HRH the Prince of Wales walking through the Outer Wicket and into the Green Court at Knole with property manager Steven Dedman and assistant director of operations Nic Durston. ©Professional Images
HRH the Prince of Wales recently visited Knole to learn about the major conservation project that is beginning to get underway there. Among his many duties Prince Charles is also President of the National Trust.
The Prince of Wales ascending the early-seventeenth-century Great Staircase with curator Emma Slocombe. ©Professional Images
Knole is a rare example of a Tudor palace that has survived and accumulated many subsequent layers of decoration and collections. Over time the house has developed some serious structural and conservation problems which are now being tackled.
The Prince of Wales talking to house manager Helen Fawbert in the Ballroom. ©Professional Images
Curator Emma Slocombe guided His Royal Highness around the house. Prince Charles saw how the furniture is cleaned – testing the suction on a ‘museum vac’ – and how pest infestations are treated.
The Prince of Wales and curator Emma Slocombe looking at the decorative plasterwork in the Ballroom. ©Professional Images
He also inspected the ’Eyemat’, an extremely realistic photographic replica of a seventeenth-century Goan carpet. The Knole team is using this to test how an experimental heating mat, which has been placed below it, will cope with the footfall of thousands of visitors.
The Prince of Wales and Emma Slocombe looking at the seventeenth-century furniture in the Brown Gallery, mostly acquired as ‘perquisites’ – royal hand-me-downs – by the 6th Earl of Dorset when he was Lord Chamberlain to King William III. ©Professional Images
The Prince of Wales appeared to be impressed with what is happening at Knole and the visit gave a great boost to everyone involved with the conservation project.
More images of the visit and a photograph of a previous visit of a Prince of Wales to Knole (1898) can be seen on the Knole Conservation team blog.
May 3, 2012 at 09:37 |
The eyemat and underlying heat mat are interesting developments.
May 3, 2012 at 11:34 |
I, too, am interesting in learning more about the ‘eyemat’, its appearance, and how well you think it works.
May 3, 2012 at 14:49 |
Knole looks like such a fascinating place…Hope to see it son…Love the blog…
May 3, 2012 at 17:22 |
The “eyemat” appears to be a protective floor covering, printed to be an exact replica of the floor underneath – see http://www.conservation-flooring.co.uk/
May 3, 2012 at 20:18 |
Thanks! Because of the difference in texture I suppose it could not be a substitute for a fine rug that was too fragile to be stepped on. But the possibilities are interesting.
May 4, 2012 at 08:16 |
Yes thanks Andrew. I haven’t seen one of these Eyemats myself yet, but they are supposed to be amazingly realistic and deceptive. I heard one of them was also used at Dumfries House (where, as it happens, the Prince of Wales was also involved). They allow for people to walk in areas where they otherwise couldn’t, with less use of visually intrusive barriers.
Thanks Richard. When you go, do report back on what you think of the Eyemat, and everything else
May 4, 2012 at 13:13 |
Every time I see an article about Knole, the accompanying photo is always that grand staircase — it’s good to see other parts of the house!
May 4, 2012 at 13:45 |
The Knole Conservation blog (referenced above) does a good job of highlighting all sorts of nooks and crannies at Knole. I will try to dig out some more too.