Our work at the Royal Oak Foundation Conservation Studio

Someone wearing purple gloves holding a tools in both hands as they work on a piece of blue and white ceramic — Porcelain figurines from Clandon Park in The Royal Oak Foundation Conservation Studio, Knole, Kent | © National Trust Images/Megan Taylor

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.

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 National 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.