Kulturkampf

[NekoFever]

Most cultures preserve nothing or very little but the Brits invested millions of pounds if not more to keep the items in good condition.
These days some of these items are returned from Europe to their 'rightful owners' who then toss it in a leaky basement or sell it to private collectors. 

It would be fair if the party that it was returned to paid the bill for all the efforts to preserve it but no one is ready to have that conversation

Have you been to the British Museum? It literally has a leaking roof. Last time I was there the gallery with the Elgin Marbles had buckets all around to catch the dripping rainwater.

The place is also not climate controlled at all, so these priceless treasures are preserved in galleries that have to close on hot summer days because it’s unsafe for humans.

Some of the stuff was stolen, some wasn’t, but let’s not pretend it’s sparing no expense to preserve these treasures for the good of humanity. It’s rotting on the same shoestring budget as any other British public amenity these days.