The Conservation Charity’s first project was to raise funds to save two sets of late seventeenth century Flemish tapestries that have hung in the Holly Bedroom and Yellow Bedroom at Doddington Hall since the 1760s. The tapestries depict ‘Scenes from Rural Life’ and ‘The Trojan Wars’. They were already antiques when they were nailed to the walls of the bedrooms and part of a fascinating early example of a ‘retro’ or antiquarian decorative scheme. They are also rare survivors of cheaper, ‘off the peg’ tapestries of this period – the finer ones tended to be better looked after and have survived in much greater numbers.
Thanks to a ground-breaking joint project between Doddington Hall and Lincolnshire County Council along with the generous support of funders, the Holly Bedroom tapestries were taken down, cleaned and conserved before being finally returned to the walls in June 2016.
The project was made possible with support from students and staff at the University of Lincoln’s conservation courses, and Bishop Grosseteste’s Heritage Education course. Many of the conservators who have worked on the project are alumnae of Lincoln University.
In 2014, the tapestries decorating the Yellow Bedroom were taken down for the first time in 252 years for conservation treatment.
This timelapse film by WHConservation shows how the project unfolded.
The tapestries were taken to the Heritage Skills Centre at Lincoln Castle.
In 2014, the tapestries decorating the Yellow Bedroom were taken down for the first time in 252 years for conservation treatment.
This timelapse film by WHConservation shows how the project unfolded.
