Skip to content
News

Anglesey Abbey stars in series 2 of BBC's Hidden Treasures programme

Camera man filming horologist at work on the Pagoda clock
Behind the scenes of BBC's Hidden Treasures of the National Trust series 2 | © Anglesey Abbey

Airing on Friday 10 May, Anglesey Abbey in Cambridgeshire will be one of the central stories when Hidden Treasures of the National Trust returns to the BBC for a second series.

Scheduled for 9pm on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer the programme will reveal new and compelling stories about the work going on behind the scenes of the National Trust to conserve incredible objects and properties and the passionate staff and volunteers who care for them.

Each episode explores a different central theme, linking the houses, their histories, and collections as they undergo conservation. From graceful Georgian homes that were platforms for political power, to houses that become display cases for the curious collections of their owners and properties designed as show-homes for the English country house idyll.

Anglesey Abbey, Gardens and Lode Mill will be one of the locations, featuring in episode 4, alongside Mr Straw’s House and Killerton House. Viewers will get to go behind the scenes while clock conservator Matthew Read works on a rare 18th century automata clock, so that it can perform once more for visitors.

Close-up of horologist in a white coat and blue gloves at work on the Pagoda clock at Anglesey Abbey
Horologist Matthew Read at work on the Pagoda clock at Anglesey Abbey | © Anglesey Abbey

Anglesey Abbey Property Curator, Roisin Rampley said, “It’s wonderful to be able to showcase the immense care involved in conserving the extraordinary collection at Anglesey Abbey. The team and I are thrilled that the clock is performing for our visitors after nearly two years out of action.”

The six-part series will visit some of the National Trust’s best-known locations including Stourhead in Wiltshire and Oxburgh Hall in Norfolk as well as lesser-known treasures such as Mr Straw’s House, the time-capsule home of a grocer’s family in Nottinghamshire.

Alistair Pegg, BBC Arts commissioning editor, says: “I’m delighted to be delving behind the scenes once more at the National Trust, uncovering hidden histories of houses and their owners, secrets of the painstaking conservation carried out on beautiful objects and buildings, and the wonderful staff and volunteers who work, often unsung, across the country.”

Tarnya Cooper, Curatorial and Conservation Director at the National Trust, says: “History comes to life before you at National Trust properties. Across hundreds of sites we have well over a million objects, which tell fascinating stories of the generations of people who commissioned, made and loved them.

“Looking after such diverse objects and places takes dedicated teams of people as well as expert conservators, and we hope BBC viewers will enjoy learning more about them and their work on wonderful collections ranging from must-see paintings and furniture to books and textiles to amazing architectural features.”

The House at Anglesey Abbey is open daily from 11am to 3pm where the Pagoda Clock will be on display for visitors.

For more information and to plan a visit go to nationaltrust.org.uk/angleseyabbey

Metal gilt and enamelled musical tower clock in chinese taste, fashioned as 4-tier pagoda. Known as the Pagoda clock at Anglesey Abbey, Cambridgeshire
Article
Article

Anglesey Abbey’s treasures 

Discover more about five of the most important treasures within the collection at Anglesey Abbey.

Collections and house manager at Polesden Lacey cleaning a red Faberge egg
Article
Article

Hidden Treasures of the National Trust 

Follow our conservators, curators and volunteers at work and get closer to the objects they care for in the second series of Hidden Treasures of the National Trust.