Rowena Doughty ACR

30 Apr 2025

Rowena has been responsible for Gwynedd Archive Service’s Conservation Unit since 2012. Rowena started out as a trainee in 2007 and completed the Archives and Record Association certificate in Conservation in 2011, and became an accredited conservator in 2018.

A Conservation Unit was established at Gwynedd Archives Service over 50 years ago. The Unit has accepted external commissions for over 25 years from local government archives, various institutions, and also private individuals.

Rowena has worked on many grant funded projects and can provide preventative and interventive conservation, collection care, and a wide range of training events. All preventative and interventive conservation work carried out is fully documented and a report is provided upon completion.

Mae Rowena wedi bod yn gyfrifol am Uned Gadwraeth Gwasanaeth Archifau Gwynedd ers 2012. Dechreuodd Rowena

weithio fel hyfforddai yn yr Uned yn 2007 gan gwblhau Tystysgrif y Gymdeithas Archifyddion a Chofnodion mewn Cadwraeth yn 2011, gan ddod yn gadwriaethwr achrededig yn 2018.

Sefydlwyd Uned Gadwraeth yng Ngwasanaeth Archifau Gwynedd dros 50 mlynedd yn ôl. Mae’r Uned wedi derbyn comisiynau allanol gan archifdai, sefydliadau amrywiol ac unigolion preifat ers dros 25 mlynedd.

Mae Rowena wedi gweithio ar nifer o prosiectau grant a gall ddarparu gwasanaeth diogelu a chadwraeth, gofal am gasgliadau, yn ogystal ag sesiynau hyfforddiant amrywiol. Mae'r holl waith diogelu a chadwraeth yn cael ei ddogfennu’n llawn a cyfwlynir adroddiad wedi i’r gwaith gael ei gwblhau.

Paper / Papur

The preservation and conservation of paper archival documents in various formats.

Diogelu ac atgyweirio dogfennau papur.

Parchment / Memrwn

The preservation and conservation of Parchment documents in various formats.

Diogelu ac atgyweirio dogfennau memrwn.

Maps and Plans / Cynlluniau a Mapiau

The preservation and conservation of Maps and Plans in various formats.

Diogelu ac atgyweirio Cynlluniau/Mapiau.

Binding / Rhwymo

The preservation and conservation of various bindings formats. We also provide a book binding service.

Diogelu ac atgyweirio rhwymiadeu yn ogystal a ddarparu gwasanaeth rhwymo llyfrau.

Seals

The preservation and conservation of seals in various formats.

Diogelu ac atgyweirio Seliau.

Neath Abbey Ironworks Plans WGAS. / Cynlluniau Neath Abby Ironworks GAGM. Before Conservation:

All 8,000 plans were cleaned and surveyed prior to this project. 312 plans were identified as unfit for production. A majority of the plans are made of thick woven paper with black ink with some pigment present. Arolygwyd a glanhawyd dros 8,000 o gynlluniau cyn y prosiect hwn. Yn ystod yr arolwg nodwyd bod 312 o gynlluniau yn anaddas i’w cynhyrchu. Mae mwyafrif o’r cynlluniau ar bapur trwchus gydag inc du a rhywfaint o bigment lliw.

Neath Abbey Ironworks Plans WGAS. / Cynlluniau Neath Abby Ironworks GAGM. After conservation:

Plans with chemical and mechnical damage (including pigments) were repaired on the suction table using damp blotters impregnated with water and then calcium bicarbonate in order to reduce the risk of the pigments fading and further mechanical damage. Dewiswyd dau fath o driniaeth. Atgyweirwyd y cynlluniau â difrod mecanyddol a chemegol (gyda phigmentau) ar y bwrdd sugno gan ddefnyddio papur-sugno wedi eu gwlychu gyda dŵr ac yna chalsiwm bicarbonad.

Penrhyn Estate Collection, Map, Brifysgol Bangor. / Casgliad Ystâd Penrhyn, Map, Bangor University. Before Conservation:

The map measures 240cm x 220cm and is made up of 10 separate sections of woven paper adhered to make one large single sheet. The paper was in a very fragile condition with the thick linen backing detaching. Mae’r map yn mesur 240cm x 220cm ac wedi ei greu o 10 darn o bapur i greu un ddalen sengl fawr. Mae’r papur yn fregus iawn ac yn cael ei ddal mewn lle gan liain drwchus.

