During the Second World War, the Mappa Mundi (the largest medieval map known to still exist) and other valuable manuscripts from the medieval period were kept elsewhere in safety and returned to the collection in 1946.[3] In 1988 the sale of the Mappa Mundi was proposed and aroused some opposition.[10] Following a donation from Sir Paul Getty, and an endowment from the National Heritage Memorial Fund, a new building was opened on 3 May 1996 to house part of the collection.[3]