If your soil is basically neutral I'd get them into the ground.

I have no idea what our soil is and have a hotch potch of plants and shrubs but several camelias growing in it are doing well and just need an occasional feed (that reminds me!)

I saw a tip which is to add half a cup of white vinegar to a watering can of water to help camellias - I haven't tried it but it's one more option along with spent tea leaves and coffee grounds.

I'd also try layering to get some young plants as an insurance.

If you plant in ericaceous compost for starters and water them with chelated iron (or sprinkle iron sulphate round them) if the leaves begin to look a bit yellow they should be OK. Do you know the pH of your soil? Camellias grow well here at barely 6.5 without any help from iron supplements.

Why not try just one for a season and see what happens?

I have camellias growing well in my slightly limey clay, but the variety of camellia may be important in this regard, as some are more tolerant than others.

Yes they can be savagely pruned if you wish, and should come bouncing back within 2-3 years.

If it were me, I'd give them a good prune now, or by mid-May latest, to get them reduced in size, and then take off just the tips in August this year to get them to bush out again. There should be flowering material by 2016.

If you've got a suitable spot in the borders I'd plant them out, because for me I find water control easier there than in pots. But if you'd rather keep them in pots, just replace the top couple of inches of compost each year and re-do the pruning every decade!

Many thanks for all replies. I think I'll probably get them moved after they have flowered, having first taken cuttings and then layer after I've moved them.