Projects
Townend Browne Letter Volume 5, National Trust
The volume contains eighteenth-century letters from the family of George Browne, who was the owner of the National Trust property, Townend, in the Lake District. The letters outline personal correspondence between a father and son, and are bound together. The binding was most likely made by George Browne himself. The aims of the project were to stabilise the letters, repair damage and reduce their vulnerability to further deterioration, loss or theft. Before they were rebound, the letters were digitised in the workshop to make them accessible online. They were also required to be robust and presentable for safe handling by invigilated researchers, display and loan. The conservation approach developed sought to preserve original binding format where possible, keeping evidence of earlier bindings and arrangements being as reversible as possible. The process was filmed by the BBC and will feature in a future National Trust programme.
The original binding was causing significant damage to the letters, which had begun to suffer serious losses. The integral wax seals were frequently cracked and fragmented but it was hoped to continue the binding format as far as possible. The letters have been surface cleaned to remove loose dirt. Infills were make using western and Japanese papers. The letters have been supported on tailormade guarded support leaves, to protect the letters and hold them safely within the binding, with seal guards, placed on interleaves for their protection. The binding has been repaired using the highest quality materials. The treatment has been fully documented and copies recording the process are held by the property.
