Conservation work at Powis Castle

Looking after a 13th century castle is no easy task, which is why we have a dedicated in-house team committed to caring for the castle and collection. From tapestries and tables, paintings and porcelain, to flooring and furniture, every inch is protected and preserved for future generations to enjoy.

What it takes to care for a castle

On any given day you could find the Collections and House team dusting historic paintings, measuring light levels or hoovering carpets, to name just a few important conservational tasks.

No detail goes unnoticed, the team keep an eye on everything from the environmental conditions in a room, to signs of wear and tear. They keep accurate records of items we look after and work together seamlessly to ensure we're fulfilling our duty of caring for the castle and collection.

Hands with gloves handling the Book of Hours at Powis Castle, Wales — Caring for the historic Book of Hours at Powis Castle, Wales | © National Trust/Lucie Andrews

Steady hands

Eleanor Percy's Book of Hours is one of the most significant books in the National Trust's care. Although it's kept in a secure, glass cabinet, we sometimes have to move it as part of a new exhibition or display. It requires a gloved, steady hand to ensure the delicate pages, writing and artwork aren't affected and to minimise the number of times the book is opened, every page has now been digitised.

Member of staff handling large chandelier for cleaning at Powis Castle, Wales — Chandelier cleaning at Powis Castle, Wales | © National Trust/Lucie Andrews

Teamwork

It takes a team of eight to carefully lower the chandelier above the Grand Staircase from a winch mechanism. Slowly moving it around the central bannister and down to the ground floor, this is the hardest and longest part of cleaning it. The actual dusting part doesn't take that long, but with twenty-five lightbulbs and intricate metalwork, it takes patience and teamwork to clean it thoroughly.

Deep clean in the Blue Drawing Room at Powis Castle, Wales | © National Trust/Hog and Fitch

Planning

Cleaning a castle requires precise planning and processes to ensure the team’s time is used efficiently and jobs aren't duplicated. When the castle is closed in January and part of February to take Christmas decorations down, the Collections and House team use that time to carry out a deep clean in the castle.

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Ongoing conservation projects

Built in the 13th century and home to valuable objects from all over the world, a great deal of care and attention is given to the castle and its precious collection. We carry out specialist conservation projects throughout the year, and this can be anything from cleaning every page in a book to restoring a statue back to its original form.

The marble floor in the Grand Hall

The marble floor in the Grand Hall is undergoing significant restoriation work for six weeks from 6 February 2023. Over years of use and with hot water pipes running underneath, some of the marble tiles have moved. Some have lifted and some are cracked, so it's time to restore the area.

We're working with experts from Cliveden Conservation to remove all of the tiles, relay the underfloor, repair damaged tiles and then relay them all. When lifting each tile, the conservators will record each one, label it and safely store them.

Black and white marble floor in the entrance of Powis Castle, Wales | © National Trust Images/James Dobson

The most important part of the work, that will ensure the tiles can stay where they are for many more years to come, is the addition of an expansion joint around the edge of the floor. This will allow the tiles to expand and contract without lifting or cracking.

How will the work affect my visit?

The work in this inital phase will be carried out on the first section of the marble floor, inbetween the Smoking Room and the State Dining Room. Access to the castle for six weeks from 6 February will only be slightly different. You'll still acess the entrance via stone steps from the courtyard, but carry on through a smaller courtyard and enter the castle via the State Dining Room.

Previous conservation projects

Fame and Pegasus

The Fame and Pegasus statue in the courtyard was expertly cleaned to remove a chipped layer of paint and return the statue to its natural lead surface. We worked with Rupert Harris Conservation to ensure the statue was appropriately cared for whilst carrying out this work, minimising any damage to the structure.

Caesar busts

Repairs to the eight Caesar busts in the Long Gallery spanned over 15 years. Moving them to the Long Gallery involved reinforcing the floor with steel joists to take the weight. Any defects or damaged areas from over the years were repaired with new segments of marble which were shaped, polished and fitted into place, using carefully sourced matching material.

East Front steps

The East Front used to be the main entrance to the castle. When the National Trust acquired Powis Castle in 1952, visitors were unable to see it because of crumbling steps following years of neglect. Fast forward to 2014, funds were made available through the Wolfson Foundation and in 2015, £500,000 was fundraised by our loyal members and local community to restore the area and make it safe again.

The Reception of an Embassy by Southern Netherlands or France, Powis Castle, Wales | © National Trust/Kate Lynch

The Reception of an Embassy tapestry

Dating back to the mid-1500s, ‘The Reception of an Embassy by Southern Netherlands or France’ tapestry in the Ballroom is one the most important in the National Trust’s collection. Over many years, exposure to sunlight, dust, vibration, and small insects led to significant damage. The tapestry was sent to De Wit in Belgium, the world’s leading tapestry restorers and went through a complex and thorough cleaning and restoration process.

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Get involved

Your support is vital to ensure the important conservational work we carry out at Powis Castle and Garden can continue. Whether that's through membership, spending pennies in the shop or cafe, or volunteering with us - without you, we simply couldn't play our part in the castle's journey.

Volunteering opportunities

Our volunteers are some of our biggest supporters. When you choose to volunteer at Powis Castle and Garden, opportuntities to help in other areas often arise. For example, some of our Castle Hosts have a keen interest in book conservation, and so when the time comes to dust the books in the Library, we're always grateful for the extra helping hands.

Find out more about volunteering here.

View of the Pantheon and lake in October at Stourhead, Wiltshire with autumnal trees in the foreground and a blue sky with clouds

Donate to make a difference

Your support is essential to help us look after nature, beauty and history. Make a donation today, and together we can protect precious places for everyone, forever.

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