Penrhyn Estate Collection, Map, Brifysgol Bangor. / Casgliad Ystâd Penrhyn, Map, Bangor University. After Conservation:

The sections were slightly humidified using SCMC in a casing of bondina allowing the fragments to be put in place prior to a temporarily re-moistable tissue facing being applied to allow treatment and repair. I ganiatáu atgyweirio’r papur roedd rhaid gwlychu ychydig o’r papur gan ddefnyddio SCMC, roedd hyn yn caniatáu i’r darnau bach gael eu rhoi yn ôl yn eu lle cywir cyn eu diogelu dros dro gyda phapur sidan.

Ships plans, Anglesey Archive Service / Cynlluniau llongau, Archifdy Ynys Môn. Before Conservation:

The collection consisted of Ferrogallic prints, Blue prints, tracing paper and plans on linen. There was a large amount of surface dirt on all of the plans, which were tightly rolled with some mechanical damage such as small tears. Roedd y casgliad yn cynnwys printiau Ferrogallig, cynlluniau penodedig, papur dargopio a chynlluniau ar liain. Roedd llawer iawn o faw ar wyneb bob cynllun a bob un wedi ei rhowlio yn dynn ac o ganlyniad oedd ambell un âg niwed mecanyddol.

Ships plans, Anglesey Archive Service / Cynlluniau llongau, Archifdy Ynys Môn. After Conervation:

All of the plans were cleaned mechanically with smoke sponges and slightly humidified using an ultrasonic humidifier to relax the paper in order for them to be gently rolled out and dried flat, before repair. Glanhawyd pob un o’r cynlluniau gyda sbwng mwg ac yna fe’i gwlychwyd ychydig gan ddefnyddio lleithydd uwchsonig i ymlacio’r papur fel bod modd eu hagor yn raddol a’u sychu’n fflat, cyn ei atgyweirio.

Fragile Tracings / Dargopiau Bregys, Rhyl Steam Preservation Trust. Before Conservation:

The collection consisted of mostly tracings, linen drawings and Diazotypes. The tracings had suffered the worst of the mechanical damage and as a result were unidentifiable in their current condition. Roedd y casgliad yn cynnwys bwndel o bapur dargopïo, lluniadau lliain a Diazoteipiau. Y bwndel papur dargopïo oedd yn dangos y difrod mecanyddol gwaethaf, roedd yn amhosib eu hagor gan eu bod yn fregus iawn.

Fragile Tracings / Dargopiau Bregys, Rhyl Steam Preservation Trust. After Conservation:

The tracing bundle was gently opened using the ultrasonic humidifier and fragments were identified and sorted. Each plan was gently humidified before being adhered back in place on to a double support of spider tissue using a WSP 10% and SCMC 1% 95:05 adhesive. Agorwyd y bwndel papur dargopïo gan ddefnyddio’r lleithydd uwchsain ac yna rhoddwyd trefn i’r holl ddarnau. Gwlychwyd pob cynllun, cyn eu glynu yn ôl i’w lle ar gefndir dwbl o bapur pry cop gan ddefnyddio glud WSP 10% ac SCMC 1% 95:05.

‘star[r]y awning’ Wallpaper design on paper by Susan Williams-Ellis, Ymddiriedolaeth Susan Williams-Ellis Foundation (YSWEF), Oriel Brondanw. Before Conservation:

Design on paper with mixed media including gouache, with some pencil. Some surface dirty on the front and back. Tightly rolled. One large tear and many smaller tears. Layered paper held in place with pressure sensitive tape. Dyluniad ar bapur o gyfrwng gymysg, yn cynnwys phensil a paent gouache. Mae yna faw ar y wyneb a’r cefn. Papur wedi rowlio’n dynn. Rhwygiadau bychan ac un rhwyg mawr. Thâp gludiog clir yn dal haenau o bapur yn ei le.

‘star[r]y awning’ Wallpaper design on paper by Susan Williams-Ellis, Ymddiriedolaeth Susan Williams-Ellis Foundation (YSWEF), Oriel Brondanw. After Conservation.

The Pressure sensitive tape was lifted mechanically using a warm iron to soften the adhesive to easily lift the tape. The tears were supported from the back using a minimal moisture treatment of a 3% Gelatine adhesive with a spider tissue or Japanese paper support. Codwyd y tâp gan ddefnyddio haearn cynnes i’w rhyddhau ac yna codwyd y baw a’r glud gyda rwbiwr ‘crepe’. Atgyweiriwyd y rhwygiadau â phapur pry cop ac phapur Japaneaidd wrth ddefnyddio glud Gelatin 3% gan ac y dull lleithder isel.

