Upcoming Events
Following very useful feedback from our recent questionnaire we are working on a number of events both virtual and in-person.
Thank you to all those who have responded.
Do watch this space and, as ever, if you have any suggestions or ideas for possible talks or visits do not hesitate to get in touch through our Committee Page.
We very much hope to see familiar and new faces and are always happy to hear from members.
Previous Events
Online Events
Into their own proper hands: Conservation and investigation of the 18th Century interiors of A la Ronde and the radical legacy of the women behind them. (June 2024 )
A la Ronde is a 16-sided house in Lympstone, Devon, built, and probably designed, by cousins Mary and Jane Parminter in 1796 following their return from a Grand Tour of Europe.
The house was extensively decorated with featherwork and shellwork, amongst many other materials. The extraordinary survival of the interiors still includes over 27 meters of wall friezes made of feathers, patterned wall paintings, and a Shell Gallery sitting at the very top of the house accessed by a narrow Grotto Staircase.
The will of Mary Parminter, in accordance with the wishes of Jane, bequeathed A la Ronde and their possessions to a line of unmarried kinswomen, while other parts of their considerable fortune were left to female friends and relatives, “to be paid into their own proper hands… and not be subject to the control or engagements of their respective husbands”.
The Shell Gallery, Grotto Staircase, Drawing Room feather friezes, and Octagon wall paintings have been recently conserved as part of a two-year multi-strand project, funded by the National Heritage Lottery Fund, the Wolfson Foundation, and the National Trust, resulting in deeper understanding of the spaces, and exploration of the intentions of Jane and Mary Parminter.
Colour and Pattern: The Restoration of the Saloon at the Royal Pavilion, Brighton (March 2023)
Colour and pattern for the paint and textile decoration dominated the decision-making process in the restoration of the Saloon at the Royal Pavilion to its once sumptuous scheme of 1823, created for George IV by the elusive designer, Robert Jones.
Based on archival documentation, this talk will concentrate on how the various elements intrinsic to the unity of the interior were recreated and applied. These items included the individually hand-painted and silvered leaf and flower motifs of the wall decoration, the gilded surfaces (gold and silver), the ‘very superb carpet’ with its ‘unusual and intricate design’ originally created in 26 colours, and ‘His Majesty’s Geranium and Gold-Coloured Colour Silk used for all furnishings.
Researching the correct colours proved paramount to the success of this astonishing room, which was awarded the 2019 Georgian Group Architectural Award for the Restoration of a Georgian Interior following its completion.
Finding Faces: Reconstructing Liturgical Identity in Mediaeval West Choir Windows in Naumberg Cathedral, Germany (April 2023)
The conservation of stained glass windows today often involves the treatment of past restorative interventions. In some cases, the decisions made and measures implemented during previous restorations no longer align with current thinking in terms of ethics and the assignment of cultural values.
In the early gothic west choir of Naumburg Cathedral in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, eight lost faces from the monumental figurative window scheme were replaced with featureless, neutrally toned “Cloud Heads” as a result of two conservation campaigns carried out in the 1940s and 1960s. Since there was no direct evidence of the lost medieval heads available, the neutral inserts were intended to fill the gaps in the figures sympathetically, without deception or conjecture about their original appearance. However, the conflicting viewpoints surrounding these iconographic gaps prompted a re-examination of the aesthetic, spiritual, and communal value of one of Germany's most remarkable medieval glazing schemes.
As part of the cathedral's most recent stained glass conservation project, which was completed in 2020, the eight missing faces were reconstructed using the technical and stylistic evidence still remaining in the medieval windows. Emily Yates presents the process as a case study for exploring identity and integrity in conservation, particularly where no archival evidence is available.
Discovery and investigation into a scheme of wall paintings in the East Staircase at Stowe House (February 2023)
The lecture explored the extent and likely appearance of the scheme of wall paintings, and the chronological development of the building fabric through architectural paint research, which led to their eventual overpainting. The talk also examines a number of comparative schemes by the artists Francesco Sleter and William Kent, both of whom were working at Stowe in the 1730s, including material analysis of some of these schemes through cross sectional analysis, GC-MS, polarising light microscopy and SEM-EDX in an attempt to draw further parallels. Archival research also provides further information on the early history of the paintings, and examination of 17th century sculpture source books sheds new light on the inspiration and working practice of both artists, which may point toward one of these artists being responsible for the paintings in the East Staircase.
