Mission Accepted

A parcel arrived at Wightwick Manor today containing the Panasonic "Action Camera" and a "tracker pack" with harnesses, so we could film on a bike, underwater and some timelapse sequences. Enclosed in the package was our first mission from the National Trust to capture the "Signs of Spring". Imaginations running, we have been debating how easy it would be to strap a camera to a duck or a willing gardener.

Below are a few stills from our first attempt at filming.

If anyone has any suggestions for shots please leave a comment below and let us know.

Biscuit Beetles and Biscuits

Destroying dust, battling biscuit beetles, slaying silverfish, and starting a war on woodworm! Just a few of the pests and hazards we were learning about at our training yesterday with the nemesis of the pest world, Jane Thompson Webb, from the Birmingham Museums Trust. We examined close-ups of the adult and larvae phases of insects and identified the damage they cause, including the destruction done to original William Morris wallpaper, not Morris paper from Wightwick Manor we hasten to add!

The training took place at the National Brewery Centre (with the wonderful perfume of hops permeating the air), with a great group of museum professionals, all on a mission to identify ways to improve conservation practices at our organisations. Stopping for the occasional biscuit and tea break, naturally.

We identified silk webs and the size of bore holes in wooden objects, scratches and eroded surfaces, gritty frass (excrement!) and the skins of larvae. These are all signs of an infestation and are associated with predominantly warm, damp and dark environments which might be found in a museum.

Examining old pest damage on a toy kangaroo from the nursery at Wightwick Manor. It has already been treated and is in a stable condition, so it can continue to hop!

This all shows that keeping a close eye on your collections is important; something we also learned at Attingham Park. At Attingham we undertook audited inventory training which links to the National Trust collections management system, learning more about documenting and monitoring collection objects, their condition, where they can be found in the house and if they have gone away for an exhibition.

We have both had a very productive couple of weeks and have some exciting things to post about in our next blog!

Dust-busters! Vacuuming and Valentines.

Our recent mission as part of the conservation team, aka the dust-busters, has been to assist with the deep clean and learn more about the conservation work that occurs in the manor, whilst the upstairs is closed to the public for 6 weeks in winter.

We have been learning more about caring for and cleaning: paintings, ceramics, fabrics and furniture, inspecting some incredibly beautiful and finely crafted pieces.

Using the ergo vac dust-busting on the lampshades in the Billiard room.

Different types of paintbrushes are used to remove loose dust from surfaces. "Pony hair" brushes are mainly used for ceramics, whereas soft gilt brushes are used for areas with gold leaf.

To give ceramics a good clean we used a very diluted solution of water and washing up liquid to break down grease, which is applied to a cotton wool ball and is brushed over the surface.

Rehanging paintings after they have been cleaned in the Pomegranate Passage.

It is amazing what information you can find on the back of paintings! 

The upstairs of the house will be open again from tomorrow, ready for Valentines day. Wightwick Manor is a perfect place to visit for Valentines due to the abundance of nooks and alcoves in which to whisper sweet nothings to your loved one.

Hopefully your day will not be as tragic as Edward and Maria's tumultuous love affair, depicted at Wightwick, in Love Amongst the Ruins.

 

 © National Trust