Nostel Priory – Heritage Skills Fair 10, 11, 12 June
Built from 1733 on the site of a medieval priory for the Winn family, Nostel Priory is a Palladian house located near Wakefield, now owned by The National Trust. FWA Conservation was commissioned to carry out renovation work to the ornate ceilings on the North and South staircases. The highly embellished ceilings are attributed to eminent architects Robert Adam (1728–1792) and James Paine (1717–1789) and the design incorporates the heads of Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth I with a large eagle at the centre. FWA conducted sensitive paint removal, paper maché colour matching, plaster repairs and distemper decorative finishes.
Following the successful completion of the project, FWA Conservation was invited to participate in a Heritage Skills Fair at Nostel Priory, with emphasis on our traditional plaster work. The fair took place over three days and allowed apprentices, trainees and the public to view the skills and reference points of our work. The exhibition stand included a display of the Henry VIII and Elizabeth I plaster casts used in the ceiling conservation. The event was a great success and The National Trust is looking to make such events a regular feature of their calendar.
