Conservation & Restoration

There is a continuing conservation programme for the painting, sculpture and furniture collection within Wilton House.

Autumn 2018

Restoration of the Violin Bookcase, in the Large Smoking Room. Designed by William Chambers, illustrated 1760. Made by Thomas Chippendale, c.1760-2.

Spring 2018

Restoration to the stone heraldic beasts on the North Front entrance, by Nick Durnam & Tom Beattie. (for photographs, please see relevant tab below).

January 2017

One of the six winners of the Salisbury Civic Society Conservation Awards Scheme

“The Holbein Porch and Triumphal Arch at Wilton House had been treated in a very responsible way. A full range of stone conservation techniques had been intelligently applied, with new stone inserted where necessary, and carving of decorative elements had been executed to exceptionally high standards.”

Regency Suite

The 20 piece Regency suite of leather-upholstered furniture in the Smoking Rooms has been the subject of extensive work at the Leather Conservation Centre, Northampton, with grant aid from the Leather sellers’ Company Charitable Fund.

Furniture restoration

Students and faculty staff from Granary Conservation, visit annually on furniture restoration courses to carry out conservation and repair on furniture within the collection.

Picture restoration

Picture Restorer, Simon Folkes, prioritises the preservation and conservation of artworks at Wilton House and has undertaken work over the winter months, most recently on the Philips Wouwermans (1619-1668) ‘Return of the Prodigal Son’.

Book restoration

Regular volunteers from NADFAS work on the restoration programme, cleaning and making condition reports on the important book collection.

Sculpture collection

The Sculpture Collection – on-going specialist cleaning and restoration work is carried out by Coade Ltd (the sculpture studio and restoration company based on the Estate).

In 2010, the House was the recipient of the HHA/Sotheby’s Restoration Award for work on the Dining Room and Cloisters.

Research Enquiries

Throughout the year, we receive many enquiries from research students, academics and members of the public. Out of season, academic research may be undertaken in the House, with experts from institutions at home and abroad visiting to learn more about the works of art.

With the extensive knowledge of the in-house team, working in conjunction with a network of international experts, these enquiries can lead on to surprising discoveries and occasionally to new attributions being made.

It is always interesting to receive final copies of the articles written by researchers, with the resultant information being incorporated into the records held at Wilton House – for the benefit of future research students.

For further enquiries please email: admin@wiltonhouse.com