Our work
The Knole appeal
We've launched a public appeal for £3 million to help fund emergency repairs to the walls and roofs of Knole.
It's the first and most pressing part of a major project that aims to secure Knole's future and vastly improve what we offer to visitors.
What work needs to be done?
How time has taken its toll on the east front of Knole
© John Miller
The east front has been rendered in cement. This is now failing, and so needs to be replaced with lime, which lets the walls breathe, and works sympathetically with the timber frame of the house.
What work needs to be done?
Some of the structure of the house is rotting away
© John Miller
We will also repair any rotten timbers and window frames...
What work needs to be done?
Climate control in the King's Room is put in danger by damage like this
© John Miller
...and make repairs to roofs and the stonework on other walls.
With an estimated 3½ acres of roof, seven courtyards, and building methods that fell out of use long ago, Knole presents us with a task which is long and difficult – but enormously interesting.
Why now?
Knole costs a huge amount to maintain. Many decades of making do and patching up have taken their toll on the house, and now we must perform major work or risk catastrophic damage to the building and its contents.
What's the wider project all about?
This section of the page features an image gallery, so if you're using a screen reader you may wish to jump to the main content.
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Rescuing the building
Rescuing the building
What you've just read is just the first part of the project. We need to perform the repairs to the house urgently, but we'd like to take this opportunity to carry out related work inside the house. Because of the state of the outside of the house, and because of damp, the interiors are damaged too.
© National Trust
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Rescuing the furniture
Rescuing the furniture
Because of the uncontrolled environment in the house – meaning damp conditions, insects and too much light – our unique collections are deteriorating at an ever-increasing rate. We plan to install climate control throughout the show-rooms so that the life of our furniture will be dramatically lengthened.
© Emily Watts
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Conservation and heritage crafts
Conservation and heritage crafts
Installing climate control in the show-rooms won't rescue our furniture in itself. Every piece will have to be individually conserved, and to do this we plan to build a studio and open it to visitors. We'd also like to build an education centre where you can learn crafts such as weaving, carving and so on.
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Opening more of the house
Opening more of the house
With the house in a better condition and structurally stronger, we hope to open some areas of the house which have never been generally accessible to visitors. At present these include some attics, a flat for staff and even the entrance tower.
© Martin Stiles
Rescuing the building
Rescuing the furniture
Conservation and heritage crafts
Opening more of the houseGet involved
Consulting with visitors at Knole
© National Trust
Throughout the life of the project, but especially now at the beginning, we want to know what you think. What would you most like to see come out of this project? What would be of most interest to you? E-mail us for more information or to give us your ideas, or take our survey.
Community groups
Are you a member of a community group and think our project sounds interesting? There will be all sorts of ways for other organisations to get involved, from helping to lead educational activities to setting up webcams to capture the building work as it progresses. At the moment we are planning to work with organisations including statutory bodies and local special-interest groups. If our project sounds of interest to you, please drop us an e-mail or ring us on 01732 462100.
Businesses
Likewise if you represent a business and would like to explore the possibility of working with us, please ring us on the number above or e-mail us.
Enter our prize draw
Win the chance to see a magical palace being brought back from the brink and see the difference your money is making. As one of our 7 lucky winners, we’ll take you – and a guest – on a fascinating behind the scenes tour.