Building conservation

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

Moving the headboard from the State Bed into the Saloon at Clandon Park, Surrey
A stonemason undertaking conservation work on the Orangery facade at Tyntesfield, Somerset

Keeping traditional skills alive 

Keen to ensure heritage techniques don't die out, the National Trust is working in partnership with English Heritage, Cadw and Construction Skills on a bursary scheme to nurture traditional buildiing skills.

How we hope to save skills

Taking care of our houses

A conservator at work brushing items at Chirk Castle, Wrexham

Putting the house to bed 

Find out why some of our houses shut for the winter, and what happens behind those closed doors.

A member of staff dusting wood panelling in the house at Dyffryn Gardens, South Glamorgan

Dust in historic houses  

We've been undertaking scientific research into how dust affects historic surfaces for over a decade.

Clandon Park after the fire

Clandon Park fire 

We had many messages from our supporters and the public after the terrible fire at Clandon Park. We hope it can be rebuilt and has a long-term future. To help, you can give online.

How you can help
A view of half-timbered cottages with gardens, at Ightham Mote, Kent

Our biggest conservation project to date 

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.

The project
A black and white archive image of Chantry Chapel, Buckingham

The Chantry Chapel, Buckingham 

This 15th-century chapel was restored by Gilbert Scott in 1875 and is now open to the public as as a second-hand bookshop. As the oldest building in Buckingham, when we decided to make some internal alterations, we needed to carry out a detailed archaeological survey first.

Uncover the Chantry's history
Close view of two contractors from Linford repointing a wall of the stable block at Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire

Building design guides 

Our comprehensive guides detail some of the projects we've completed at our places from bird hides and micro-breweries to farm cottages and visitor centres.

Read our guides
Thank you

We couldn't do it without you

Thanks to your membership we're able to protect special places for ever, for everyone

Become a member