A trip to Sunnycroft

Tags

Attingham Park, conservation, dusting, history, National Trust, paintings, portraits, Shropshire, Sunnycroft, volunteer

Yesterday, the Attingham troop headed across to the neighbouring National Trust property of Sunnycroft. I have never been before, so was excited at the chance to visit this Victorian villa. I was not disappointed – the house has a lovely, welcoming feel and it is easy to imagine a family once living here (or rather, I can easily imagine myself living here!) Armed with brushes and dusters, our task was to help with the general and high level cleaning of the hall. This involved taking down several paintings so that the tops and backs of the frames could be properly cleaned.

Taking down paintings in the Hall

Ignoring the feeling of looking like a Ghostbuster (the hoovers wrap around your back, successfully imitating the Ghostbuster backpack), we carefully cleaned the frames using the vacuum and a pony hair brush. It was a good chance to view the paintings and their gilded frames up close.

Meanwhile, Caroline was busy buffing the wooden floor of the Hall, and Sally was using a hogs hair brush to clean the intricate wooden banister. By lunchtime, paintings had been re-hung, carpets replaced, and furniture put back.

Sally using a hogs hair brush on one of the many longcase clocks at Sunnycroft

All in all, a successful attack on dust…and a room left clean and conserved.

Builders, Painters and the Butler’s Pantry

Tags

Attingham Park, Butler, conservation, Decoration, history, Mansion, National Trust, Servants, Silver, Wine

The house has been full of builders and decorators this week. The Butler’s Pantry, formerly the volunteers’ tearoom and then used last season as a children’s activity area, is being transformed back into its original use…but with a difference.

The Butler's Pantry under construction

The duties of a Butler were varied. They ranged from managing his master’s clothes, to looking after the wine and ale, to keeping the stock book. The job could be stressful,

‘It is…necessary that you should know your business and have sufficient nerves to manage a dinner-party…’   

(The Footman’s Directory And Butler’s Remembrancer)

The Butler was also in charge of rooms such as the Wine Cellar, Dining Room and Pantry. These duties will be reflected in our new room. Different types of polish, wax, brushes, preserves, gins, and anything related to a Butler’s profession will not only be on display, but will also be for sale! 

The small room to the side of the pantry will contain the Butler’s Sitting Room. It will be a cosy room with sofas to sit down on, books to read and an inviting fireplace. The rooms are due to open with the opening of the Mansion next season-I can’t wait!

The Pantry on its way to being completed

Pony hair brushes..

Tags

Attingham Park, Boudoir, conservation, Drawing Room, dusting, gilding, history, National Trust, Sultana Room, volunteer

The house team has soared through the winter cleaning schedule this week. We finished deep cleaning the Drawing Room, Sultana Room, East Ante Room, and started work in the Boudoir this afternoon.

The Sultana Room 'put to bed' for the winter

Cleaning in a historic house requires specialist equipment. There are a variety of brushes we use, ranging from badger hair to pony hair, each with their own particular use on furniture, marble, paintings and so on.

The range of brushes used for conservation cleaning

As there is so much gilding on the furniture in the Mansion, the brush we tend to use the most is the humble pony hair brush. Pony hair comes from the mane of young horses and is very soft. Gilding on furniture is particularly fragile, and there is a certain technique to using a pony hair brush that Sally (Engagement and Conservation Assistant) describes as ‘tickling’ the furniture. The last thing gilding needs is a heavy hand!

Using a pony hair brush on gilding in the Boudoir

Winter cleaning in the Mansion

Tags

Attingham Park, conservation, Drawing Room, dusting, history, Mansion, National Trust, scaffold, volunteer, Winter Clean

While the wind and rain have been causing havoc outside, behind the closed doors of Attingham Park mansion there is a more peaceful atmosphere.  Every year sees the winter clean take place, and once the doors have shut to the public, the house and its contents are cleaned from top to bottom. This week the house team started work in the Drawing Room.

Holly using a specialist museum vacuum on a stool in the Drawing Room

After lots of dusting, polishing and vacuuming, we covered the furniture with acid-free tissue paper and dustsheets. The dustsheets have a lovely story behind them. Lady Berwick made them out of a blue and white checked fabric, especially for the furniture in the Drawing Room. Looking at the finished room, the furniture really looks like it has been dressed in pyjamas and put to sleep!

Covered furniture in the Drawing Room

High level cleaning of mirrors and pictures is also an important part of the deep clean, although reaching them can be rather tricky. We have to put up scaffolding and it is handy to have someone with a good head for heights!

Sally on the scaffolding