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Our work at the Royal Oak Foundation Conservation Studio
Find out more about the work of our multidisciplinary team at the Royal Oak Foundation Conservation Studio, and how we help care for a large number of objects from National Trust properties across the country. Read a case study on one of our most famous restoration items: the Knole Sofa, dating back to the 17th century.
What we do
The Royal Oak Foundation Conservation Studio supports National Trust properties through the conservation of their collections.
We help care for around one million objects, across 200 National Trust properties.
We are a multidisciplinary team, specialising in the conservation treatment of the decorative arts, including paintings, frames, furniture, ceramics and glass.
Through our conservators’ specialist knowledge and skills, we examine and treat objects to preserve them for future generations, whilst adding considerably to their understanding.
Where we work
The 15th-century barn at Knole that we work in is an airy, open-plan workspace for the treatment and research of objects.
Our approach is unique to the historic house environment, and we are developing pioneering treatments for the conservation of collections.
Part of a team
We are part of a much bigger conservation community and enjoy working with our conservator colleagues across the Trust, playing a distinct role within the holistic care and collections conservation.
The multidisciplinary nature of our team allows conservators to work within their specialisms, as well as collaboratively with one another.
Staff are either accredited by our professional body The Institute of Conservation, or working towards accreditation.
Open to everyone
Unique to the National Trust, the conservation studio is open to the public, where our day-to-day activities can be seen.
When we are open, studio guides are always on hand to help you see objects from new perspectives, and give you an understanding of what we are trying to achieve through our work.
As we take in National Trust collections and objects from all over the country, it gives you the opportunity to see objects from other properties you may otherwise never have visited.
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The history of the Knole Barn
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