Good Housekeeping: Agents of Deterioration

Event details

Good Housekeeping - Part 1
Caring for your old building's historic fittings, fixtures and furnishings

TALK #1: AGENTS OF DETERIORATION

25 November 2021, 13:00 - 14:00 (GMT)
£16 pp full price
£7 pp students

OR book for the full afternoon of talks for £45 pp / £18 pp students

For Maintenance Week this year, the SPAB has teamed up with ICON (the Institute of Conservation) to offer an afternoon of online talks introducing and exploring good housekeeping for old houses and other buildings.  

Expert speakers specialising in different aspects of historic interiors will discuss materials and objects found in old buildings and offer practical advice on their care and presentation. If you’re searching for information and guidance on looking after your treasured historic fittings, fixtures and furnishings, this is the event for you. 

Speakers will focus on regular care, with tips on checking condition, spotting problems, protective and preventative measures to slow deterioration, safe cleaning techniques, materials and tools.  They will also cover dealing with emergencies (such as water damage) and where to find more information, practical help and professional advice. Presentations will focus on historic and vintage elements and objects, but the principles explored will also be relevant to more contemporary fixtures and contents. 

These introductory-level talks will appeal to building owners and users, volunteers caring for historic buildings and their contents (including buildings open to visitors or used by the public) and others with an interest in historic interiors. 

You can book for individual talks (via the links below) or for the whole event here. The talks will be recorded and available to watch on demand for a limited time after the live presentation. Bookings must be made in advance to receive the recording link(s).

Book now for Good Housekeeping - Part 2 which will be taking place online on 21 February 2022. Find our more here.

Talk #1
13:00 - 14:00 (GMT)   
Agents of Deterioration: understanding temperature, humidity, light, pests and pollution and how they affect interiors and objects. Presented online by Katy Lithgow ACR.
Q&A

Talk #2
14:15 - 15:15 (GMT)   
Hard Surfaces: caring for floors (stone, tile, wood), plain and decorative glass, windows and mirrors, and ceramics in kitchens and bathrooms. Presented online by Helen Lloyd ACR.
Q&A 

Talk #3
15:30 - 16:30 (GMT)
Soft Surfaces: caring for carpets and rugs, tapestries and wall hangings, curtains and upholstery. Presented online by Ksynia Marko ACR and Heather Porter ACR.
Q&A

Look out for Good Housekeeping - Part 2 in the spring, when we’ll be exploring paint, paper, stone and metals in historic interiors. 

Talk #1 Speaker:
Katy Lithgow ACR - former Head Conservator for the National Trust, Katy advises on wall paintings and historic interiors, the impact of climate change on collections and buildings, and preventive conservation. Katy  is an accredited (ACR) member of the Institute of Conservation (ICON), the professional body for conservator-restorers in the UK.

IT requirements:
This is an online talk and will be held via a webinar platform (Zoom). You will be sent instructions on how to join the session the day before the event. To participate, all you need is an internet connection, and a laptop, computer or phone with the ability to play video and audio.   

Accessibility:
Please contact the SPAB before booking to discuss any special access requirements.

Booking Terms & Conditions

Image credit:
Annie Spratt, Unsplash