The Delft tiles surrounding the fireplace in the parlour room are one of the most memorable aspects of any visit to Paycocke’s House, but recently some damage was discovered.
Delft tiles are considered to be pieces of art in their own right and the examples at Paycocke’s portray many different stories. As a result of time and wear and tear, some of the tiles have come loose form their fixings and urgent action is needed to save them.
Delftware is the term used for Dutch tin-glazed earthenware, and the city of Delft was the epicentre of its production. The style started in the 16th century, but by the 17th and 18th centuries Delftware was being distributed across Europe. The tiles at Paycocke’s are a style associated with the 18th century, but it is un-clear if they are originals, or 19th century.
The work to repair the tiles was broken up into four stages. As it was unclear what was causing the tiles to come away from the wall, the first stage involved the commissioning of a report to identify which tiles were in danger.
Stage two saw the removal of the tiles most at risk to protect them from any further damage. The tiles were sent to a specialist ceramic care conservation studio to receive the expert care they needed.
A structural engineer then focused on what had been going on behind the tiles to determine if any more work on the building was needed.
Stage three focused on conservation. Some tiles were repaired in-situ to avoid any further damage, but others had to be removed and sent for treatment by specialists. The work on stage four – reinstatement – could only begin when all the tiles had been repaired.
February 2022
The repaired and restored tiles return from the conservation studio and are re-bedded into the fire surround by Paula Rosser from Cliveden Conservation. The work to repair the fire surround is now complete, the fireplace is once again stable and the Delft tiles have been restored to their former glory.
Explore the objects and works of art we care for at Paycocke's House on the National Trust Collections website.
Paycocke’s has an intriguing history spanning more than 500 years. Constructed in 1509, it has witnessed a religious reformation and survived a civil war.
Originally built by a successful woollen cloth merchant, discover more about the family who started the development of this fascinating place.
Uncover the story behind Paycocke’s House, a glorious example of Tudor craftmanship with quaint beamed rooms. There’s so much to discover here in this unique merchant’s home.
Discover how an overgrown industrial yard is now an Arts and Crafts garden, featuring plants that would have been grown over the previous five centuries of the house’s existence.
When the doors of Paycocke’s House close for winter, the people who care for the place are hard at work inside. Discover what goes on behind the scenes.
The art and heritage collections we care for rival the world’s greatest museums. Learn more about the collection of paintings, decorative art, costume, books, household and other objects at historic places.
Discover the stories behind some of the greatest artworks and artefacts looked after by the National Trust, as told in a dedicated book, 125 Treasures from the Collections of the National Trust.
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