Good Housekeeping - Part 1

Event details

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

25 November 2021, 13:00 - 16:30 (GMT)
£45 pp full price
£18 pp students

OR book individual talks for £16 pp / £7 pp students
#1 Agents of Deterioration, 13:00 - 14:00 (GMT)
#2 Hard Surfaces, 14:15 - 15:15 (GMT)
#3 Soft Surfaces, 15:30 - 16:30 (GMT)
 

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. 

Starting with an introduction to the wide range of biological, physical and chemical threats to interiors (agents of deterioration), the sessions that follow will cover a wide range of interior elements, features and objects grouped together as hard and soft surfaces. 

This introductory-level event 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. 

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

Programme:

You can book for individual talks (via the links below) or for the whole event (through this page). 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).

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

Break

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 

Break

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

16:30 Close 
 

Speakers:
The contributors are all accredited (ACR) members of the Institute of Conservation (ICON), the professional body for conservator-restorers in the UK.  All are professional conservators with extensive knowledge and experience of the care of objects, collections and historic interiors, who have led conservation activities across the National Trust. They now work together in the practice Trusted Conservators: a network of experienced conservators who provide consultancy, advisory and conservation services to the heritage sector. 

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. 

Helen Lloyd ACR - former Preventive Conservation Adviser (Housekeeping) for the National Trust, Helen provides guidance and training on the care of collections and interiors, and the effects of dust and wear and tear.  

Ksynia Marko ACR - former Textile Conservation Adviser for the National Trust, Ksynia’s main interests cover a wide range of textiles and their care, and research into the cleaning of carpets.  

Heather Porter ACR - former upholstery conservator at the National Trust’s Knole Studio, Heather combines practical conservation treatments with preventive measures for upholstered and caned furniture. 

IT requirements:
This is an online event and will be held via a webinar platform (Zoom). You will be sent instructions on how to join the session(s) 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:
Painting by Nikolaus von Moreau (1830), Wien Museum (Vienna) collection.