Building conservation

We protect historic buildings and buildings in the wider landscape. Our building conservation team works hard to ensure they are preserved for ever, for everyone using traditional conservation techniques

Farm buildings at Townend — This is one of the very few remaining bank barns in the Lake District

Our biggest conservation challenges

The south east corner of the house reflected on the moat

Ightham Mote, Kent

It's rare for a conservation project to take 15 years. Which is why the work we carried out at Ightham Mote in Kent is often called our biggest conservation project to date.

Quarry Bank Mill, Cheshire

Explore Quarry Bank, once the site of one of the largest cotton manufacturing businesses in Britain. In summer 2018, after a four year transformation project, the historic cotton mill reopened. You can now explore the mill owners’ home, a workers’ cottage, an 19th-century glasshouse as well as the mill itself.

Clandon Park, Surrey

Brand new for 2018, embark on an atmospheric journey, deep into the basement spaces at Clandon Park, reopened for the first time since a devastating fire in 2015.

Conserving our collections

Samurai armour from Snowshill being worked on by conservators at the conservation studio

Funding windfall for precious artworks

We can restore more than 100 historic artworks thanks to a generous gift from our US membership affiliate The Royal Oak Foundation. Find out how we'll be using the money to restore some of the rarest collection items in our care.

Our largest conservation project enters its final stage

Begun in 2001, our work to conserve a set of 440-year-old tapestries has finally entered its last stage. The 13 panels, telling the Old Testament story of Gideon, had hung untouched at Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire, since 1592. Now with the careful return of the twelfth panel, the 2023 completion date is within sight. Find out more about our 20-year journey to look after these historic masterpieces.

Preserving history

Conservation Assistant at work at Osterley Park

Our conservation work

Caring for hundreds of historic houses and gardens requires constant effort to make sure everything stays in tip top condition. Find out about the latest projects and how you can help to keep your favourite places special forever.

Interior of the National Trust Textile Conservation Studio

The six principles of conservation

Protection and preservation are at the heart of conservation. These six principles guide our work, helping us uncover the secrets of the past and bring history to life for the enjoyment of present and future generations.

Close view of part of carved armchair, late 18th century, giltwood and gesso, from the Drawing Room at Ickworth

Conservation tips on how to deal with insect pests

Insects are essential to our ecosystem, indoors and out, but they’re not so welcome when flying out of wardrobes or eating your favourite woolly jumper or carpet! What can you do? Hilary Jarvis, one of the National Trust’s Assistant Preventive Conservators, shares some tips based on the latest findings and methods used in our historic houses to protect our collections, and reveals the most common pests of 2019.

Conservation in action during the winter clean

Protect the buildings and collections in our care

We're committed to protecting and preserving our nation’s great houses and other historical buildings, as well as the arts and collections in our care. Give today and together, we can ensure our shared history continues to inspire us all.

Donate now

If walls could talk

Detail of the ceiling of the Drawing Room at Attingham Park, Shropshire

A brief history of paint at our places

Past owners of country houses have had an enormous influence on historic interiors by indulging their passion for the latest fashion or covering an existing decorative scheme because it was too garish for their taste. Paintings Conservation Adviser Christine Sitwell takes a look at four different National Trust places to tell the story of wall paint through the ages.

Office room painted in Little Greene's new Stone Collection

Little Greene’s new paint collection

Continuing our collaboration with Little Greene, we're excited to share their new 'Stone' palette of natural colours. Offering warmth, tranquillity and timelessness, this harmonious paint range is inspired by the places in our care. A contribution from every sale will be made in support of our conservation work to help care for nature, beauty and history, for generations to come. Explore the collection on Little Greene's website.

Heritage

Learn more about how we look after for the special places in our care and get a glimpse of some of the conservation projects we're working on at the moment.