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Erddig Conservators Work Their Restoration Magic

by Love Wrexham Magazine
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We take a look at what Erddig and Chirk Castle have in store for us this month!

A rare cover from a 300-yearold bed has gone on public display at Erddig Hall following conservation and research that has revealed previously unknown details about its history, make-up and the wartime needlework that saved it from ruin.

The bed cover or coverlet and matching Chinese embroidered hangings were commissioned for Erddig in 1720 by then-owner John Meller for the property’s best bed in the best bed-chamber. A room used to accommodate the family’s most distinguished guests. It became known as the State Bed and State Bedroom in the 19th century.

Delicately embroidered with peacocks in the four corners and intricate flowers along its edging. The bed cover was, until recently, thought to have been made entirely from imported Chinese silk. Matching the state bed’s curtains that feature Chinese figures, pagodas, birds and flowers.

Now, 689 hours of vital conservation work at the NT Textile Conservation Studio in Norfolk – funded by The Royal Oak Foundation – has revealed the bed cover is made up of textiles and embroidery techniques from around the world. Including Welsh and other British fabrics.

A Welsh Quilt

Volunteer research discovered the coverlet’s intriguing makeup was a result of careful repair work led by Erddig’s Louisa Yorke, wife of Philip Yorke II, just after the First World War. The couple worked hard to preserve the house and its contents as household spending fell by more than half, and they had to release several staff members.

Mrs Yorke spent her time patching and darning the deteriorating bedding using material conservators think she found around the home. They found material similar to petticoat quilting had been neatly stitched along the sides in a very skilled example of “make do and mend”.

Clare Stoughton-Harris, Senior NT Conservator, said, “This eightyear conservation project has revealed more than expected. The coverlet was a puzzle until we worked out that the 18th Century Chinese silk embroidery had been applied over a Welsh quilt. British embroidery was also added as part of a previous repair.”

Check nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/wales/erddig to see when the cover is on display.

Erddig, Restoration and display of Chinese and Welsh Coverlet of the State Bed.
The bedroom is adorned in a beautiful hand painted Chinese wallpaper and holds a rare surviving bed known as a lit a duchesse or ‘angel’ tester bed dating from 1720.

The bed was hung with delicate Chinese embroidered silk satin textiles; a bed cover and valances, a tester with valances and curtains, all in original white silk, embroidered with Chinese figures, pagodas, birds and flowers.

However, by 1968 the bed was in a severe state of deterioration following decades of coal mining subsidence that caused water ingress directly onto the bed. It was rescued from near dereliction by London’s Victoria & Albert Museum. Since its installation back at Erddig in 1977, the bed has remained untouched, except for a minor intervention in 1995.

Unfortunately, more recent condition reports once again highlighted its poor condition with the 1968 treatment failing. As a result, in 2018 the National Trust team began their eight-year conservation project to restore the bed, generously funded by The Wolfson Foundation.

Chirk Castle

Fungi expert Debbie Evans is leading a walk around Chirk Castle’s estate to discover fascinating species of grassland fungi and the conservation efforts that support them.

Debbie is a fungi expert with over 20 years of experience and surveyed Chirk Castle in 2005 and 2011, leading to its designation as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in 2011. The estate achieved this recognition due to the estate’s unique combination of ancient trees, associated invertebrates, and diverse grassland fungi.

The walk will take place from 11am to 2pm on 25th October and booking is essential. Tickets cost £5.

The estate also have three events taking place over half term:

  • The Medieval Monster Activity
  • Craft-Your-Own Clay Monster
  • Jake Evans, Storyteller.

Visit nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/wales/chirk-castle/events to find out more.

Royal Oak Foundation:

The Royal Oak Foundation was founded in 1973 by the National Trust. This was to raise awareness and support for the Trust in the United States. Each year, the Foundation promotes a priority project of the Trust to raise funds among American donors. Since its founding, the Royal Oak Foundation has provided over $16 million to support the National Trust.

Today, it has over 9,000 members representing all 50 states. Their mission is to advance the work of the National Trust through membership, travel, and lecture programs.

Visit royal-oak.org for more information.

Finally, to keep up to date with the community, click here.

National Trust logo
All National Trust images are from Paul Harris

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