Plant Fair at Doddington this Sunday (20th)
Full article >
|
|
|
Plant Fair at Doddington this Sunday (20th) |
|
Sign up to our mailing list and never miss an event! |
 
During their 250 years on our walls, the tapestries were damaged by dust, soot from coal fires, ultraviolet light and pests. To save them, we needed to preserve them urgently. So far, the Doddington Hall Conservation Charity has raised almost £50,000 of the £200,000 needed to do the job, thanks to the Heritage Lottery Fund and other local donors and trusts. The tapestries have already been removed and cleaned. When the rest of the work is done, visitors will be able to see the Holly Room in all its former glory. Working with an expert in textile conservation, a team of eight students from the University of Lincoln took down the nine panels of tapestry attached to the walls. This involved removing a total of 1600 nails, some of which were so firmly attached they had to be cut free from the cloth with a scalpel. The first stage of cleaning saw the tapestries taken up to the Long Gallery for vacuuming on both sides. This involved a team of 12 people working on their hands and knees using specialist machines. For the next stage, the tapestries were shipped to Belgium for professional cleaning. Here they were lain in a washing chamber on a flat support while water vapour and detergents were gently drawn through them. Finally after 45 hours colours and details lost for decades could now be seen on the tapestries. I am interested in donating to the Doddington Conservation Charity. Please contact me by (please select prefered method): |
