The charity raises income from admission charges to visitors to the House and grounds and the repair, restoration and maintenance of the fabric of the buildings...
Restoration of the Violin Bookcase, in the Large Smoking Room. Designed by William Chambers, illustrated 1760. Made by Thomas Chippendale,
c.1760-2
Restoration to the stone heraldic beasts on the North Front entrance by Nick Durnam and Tom Beattie.
One of the six winners of the Salisbury Civic Society Conservation Awards Scheme. “The Holbein Porch and Triumphal Arch at Wilton House had been treated in a very responsible way. A full range of stone conservation techniques had been intelligently applied and carving of decorative elements had been executed to exceptionally high standards.”
There is a continuing conservation programme for the painting, sculpture and furniture collection within Wilton House.
Restoration of the Violin Bookcase, in the Large Smoking Room. Designed by William Chambers, illustrated 1760. Made by Thomas Chippendale, c.1760-2.
Restoration to the stone heraldic beasts on the North Front entrance, by Nick Durnam & Tom Beattie. (for photographs, please see relevant tab below).
One of the six winners of the Salisbury Civic Society Conservation Awards Scheme
“The Holbein Porch and Triumphal Arch at Wilton House had been treated in a very responsible way. A full range of stone conservation techniques had been intelligently applied, with new stone inserted where necessary, and carving of decorative elements had been executed to exceptionally high standards.”
The 20 piece Regency suite of leather-upholstered furniture in the Smoking Rooms has been the subject of extensive work at the Leather Conservation Centre, Northampton, with grant aid from the Leather sellers’ Company Charitable Fund.
Students and faculty staff from Granary Conservation, visit annually on furniture restoration courses to carry out conservation and repair on furniture within the collection.
Picture Restorer, Simon Folkes, prioritises the preservation and conservation of artworks at Wilton House and has undertaken work over the winter months, most recently on the Philips Wouwermans (1619-1668) ‘Return of the Prodigal Son’.
Regular volunteers from NADFAS work on the restoration programme, cleaning and making condition reports on the important book collection.
The Sculpture Collection – on-going specialist cleaning and restoration work is carried out by Coade Ltd (the sculpture studio and restoration company based on the Estate).
In 2010, the House was the recipient of the HHA/Sotheby’s Restoration Award for work on the Dining Room and Cloisters.
Throughout the year, we receive many enquiries from research students, academics and members of the public. Out of season, academic research may be undertaken in the House, with experts from institutions at home and abroad visiting to learn more about the works of art.
With the extensive knowledge of the in-house team, working in conjunction with a network of international experts, these enquiries can lead on to surprising discoveries and occasionally to new attributions being made.
It is always interesting to receive final copies of the articles written by researchers, with the resultant information being incorporated into the records held at Wilton House – for the benefit of future research students.
For further enquiries please email: [email protected]
Estate and family papers, are held at:-
Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre,
Cocklebury Road,
Chippenham,
Wiltshire,
SN15 3QN
Tel: 01249 705500
Fax: 01249 705527
Email: [email protected]
Website: wshc.org.uk
All research enquiries involving archive material should be directed to the History Centre
Use of Images
If you wish to use an image of a painting from the collection at Wilton House, please contact the Bridgeman Art Library in the first instance.
The Bridgeman Art Library is licensed to utilise transparencies produced from the paintings at Wilton House and to make images of the paintings available to third parties, subject to permission.
Website: www.bridgemanart.com
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 020 7727 4065
