Our work in the hall at Felbrigg

The daily clean

During the open season, the collections and house team start the day by dusting and vacuuming the show rooms so that they are ready to explore. It also gives the team the chance to condition-check the items, and highlight any issues that might come up. Once the daily clean has taken place, the front door is ready to be opened to welcome everyone inside.

Typical conservation tasks

Looking after the house isn’t just about keeping the rooms clean and tidy, a lot of other work goes on behind the scenes, and in front of visitors on a regular basis.

Light and humidity spot checks

If you have ever wondered why the blinds are down in certain rooms, it's because it is important that light levels are kept down, so that none of the objects in the collection fade. Relative humidity levels are also checked on a regular basis, as when it is too dry, objects may crack and warp, or if it is too damp, mould can grow and pests thrive.

Looking after the book collection

There is a dedicated volunteer book team at Felbrigg that work with staff to look after the large collection at Felbrigg. When issues are found, such as mould, the books are cleaned one by one, using a soft pony-hair brush and a conservation vacuum.

Dealing with pests

The house team also have to keep an eye on the many pests that may be munching on the collection, such as silverfish, carpet beetles and furniture beetles to name a few. There are traps hidden around the hall which are monitored regularly. Occasionally the cellars are even bug-bombed as deathwatch beetle love the damp air down there.