What Have We Got to Lose? Friends of Friendless Churches (May 2022)
Over the centuries, churches have fallen out of use for various reasons but these buildings represent the spiritual and artistic investment of many generations and belong to all of us. The Friends of Friendless Churches cares for more than 60 churches in Wales and England. Rachel Morley, Director of Friends of Friendless Churches will give a whistle-stop tour through the history of interior church decoration, looking at their design and development, dereliction and destruction.
Restoration of the Palace of Westminster Encaustic tile Floors. (November 2021)
Donald Insall Associates recently completed project has renewed encaustic tile floors throughout the Palace of Westminster. When they were created in the mid-19yth century the quality and scale of these floors was unprecedented, and they are therefore of great significance in the history of Victorian interiors.
This talk will explain the history of the floors, the conservation philosophy that guided repairs and some of the challenges the project addressed.
A Prison’s Colourful Past: Revealing the History of Cell Painting at Eastern State Penitentiary; Philadelphia (November 2021)
Discover the decorative elements created by prisoners during recent conservation investigations.
Philadelphia’s Eastern State Penitentiary (ESP) completed in 1829 is considered to be the first penitentiary built in the United States. The penitentiary’s innovative radial plan, designed by English-born architect John Haviland, proved influential on a global scale as an architectural marvel built to instil penitence in the hearts of its inhabitants through solitary confinement. In 2019, during a project to reconstruct a cell interior, conservators discovered evidence of both decorative and pictorial painted finishes that has redefined the understanding of life in prison. Of particular significance are features that closely align with one of the few documented inmate-painted murals that appears in a photograph from the 1930s. This landmark study of paint history at the prison provides a new path for the interpretation of cell interiors and related rehabilitative environments while casting new light on the artwork of the incarcerated.
Wentworth Woodhouse – the Regeneration of a Yorkshire Gem (March 2021)
Wentworth Woodhouse in South Yorkshire was once one of the largest private stately homes in the country, whose 606 foot long Palladian façade is said to be longer than Buckingham Palace.
This imposing mansion is undergoing a huge restoration project, one that will take many decades to complete – Dame Julie Kenny, the chair of the Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust, calls it “the greatest restoration project of a generation” (Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust, 2018).
Conferences
Details of our past Spring conferences held at Corpus Christi College Cambridge are listed below.
From Pre-Raphaelites to Arts & Crafts: April 2019
The tenth annual conference examined the various artists and craftsmen associated with the two style, to disentagle popular misconceptions through a series of fascinating talks given by curators, historians, conservators and paint analysts focusing on the interiors and artists of both movements. We also enjoyed a rather fabulous private tour of the Grade II listed Church Rate Corner, one of the last Baillie Scott houses.
Gothic Revival - The Past Re-imagined: April 2017
The ninth annual Cambridge conference continued the sections chronological appraisal of historic interiors through the centuries by focusing on the Gothic Revival Period. The highly decorative interiors of churches, country houses and civic buildings reflected the designs and forms of the Medieval period. The conference considered the influence of the Cambridge Movement and its effects on church architecture and interiors as well as the importance of the interiors of the Palace of Westminster. The wide range of topics covered church organs, textiles, wallpapers, frames and wall-paintings.
The Great Exhibition of 1851: April 2016
The eighth annual Cambridge conference focused on the the Great Exhibition of 1851 held at the Crystal Palace in London. The Great Exhibition was the first international exhibition of manufactured products and was enormously influential not only in technology but also in decorative art and design. The proposed international exhibition called for an enclosed space of unprecedented size, which was provided at breakneck speed using new technologies. Within the exhibition, one could find an enormous array of exotic and highly decorative objects from around the world. Scientific advances introduced new techniques which created objects of great beauty. This fascinating topic looked at the making of the Crystal Palace and its legacy, taxidermy, metalwork and the reform of household taste.
Revolution! Technology in the 19th Century Historic Interior: March 2015
The seventh annual Cambridge conference examined the technological advances which influenced the development of the historic interiors in the 19th century. Topics ranged from the introduction of heating and lighting to the changes in the manufacture of decorative elements such as paints and wallpapers. Papers were presented by a wide range of multi-disciplinary speakers who discussed the developments in technology and the design opportunities they provided.
