Grand Designs

Conserving the architectural drawings from the Lucas of Wrest Park Collection

We are delighted to announce that we have successfully applied for a grant from the National Manuscripts Conservation Trust for a project to clean, repair and repackage 200 drawings from the Lucas Collection. The drawings have always been heavily used by researchers, particularly those looking at garden history. Recently, they have been very useful to English Heritage in their work to restore the house and gardens at Wrest and images of some of them are included in their new interpretation panels. Unfortunately, although some of the collection has received conservation, much of it is in need of some TLC. The grant will enable us to employ a conservator for four weeks to carry out the necessary work to protect these nationally valuable drawings for the future. 

This illustration has become detached from its mount, and shows a typical accumulation of dirt and wear from its use over several centuries.

  A drawing after conservation and cleaning. [ref.L33/215]