Historic Interiors

Our range of experience in assessing historic interiors includes a wide range of building types including Grade I listed country houses and villas, textile mills, early cinemas, chapels, schools and public buildings.

We evaluate an historic interior through careful analysis of the physical and documentary evidence, looking at plan form and architectural detail. We prepare phase plans and occasionally produce room data sheets and inventories before identifying areas of different levels of significance. Our work also includes preparing repair specifications for specialist materials, working with conservators and sourcing appropriate craft skills.

For particularly sensitive historic interiors, we work in partnership with Halahan Associates (members of ICON - the Institute of Conservation) who specialise in collections care, environmental monitoring, risk assessments & preventive conservation. Together we address the delicate conflicts that can arise between managing public access & conserving historic fabric or collections. This is particularly useful for lottery funding applications where new initiatives or improved public access are proposed.

We have recently collaborated on a project at Grade I listed Caverswall Castle with advice on the care of the historic interiors, which were being used for weddings and events. This included a risk assessment of potential damage and a sensitivity analysis of the interiors.