Regency Interiors (1795-1837): March 2014
The sixth annual Cambridge conference examined the distinctive and often exotic interiors of the Regency Period (1795-1837). Papers considered the stylistic and technical developments of wall papers, furniture, frames, decorative surfaces and textiles during this period with reference to recent research and conservation projects.
Vice and Virtue in the 18th Century: March 2013
The fifth annual Cambridge conference focused on the decoration and fittings of diverse 18th century public interiors such as churches, theatres and spas, and consider the issues surrounding the conservation and use of these examples of living heritage.
The Country House in the 18th Century: April 2012
The fourth annual Cambridge conference focused on the architecture of English Country houses at their finest period, technical and artistic developments, including the role of the Grand Tour on decorative interiors and their furnishings, economic influences of the period and historical and current methods and costs of maintaining country houses and their historic contents.
Historic Interiors in Secular Buildings 1600-1700: April 2011
The third annual Cambridge conference examined the historic interior in Secular Buildings (1600-1700). The conference focused on the transformation of the interior which occurred during this turbulent period in British History in terms of structure, function, decoration, lighting, heating, furnishing and aesthetics - and the buildings relationship to its gardens in both the grand and vernacular properties.
Historic Interiors in Secular Buildings 1300-1600: April 2010
The second annual Cambridge conference focused on the structure of secular buildings and the variety of decorative interiors and furnishings. The talks included the relationship between the building and its contents, the function of kitchens, the use of textiles, plaster work, wall paintings, furniture and the paintings within the overall decorative schemes.
Visits and Social Events
Pub Quiz: October 2019
Our first Historic Interiors themed pub quiz was held at The George Coaching Inn, Southwark and included prizes. Fun had by all. Watch out for the next one!
An Evening Exploring Frederic Leighton's Private Palace of Art, its History and its Conservation: February 2019
We hosted our AGM and invited guests to spend an evening exploring the wonderful Leighton House Museum, South Kensington following the £1.6m restoration programme.
We welcomed Daniel Robbins, Senior Curator, Museum and Dante Vanoli, Project Architect, Purcell to introduce the building and the project. Our group members Helen Hughes and Allyson MeDermott were also on hand to discuss the architectural paint research and wallpaper conservation carried out during the project.
A Bed of Roses – The Mystery Bed: January 2019
In 2010 a dismantled antique four-poster bed was left for collection in a car park in Chester. It was later sold at auction as a 'profusely carved Victorian four poster bed with armourial shields'. However, its now owner thought the oak looked much older and was impressed by the quality of the carving. He then embarked on an exploration of the object's past, employing an unusually broad array of archaeological, forensic and art historic analyses which produced startingly variable, and sometimes contradictory, research findings - even from the same methodology.
When all of the evidence is collated what can we conclude - it is a fifteenth century royal bed, or a revival from the age of antiquarianism?
The Historic Interiors group hosted a one day symposium at the Victoria & Albert Museum, Kensington to discuss the bed. We were joined by speakers from the British Museum, Manchester Metropolitan University, The Langley Collection, University of Lincoln, Thunen Institute Hamburg, Dr Jonathon Foyle and Helen Hughes.
We were also delighted to see an article in the National Geographic following the event.
Slavery & Architecture: A walking tour of Bristol: July 2018
A walking tour of the city assessing Bristol landmarks with a view to revealing often hidden associations with the slave trade, the wider slave economy and the Black presence in Bristol and conclude with a private tour of the Georgian House. The tour was led by Dr Madge Dresser, Honorary Professor in the Department of Historical Studies at the University of Bristol and Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Arts & Cultural Industries at the University of the West of England.
Old Sessions House - A late 18th century Magistrates Court: July 2017
Historic Interiors Group AGM held on Monday 31st July 2017 at 75 Cowcross Street, Clerkenwell, London followed by a visit to Old Sessions House - A late 18th century Magistrates Court
Historic Interiors Members were given a unique opportunity to visit the interiors of the Old Sessions House, Clerkenwell Green, EC1R.
The building contains a spectacular Domed Entrance Hall, two former court-rooms and the site of former prison cells in the basement. From the 1930's it was used as offices before becoming a Masonic Hall. The building has an exciting future. The history and development of the building will be presented by the owners Ted & Oliver Grebelius, the local conservation officer and several conservators who have been involved in the project.
