On 17th April we had the great pleasure to visit Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire with a small group of conservators. We listened to Kelly O’Driscoll (Head of Built Heritage) to tell us all about the building with its many challenges and currently ongoing roof restoration. With a huge scaffolding structure erected already the palace also decided to address the painted ceilings in the Great Hall and the Saloon. Lizzie Wooley (Opus Conservation) is leading the conservation of the wall paintings. She talked to us about the history and analytics of the paintings and how they are choosing to conserve them. We had the great honour to go up the scaffolding inside and view the wall paintings from up close. It was a very unique experience and we were all very grateful to be shown around. The roof conservation can be viewed by all visitors to the palace, the scaffolding can be accessed by stairs and elevator and gives a unique insight.
For more information about the palace and how to visit please visit their website
Photos shown with permission from Blenheim Palace
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- Blenheim Palace and gardens
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- Scaffolding for roof conservation
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- Roof conservation
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- Details on roof conservation
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- Details in wall paintings conservation in the Great Hall
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- Replica hanging for the painting in the Great Hall
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- Lizzie Wooley showing details to conservators
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- Lizzie Wooley
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- Wall painting
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- Conservators looking at the wall painting