The Royal Welch Fusiliers Museum, Keating Diary Volume 1 / Amgueddfa’r Ffiwsilwyr Brenhinol Cymreig, Dyddiadur Keating Cyfrol 1. Before Conservation:

Both book boards had detached and were missing, original headband had detached and the other was missing, original spine leather covering was dry and cracking which made opening difficult without causing further damage. Clawr-fwrdd blaen a chefn wedi ddatgysylltu ac ar goll. Band pen gwreiddiol wedi datgysylltu, a'r llall ar goll. Gorchudd lledr ar y meingefn gwreiddiol yn sych ac wedi cracio, gan ei wneud yn anodd i’w agor heb achosi difrod pellach.

The Royal Welch Fusiliers Museum, Keating Diary Volume 1 / Amgueddfa’r Ffiwsilwyr Brenhinol Cymreig, Dyddiadur Keating Cyfrol 1. After Conservation:

The original leather on the spine was supported and lifted mechanically to allow access to the spine. New boards were attached. Both spine and boards were covered with a leather goat skin similar to the original, then adhered back in place. Cafodd y lledr gwreiddiol ar y meingefn ei wynebu a'i godi yn fecanyddol i ganiatáu mynediad i'r rhan testun. Gosodwyd clawr-fwrdd newydd. Gorchuddiwyd y meingefn ar clawr-byrddau gyda lledr croen gafr, sy'n debyg o ran patrwm a lliw i'r gwreiddiol.

The Royal Welch Fusiliers Museum, Keating Diary Volume 2 / Amgueddfa’r Ffiwsilwyr Brenhinol Cymreig, Dyddiadur Keating Cyfrol 2. Before Conservation:

Boards had detached from the text block, with the book cloth raised and detached from the spine. Sewing is in a good and strong condition but is slightly loose. Text Block is in an overall good condition, some mechanical damage. Clawr-fyrddau wedi datgysylltu o'r rhan testun, gyda'r lliain llyfr wedi'i godi a'i ddatgysylltu o’r meingefn. Gwnïo mewn cyflwr da a chryf ond ychydig yn rhydd. Mae’r rhan testun ar y cyfan mewn cyflwr da, rhai tudalennau ar y blaen ar cefn gyda ddifrod mecanyddol.

The Royal Welch Fusiliers Museum, Keating Diary Volume 2 / Amgueddfa’r Ffiwsilwyr Brenhinol Cymreig, Dyddiadur Keating Cyfrol 2. After Conservation:

The text block was re-sewn using the original sewing structure. Boards were re-attached and a thin hollow was adhered to the spine which allowed the volume to open easily. The spine was covered with book cloth, with the original fragments of book cloth adhered back to their original position. Ail-gysylltwyd y clawr-fwrdd. Glynwyd tiwb tenau i’r meingefn oedd yn caniatáu i'r gyfrol agor yn hawdd, yna gorchuddiwyd â lliain llyfr, gyda'r darn gwreiddiol o’r lliain llyfr wedi ei lynu.

Client testimonials

The Archives and Special Collections at Bangor University has called upon the expertise of Rowena Doughty several times in the past. She has provided quotes, conducted training, provided advice and completed conservation projects on our behalf. We are always pleased with the quality of her work and professional conduct.

E Simpson
Archives and Special Collections Manager, Bangor University

West Glamorgan Archive Service has been using the services of Gwynedd Archives for many years and we have never had cause to regret it. The standard of Rowena Doughty’s conservation work is consistently high and she has worked on some of our iconic collections and documents, including our UNESCO-registered Neath Abbey Ironworks collection. We are pleased with her professionalism, skill and customer service.

A Dulley
County Archivist, West Glamorgan Archive Service

Rowena is consistently professional and, despite her many commitments, accessible, which makes her a pleasure to work with. She has undertaken a diversity of projects for the Susan Williams-Ellis Foundation and for Portmeirion. In each case she has quoted fairly and accurately by explaining the options and providing impartial advice. Her talent for clear communication has been a great help in the decision-making process. The work she has undertaken has been completed to a very high standard, and I look forward to future collaborations. I am also grateful to Rowena for bringing our attention the grant-giving National Manuscripts Conservation Trust (NMCT) from which we have subsequently benefited.

R Hunt

Collections Curator, Ymddiriedolaeth Susan Williams-Ellis Foundation (YSWEF)

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