Joined Up Thinking: Textiles and this Historic Interiors Spring Forum: 2014
A joint event hosted at the Clore Management Centre, Birkbeck College, London full of talks and posters followed by a social evening. The forum included talks on the Queen's Ante Chamber wall hangins at Ham House (May Berkouwer), Tale of Two Arts and Crafts Houses (Helen Elletson), A house Lost in Time (Emma Slocambe), Inspired by Knole (Siobhan Barrett) and Conservation of Westonbirt House (Jenny Band).
Wine & Cheese Evening and Tour of Historic Southwark: 2013
A one hour walking tour through the fascinating but sometimes neglected area of Southwark was followed by wine and cheese at the Grade I listed 17th century George Inn.
Study Day at Ham House: 2013
Study day to focus on the extraordinary in situ survival of the late 17th century Queen's Antechamber wall hangings at Ham House. Following a brief tour of the house to set the context for the Queen's Antechamber, May Berkouwer from May Berkouwer Textile Conservation gave a presentation about the recent conservation work to the wall hangings and discussed the evidence revealed during the course of treatment to rediscover previous interventions and gain more knowledge about associated silk damasks dating from the 17th & 19th centuries.
Breakfast at the Reform Club, Pall Mall: 2011
A morning at magnificent 1880's Reform Club including private breakfast in the Library followed by a talk on the conservation programme.
Visit to Stourhead, Warminster: 2006
An Autumn visit to Stourhead, one of the finest and most carefully restored interiors in Britain.
Visit to Tyntesfield, Somerset: 2003
A two hour tour of the then newly acquired National Trust property tailored to meet the interests of the Historic Interiors group members, concentrating on the buildings decorative interiors. In addition there was an opportunity to visit the nearby studios of Bush & Berry Conservation.
Decay and splendour in one of the many bedrooms
The Historic Interiors section visit to Tyntesfield on the 5th of July this summer proved to be a great hit. The outing was well subscribed to with almost forty individuals attending, a surprising number considering that it was the first such visit undertaken by the section.
After a recent high profile campaign, the most successful instigated by the National Trust to date, Tyntesfield was saved for the nation. Located to the south of Bristol, Tyntesfield is a Victorian country estate, remarkable for the level of survival of its interiors and contents. In many ways it is a time capsule, encompassing the culture and routine of country house life in the nineteenth century. But it is not only for its architecture, interior decoration and fittings that Tyntesfield holds interest. Externally, the estate buildings have been retained in their entirety, representing a rare example of all the buildings - such as the stables, home farm, etc. - which made up the working of an estate at this time. This unity and high level of retention was made possible to a large extent by the Gibbs family who resided at the property over four generations. A fortune made from the shipment of solidified bird droppings, or guano, from South America allowed William Gibbs to purchased Tyntesfield in 1843. However, it was not until twenty years later that William employed the architect John Norton to transform the house into the building which can be seen now.
The UKIC members were met by Mary Greenacre, Historic Properties Co-ordinator, for Tyntesfield and the Property Manager, Ruth Gofton, outside Tyntesfield and given an informal introduction. Two groups were then formed and with the aid of volunteer guides, we were taken on an extremely interesting tour around the interior of the property and the attached chapel. A walk around the exterior elevations was made possible towards the end of the tour.
The National Trust intends to use the conservation of Tyntesfield as a means of promoting links with the community and as an education tool for the general public and students of conservation. The philosophy for the presentation of the property is still evolving as the Trust hopes to live with the building for a time before deciding the best way forward. Conservation surveys of the contents and historic interiors are currently being undertaken to determine the level of conservation appropriate for their presentation whilst still ensuring the stability of the objects. The Trust is keen to hear the views of the many different interested parties and to this end the opinions of the UKIC members were sought on how they would like to see conservation and display policy directed.
In this manner, not only was the visit a visually stimulating experience for those who attended, but individual members were able to contribute to the discussion of various aspects of the decoration, such as the textiles and wallpaper. It is greatly hoped that this collaborative approach can continue to be fostered so that all those with expertise may be able to assist in the conservation of this unique architectural asset.
Following the tour, attendees returned to Bush & Berry Conservation Studios for tea. This gave members an opportunity to see how this chapel has been recently converted for use as a conservation studio for large easel paintings as well as view a number of current projects.