New heating system to preserve Bridgnorth stately home's world renowned artwork

The National Trust has been granted listed building consent to install the system at Dudmaston Hall near Bridgnorth.

The work includes new radiators and pipework to heat parts of the Grade II* listed Queen Anne mansion.

Lucy Cooper, conservation assistant at Dudmaston Hall explained that the work will allow for the protection of artwork at the heritage site – preventing damage such as mould, corrosion, cracking or distortion.

She said: "Conservation heating is an important element of collections care.

"The heating system will warm the building to ensure the collections have a constant relative humidity – between 50 and 65 per cent.

"High relative humidity means that collections such as textiles, leather, paper, stone, and ceramics can develop mould, and can corrode metal.

"Fluctuations from low to high relative humidity mean paintings can flake, textiles can tear, and wood can crack and distort.

"However, increasing temperature will decrease relative humidity and establish a safe level for our collections.

"Having internationally renowned art collections, and a house steeped in 900 years of family history, it is wonderful to finally have the correct environmental controls in place to look after our collections for years to come."

Shropshire Council granted planning permission for the work earlier this month.

In a report Becky Jones, a planning officer with the authority, said that while there would be some damage caused by the work to install the new system, the benefits would justify it.

She said: "The installation will involve some disturbance to historic fabric but this has been kept to a minimum and existing routes used where possible.

“New pipework will use existing boxing or will be boxed in to match existing with high-quality joinery.

“Modern simple radiators are proposed to complement the gallery spaces. The proposed new radiators will be run on a climate-controlled system which will not only reduce impact upon the artwork but will also be beneficial to the building and its users to ensure an appropriate relative humidity.”

In a statement submitted with the application the National Trust said that the impact of the work had been well thought through.

It said: “The curator, conservator, building surveyor and property staff have carefully consider the impact of the design, appearance and locations of the proposed radiators that are to be installed. It was considered that these should not be intrusive and it would a benefit if they reflected the modern look of the galleries and hallways.

“The group also considered the impact of any associated pipe work which if cannot be installed within existing boxing or below floor should be located discreetly within the corners of the rooms and hidden within new boxing decorated to match exiting colour schemes.”