National Trust conservators working on collection items at the Royal Oak Foundation Conservation Studio, Kent — Conservator working on collection items at the Royal Oak Foundation Conservation Studio, Kent | © National Trust Images/James Dobson

History and heritage

Your support helps us look after the past, from conserving historic buildings and works of art to unearthing archaeological treasures and supporting urban heritage projects. Find out more about our latest history and heritage projects.

Caring for places of historic intertest and natural beauty are central to what we do. Learn more about how we look after houses, collections and landscapes.

A member of staff kneeling down, checking on cuttings of the Ankerwycke yew in the plant nursery at the Plant Conservation Centre

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Plant Conservation Centre

Learn about how we protect the rarest and most historically significant plants in our care at the Plant Conservation Centre.

Conservator April Johnson looks over at the fine oil painting 'Penelope and Euriclea' by Angelica Kauffman displayed inside the picture gallery, Stourhead, Wiltshire

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Penelope and Euriclea by Angelica Kauffman returns to Stourhead

Following a dramatic race against time to secure the painting, Angelica Kauffman’s Penelope and Euriclea has returned to Stourhead, cared for by the National Trust, 140 years after it was first sold at auction. 

Conservators working in the Textile Conservation Studio

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Textile Conservation Studio

Discover more about our work at the Textile Conservation Studio in Norfolk, the National Trust’s only specialist in-house textile conservation facility.

A pair of hands holding the edges of an old open book

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Why wearing gloves can damage precious books

Wearing gloves is actually more likely to damage precious books than using clean hands. Read our experts’ guidelines for handling books safely.

People looking round a brick courtyard with washing hanging out

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How we're supporting urban heritage and parks

Find out how we're addressing unequal access to nature, beauty and history and supporting urban areas in managing their heritage and green spaces.

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Royal Oak Foundation Conservation Studio

Find out about the work of our team at the Royal Oak Foundation Conservation Studio in Kent and how we help care for a large number of objects from properties all over the country.

Find out about the work our archaeologists do to uncover the past. Expand on your knowledge of archaeology and understand more about historic landscapes.

Archaeology at the places in our care

From champagne bottles to deliberately blocked tunnels, learn about some of the discoveries at places in our care and the approaches we're using to protect them for future generations.

Graffiti carved into the stonework at Bodiam Castle, East Sussex

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Mysteries of historical graffiti

Historical graffiti offers a valuable window into the past. From the symbols carved into castle walls to the etchings of Isaac Newton, discover the meanings behind the graffiti at the places in our care.

Sunset view from atop a ridge of grassy hill curving around a flat area with a few trees on the lower ground

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What historic landscapes mean to us

We survey all our sites for any signs of archaeological significance, using aerial photography and expert analysis on the ground. Find out more about our work to explore remnants of the past, and why it's so important to us.