Woven Worlds: A Story of Creativity and Conservation
Celebrate the international significance of the 16th century Gideon Tapestries at this specialist symposium.
In July 2023, the re-hanging of the last of the thirteen, 16th century woven tapestries, depicting the biblical story of Gideon and the Midianites, marked the end of the longest textile treatment project ever undertaken in the National Trust’s 130th year history.
Receiving High Commendation in the Museum and Heritage Awards, the project went on to win the illustrious Europa Nostra Award for the Conservation and Adaptive Re-use.
To celebrate this milestone of international recognition, Hardwick Hall and the National Trust's Textile Conservation Studio have organised a symposium ‘Woven Worlds: A Story of Creativity and Conservation’ which will take place on the 28 – 29 April 2025.
Speakers
Themes presented at the symposium will include tapestry patronage, impact and content around display, collaboration, research, discoveries made through conservation treatments, highlighting new perspectives and advances in general practice.
- Helen Wyld, Senior Curator of Historic Textiles, National Museums of Scotland, previously Paul Mellon Fellow at National Trust 2007 – 2011, author of ‘The Art of Tapestry’
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Historian David Adshead, previously Head Curator at National Trust and editor of ‘Hardwick Hall, A Great Old Castle of Romance’
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Emma Slocombe, Senior National Curator (Dress and Textiles), National Trust
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Pierre Maes, Director, Koninklijke Manufactuur De Wit, Belgium
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Dr. Mark Webb, Researcher and editor of ‘The St Mary’s Hall Coventry Tapestry: Weaving Threads Together’
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Ksynia Marko, former Advisor for Textile Conservation at National Trust, and author of ‘Woven Tapestry – Guideleines for Conservation’
In addition, conservators from Historic Royal Palaces, the National Trust and specialists from private practice will also speak at the symposium.
28 April: Day 1 Programme
Please note this is a provisional programme and timings may change.
| 8.30 | Registration | |
| 9.30 |
Welcome and introduction Introduction address - National Trust Strategy / Discovery Houses programme. |
Nikki Waters, General Manager at Hardwick Emma Hawthorne, Assistant Director of MEE Region, National Trust |
| 9.50 - 11.15 | Session 1 - setting the scene | John Chu, Senior National Curator, National Trust |
| 9.50 | Where it all began – Chatsworth and the building of Hardwick Hall. | David Adshead |
| 10.15 | Bess of Hardwick and her textiles | Emma Slocombe (NT) |
| 10.40 | The Hardwick Hall Gideon Tapestries in context | Helen Wyld (NMS) |
| 11.05 | Q&A | |
| 11.15 | Break | |
| Poster sessions and book stall | ||
| 11.30 - 13.15 | Session 2: care and conservation | Becca Hellen, Senior National Conservator, National Trust |
| 11.30 | Threads through time - A legacy of care and collaboration | Ksynia Marko |
| 11.55 | The cleaning of tapestries by aerosol suction, expanding the possibilities |
Pierre Maes, Koninklijke Manufactuur De Wit |
| 12.20 | Keeping up the momentum – thirteen tapestries over 24 years | Claire Golbourn, Elaine Owers (NT TCS) |
| 12.45 | A legacy in thread: the conservation of ‘The Story of Abraham’ Tapestries at Hampton Court Palace | Alice Young, Kate Orfeur (HRP) |
| 13.05 | Q&A | |
| 13.15 | Lunch | |
| Poster sessions and book stall | ||
| 14.00 - 15.25 | Session 3: interpretation, access and engagement | Liz Waring, Property Curator at Hardwick Hall, National Trust |
| 14.00 | Unravelling the mystery of the Medieval tapestry in St Mary's Guildhall, Coventry, from community interest to full publication | Dr Mark Webb |
| 14.25 | Shared threads – the application of micro-fading as a tool to balance preservation and access to NT textile collections | Kristie Short –Traxler (NT) |
| 14.50 | The challenge of interpretation – conserving the woven image | Rachel Langley, Yoko Hanegreefs (NT TCS) |
| 15.15 | Q&A | |
| 15.25 | Break | |
| Poster sessions and book stall | ||
| 15.40 - 17.30 | Session 4: Tapestry technology - today for tomorrow | Clare Stoughton-Harris, Studio Lead ＆ Senior National Conservator, National Trust |
| 15.40 | Historic tapestry dye analysis and mapping with hyperspectral imaging | Dr Constantina Vlachou-Mogire (HRP) |
| 16.05 | Sky blue pink; artists and weavers at West Dean Tapestry Studio. | Philip Sanderson (West Dean) |
| 16.25 | Considerations for the conservation of modern and contemporary tapestry | Zenzie Tinker (Zenzie Tinker Conservation) |
| 16.50 | Q&A | |
| 17.00 | Closing remarks | Chairs |
| 17.00 | End of Sesson |
The conference dinner will take place at 7pm at the Casa Hotel, Chesterfield, for delegates with the 2 day, in-person tickets.
29 April: Day 2 Programme
Please note this is a provisional programme and timings may change.
| 9.00 | Travel to Hardwick Hall | ||
| 10.00 - 15.00 | Group tours and demonstrations | ||
| Hardwick’s Medieval textiles | Emma Slocombe (NT) | Dining Room | |
| The Scipio tapestries | Ksynia Marko | State Withdrawing Room | |
| Iconography of the High Great Chamber plasterwork frieze | David Bostwick | High Great Chamber | |
| Conservation of the Gideon tapestries | The Textile Conservation Studio | Long Gallery | |
| Lighting demonstration - New technologies to light tapestries for today’s audience | Dom Wierzbowski (NT) | Green Velvet Bedroom | |
| Lunch and refreshments available | |||
| Poster sessions | Long Gallery | ||
| Books and gift shop | Hardwick Hall, NT shop |
Tickets booking
There are two types of tickets available for the symposium, online and in-person. Please read the below to ensure you book the correct event.
- Woven Worlds Symposium: Online Event
- These tickets are for a virtual access to the live-streamed symposium and speakers for the 28 April only. This can be watch live streamed or at a later date through a private access video link.Book now
- Woven Worlds Symposium: 2 Day In-Person Event
- These tickets are for access to the symposium in person at the Casa Hotel Conference Centre, Chesterfield, Derbyshire on the 28 April and Hardwick Hall, Chesterfield, Derbyshire on the 29 April. Accommodation/travel is not included in the price of the tickets. Book now
- Additional events and workshops
- A celebration of tapestry, embroidery and appliqué. Discover how Bess of Hardwick’s exquisite textile collection tells her story.Material Power: Let the textiles do the talking