Spencer & Fry provide specialist services across all areas of preventive conservation as well as being highly experienced filming conservators.
Our growing team based throughout the UK, work in partnership with a wide range of heritage organisations, museums, galleries, historic houses and cathedrals to deliver bespoke preventive conservation solutions to help safeguard their historic collections.
Through our expertise in preventive conservation, we also have experience as specialist Filming Conservators in historic locations having worked on over 100 Film and TV productions.
Our Clients include: National Trust, English Heritage, Museum Development South East, British Museum, Longleat, Woburn Abbey, Houses of Parliament, Fulham Palace, Blenheim Palace, Syon House.
Filming Advice & Supervision
With an extensive team of highly experienced Filming Conservators based across the UK, Spencer & Fry are uniquely positioned to provide expert advice and supervision for film and TV productions in historic locations.
Our team offers invaluable expertise and peace of mind, mitigating risks for the location while delivering pragmatic solutions that maximise the creative potential of the production.
We act as a key liaison, able to offer guidance through all stages of filming from planning, installing protection, overseeing prep, supervising filming, and strike.
Thanks to our extensive experience, we are frequently recommended by Clients, location managers and insurance companies.
Our Clients include: National Trust, National Trust for Scotland, English Heritage, St Paul’s Cathedral, Longleat, Castle Howard, Tate Modern, Royal Museums Greenwich, V&A.
Emergency & Salvage Planning
Spencer & Fry work with Clients to consider collections and potential emergency situations to create bespoke plans to limit damage in such an event.
We support the development of emergency and salvage plans, help specify appropriate salvage equipment, advise on first-aid treatment of damaged objects and provide valuable staff training to respond to emergency situations.
Some of our Clients include: Woburn Abbey, Dulwich Picture Gallery.
We have also provided bespoke training in this field for Clients such as the British Museum, Historic England, National Trust, Fulham Palace, Museum Development South East.
Collections Care / Management Plans
Whether our Clients require formal reports for organisations such as HMRC (for objects given in lieu of tax) and the National Lottery Heritage Fund or bespoke plans to inform the care of their collections, our team have full understanding and extensive experience of meeting all these requirements.
Clients we have worked with include: Deans Court, Blenheim Palace, Houses of Parliament, Royal Collection Trust, Euston Hall, Farringford House.
Collection Moves & Project Support
Whether it's filming, refurbishment, exhibitions, or building work, our team provide tailored solutions to move collections and install protection throughout any period of disruption. We can provide support for any or all stages of a project, leading the work or collaborating closely with clients as part of a wider team.
Some Clients we have assisted: West Dean and Syon House.
Environmental Management
Our team advise and support Clients to assess and monitor environments to help understand current conditions and restrictions. After analysing environmental data, we can recommend pragmatic and workable solutions to help create the optimum conditions for objects and mixed collections within those environments.
Clients we have worked with include: Royal Holloway Picture Gallery.
Overseeing lighting set up pre shoot.
Undertaking a large condition audit.
Overseeing the construction of flattage prior to filming during prep.
Delivering training on rolling historic carpets.
Arriving at dusk at Queens House, Royal Museum Greenwich ready for a night shoot.
Condition checking and packing collections for decant in preparation for building works.
Checking props for mould and insect pests pre filming.
Teaching first aid techniques for wet objects during salvage training.
Accredited members
Claire Fry, ACR FIIC
Trained in Archaeological Conservation and Care of Collections at CardiffUniversity, Claire has enjoyed a career as a preventive conservator working for the National Trust and English Heritage. Founding Spencer & Fry in 2015, Claire continues to work across all areas of preventive conservation with a particular interest in Emergency & Salvage Planning and enabling filming in historic locations. She also regularly trains and lectures for institutions and universities across the UK.
Accredited by the Institute of Conservation in 2010, Claire became an assessor for the scheme in 2012 and a Trustee in 2019. Claire also serves on The Fabric Advisory Committee for Leicester Cathedral and the Buildings and Conservation Committee for Pitzhanger Manor.
Charlotte Tomlin ACR
Charlotte studied Medieval History at the University of St Andrews before turning to conservation, completing a Masters degree in the Conservation of Archaeological and Museum Objects at Durham University. With over 10 years industry experience working for Royal Armouries, English Heritage and the National Trust for Scotland, Charlotte joined Spencer & Fry in 2018. She is skilled in all areas of preventive conservation, leading on Environmental Management and is a highly regarded Filming Conservator.
Charlotte was accredited by the Institute of Conservation in 2023 and promoted to Senior Preventive and Filming Conservator for Spencer & Fry in 2024.
Client testimonials
Spencer & Fry brings a professional, pragmatic and client-focused approach to their work across the full spectrum of collections care and preventive conservation. They have experience of working with historic collections including National Trust, English Heritage and private collections. They are a joy to work with, and I would recommend them without hesitation.
Tom Boggis
Freelance Curator and former Curator for English Heritage and National Trust
The team were excellent, their presence (during filming) was hugely reassuring; we wouldn’t have been able to do it without them.
Dr James Ford
Curator, Longleat House
Working with Spencer and Fry has transformed the way we operate filming within our historic buildings. Their presence, their experience and their confidence with film crews allows us to offer those filming with us the opportunity to achieve more complicated shots as well as reassuring our own conservation teams that the activity is safe for both the fabric of the buildings and the collections stored within them. It has allowed us a greater dialogue with film crews and we don’t do any large-scale filming without them!
Sophie Linin
Senior Business Development Manager, Royal Museums Greenwich