Knowledge bank
Explore our views on collections conservation
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Housekeeping in a historic house
When our places were privately owned, it was only when guests came to stay that the most precious objects were uncovered. Now on public view, our houses are visited by far more people, making protective precautions all the more necessary.
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Relative humidity
Organic materials are sensitive to humidity, and gain or lose moisture as it changes. Too dry an atmosphere dessicates materials like wood, parchment and ivory, leaving them shrunken, cracked and brittle.
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Dust in historic houses
Since 1999, we've been undertaking scientific research into how dust affects historic surfaces in houses. Find out more about why this work is so important to the preservation of our places.
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Putting the house to bed
Ever wondered why some of our houses shut for the winter, and what happens behind those closed doors?
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Preventing light damage at our places
The fading effect of light on the delicate tints of a watercolour might seem unsurprising, but light can fade even a piece of ebony. Find out more about how we prevent light damage at our places.
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Our conservation principles
Conservation is defined as the careful management of change. It is about revealing and sharing the significance of places and ensuring that their special qualities are protected, enhanced, understood and enjoyed by present and future generations.
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Heritage / conservation staff magazine
For over 25 years, National Trust staff and volunteers have written their own technical magazine covering all aspects of their work, with the occasional article from heritage and conservation professionals and students. The most recent issues have been recreated as PDFs to enable a much wider readership to enjoy them.
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Arts, Buildings & Collections Bulletin
The Arts, Buildings & Collections Bulletin, or ABC Bulletin, showcases the latest curatorial and conservation news, projects and expertise at the National Trust.
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Bibliography & Specialist Collections Guides
Our Bibliography lists over 4,000 books and articles published about our properties and collections, while our Collections Guides provide you with a useful reference to some of our pictures, sculptures and collections at some of our places.
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Historic Houses & Collections Annual
The Historic Houses and Collections Annual offers readers and absorbing insight into a variety of stories and the latest curatorial research, including features on architecture, garden and interior design, collections and libraries, along with a selection of some of the most important recent acquisitions.