Heritage

Your visits help us to preserve and protect the heritage at our places and spaces - for everyone, for ever

The view across the lake to the South East Front of Sizergh Castle, Cumbria — The view across the lake to Sizergh Castle in Cumbria

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Protecting the nation's heritage

An artist impression showing how the viaduct could look

Work gets underway on urban sky park

Plans to create a new urban sky park for Manchester are a step closer to reality with work about to get underway on Castlefield viaduct. Due to open in July, we're aiming to turn the imposing 330 metre steel viaduct into a temporary park in the sky and create a meeting place to benefit people and nature that celebrates the industrial heritage of Castlefield. The pilot phase of this project will see a green space created to stretch half way across the elevation of the viaduct.

See the vision for the viaduct

Tapestries on three walls in The Vyne's Tapestry Room with fireplace — Eighteenth century tapestries in The Vyne's Tapestry Room

Rare surviving tapestries return to The Vyne

Full of colourful scenes and fantastical animals, these highly decorative Soho tapestries captured how Europeans imagined the 'Far East' in the early 18th century. After their removal eight years ago for safekeeping, the tapestries' fragile state was revealed, from degrading yarns to warped backings that were putting strain on the fabric. After several years of conservation the delicate tapestries are back on display at The Vyne in Hampshire.

Find out how the tapestries were restored

Victorian carriage donated to the Arlington Carriage Museum

Victorian carriage donated to Arlington Court

A descendant of a Victorian coachman has recently given the carriage his great-grandfather once drove to the Arlington Court Carriage Museum in Devon. It now joins the collection of over 40 historic carriages at the museum.

Two art handlers bring the painting inside

Special 18th-century portrait returns home to Wimpole

An anonymous donor has enabled a special 18th-century portrait, by renowned society artist Thomas Hudson of Lady Elizabeth Yorke, to return home to Wimpole in Cambridgeshire after it was nearly sold at auction.

A still of someone conserving a chair that's over 400 years old

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Discover how we care for historical treasures

At the Royal Oak Foundation Conservation Studio at Knole in Kent, National Trust conservation specialists are hard at work preserving historical objects – many of which are hundreds of years old. Watch how conservators use different techniques and equipment to restore precious items such as a Sgabello chair that's over 400 years old, and a painting featured in our 100 Paintings book being returned to its former glory.

5 conservators in the Conservation Studio at Knole

The Royal Oak Foundation Conservation Studio

Our conservators specialise in the conservation treatment of the decorative arts. Their specialist knowledge and skills means we can preserve objects for future generations to enjoy.

The Textile Conservation Studio

The Textile Conservation Studio, based in Norfolk is a specialist conservation treatment facility. The Senior National Conservator, Textiles and Studio Lead, Maria Jordan works with a team of nine professionally trained and accredited conservators.

Plant Conservation Centre

Hidden in Devon is a secret garden, dedicated to protecting and cultivating the rare and historically significant plants in our care.

An adult clothes moth, Tineola bisselliella

Common pests at the places in our care

Last year our staff identified and logged 56,742 insects at the places we care for. The five most common insect pests found in 2021 remain the same as those recorded in 2020 but the webbing clothes moth has knocked silverfish out of the number-one spot. Learn more about these small but destructive creatures and discover how we reduce the damage they cause to houses and collections.

Historical discoveries

Excavations at Chedworth Roman Villa, Gloucestershire

Archaeology at our places

We look after many rich and diverse archaeological sites, from the awe-inspiring Anglo-Saxon burial ground at Sutton Hoo, Suffolk to Levant Mine and beam engine, part of the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site. Archaeology helps us to learn more about them and protect them for the future.

Family in front of Fountains Abbey in North Yorkshire

Redefining the past at Fountains Abbey

Recent archaeological discoveries at Fountains Abbey in Yorkshire have revealed that at its height, this World Heritage Site was not just the place of prayer and contemplation previously imagined. Cutting-edge survey techniques have uncovered a hidden industrial complex filling the valley, evidence of a tannery operation of such surprisingly large proportions that it has reshaped thinking of this monastic community.

Conservation in action during the winter clean

Protect the buildings and collections in our care

We look after over 300 historic buildings and nearly one million works of art, which need constant care to maintain them. You can help protect these important buildings and collections by donating today.

Help our buildings and collections

The Spanish Room ceiling at Kingston Lacy

Explore our art and collections

Be inspired by the world-renowned art and collections, exhibitions and more at the many historic places that we look after.

Read about our cause

While we're passionate about open spaces and historic places, we're working hard in other areas too. With your help, we're caring for the environment, food and farming, green energy and transport, and heritage.

What we care about

We couldn't do it without you

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