Longthorpe Tower, Peterborough, UK
Longthorpe Tower, Peterborough is an excellent surviving example of English domestic medieval wall paintings.
The tower has undergone conservation work irregularly since the discovery of the paintings in the 1940’s. The work carried out in 2023 is a continuation of work started in 2019 and is carried out by The Courtauld Institute of Art and English Heritage.
Outreach at Longthorpe Tower
In progress treatment of the paintings
What was the goal the project set out to achieve?
The work undertaken in Longthorpe Tower in 2023 is a continuation of a multi-year project to conserve the rare medieval wall paintings. This conservation work is performed as a part of the MA Conservation of Wall Paintings offered by The Courtauld Institute of Art and is done in collaboration with English Heritage.
What did I do?
I was assigned a small area to conserve in its entirety. This involved thorough documentation, cleaning, consolidation and the replacement of historic repairs.
I also helped to manage the equipment and materials on site, ensuring that everything was kept in order and that we always had enough material for continuous conservation.
What was the outcome?
I was able to make very good progress in conserving my area of painting. I have documented this thoroughly through a written report. This means that in the next phase students can focus on other areas that need attention.
What did I learn?
As this was my first experience conserving historic wall paintings I was able to develop many practical and professional skills. My skills in remedial interventions such as consolidation, infilling and cleaning have improved and my confidence has grown. I also developed my skills in photography, graphic documentation and report writing.