired out.

5. Farley is practically four museums under the same roof

With a range of departments stocking everything from paintings to fine dining ware, from jewellery to hand props – this huge collection needs somewhere to fit (four buildings to be precise).

A walk from one end to the other is an adventure in itself. No need for GPS though – there’s always someone around to point you in the right direction.

But while Farley is like a museum in so many great ways; it is also different in the best of them

When it comes to museums there are often a lot of ‘do not’s’ and ‘can not’s’.

• Can’t get tickets to that exhibition.
• Can’t get past the crowds.
• Don’t take photos.
• Don’t get too close.
• Don’t touch.

You won’t find any barriers here

You can sit on a chair from our Monroe suite – as Laurence Olivier and Marilyn Monroe did in ‘The Prince and the Showgirl’ in 1957. Or you can have a staring contest with our infamous 17^th Century bust featured in Ridley Scott’s ‘Gladiator’ (warning – you will probably lose.)

And you can take as many photos as you want, safe in the knowledge they won’t be mainly of tourist’s heads.

And the biggest difference between Farley and a museum?

Imagine walking into a museum, and then walking out with some precious artefact in hand. I’m picturing stripes and bars!

Well, at Farley you can hire anything that takes your fancy, and even take it away with you on the same day. And all this can be done without lifting a finger – there is a dedicated despatch team on site, ready and prepped to do all the lifting and carrying for you.

So, if you are ever in the mood for adventure, intrigue and a bit of discovery, if you are on the hunt for a historical prop – or if you simply want to see if Farley is like a museum for yourself, why not pop by for a visit?