Doddington Hall Tapestries

Founded in 2006, the Doddington Hall Conservation Charity (no. 1114539) aims to conserve and enhance the natural and historical environment of Doddington Hall, Gardens and the wider Estate for the greater enjoyment and education of the thousands of visitors now and in the future.

The Conservation Charity’s first project is to raise funds to save two sets of late seventeenth century Flemish tapestries that have hung in the Holly Bedroom and Yellow Bedroom at Doddington Hall since the 1760s. The tapestries depict ‘Scenes from Rural Life’ and ‘The Trojan Wars’. They were already antiques when they were nailed to the walls of the bedrooms and part of a fascinating early example of a ‘retro’ or antiquarian decorative scheme. They are also rare survivors of cheaper, ‘off the peg’ tapestries of this period – the finer ones tended to be better looked after and have survived in much greater numbers.

Thanks to a ground-breaking joint project between Doddington Hall and Lincolnshire County Council along with funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, The Mercers’ Foundation, Dulverton Trust & Lincolnshire Community Foundation, The Laura Ashley Foundation, the Veneziana Fund along with numerous local individuals and groups, the Holly Bedroom tapestries were taken down, cleaned and conserved before being finally returned to the walls in June 2016.

The project was made possible with support from students and staff at the University of Lincoln’s conservation courses, and Bishop Grossteste’s Heritage Education course. Many of the conservators who have worked on the project are alumnae of Lincoln University.

The conservation of the Yellow Bedroom tapestries was completed in 2019 and visitors can view the tapestries on open days. See website for opening arrangements and admission: https://www.doddingtonhall.com/visiti...

Footage courtesy of Nutshell TV for 'An American Aristocrat's Guide to Great Estates' on Smithsonian Channel