The care of Chatsworth and the Devonshire Collection is central to the work of Chatsworth House Trust, the registered charity dedicated to preserving the house, its collections, and landscape for the benefit of the public.

Each winter, while the house is closed to visitors, the Preventative Conservation Team undertakes an intensive programme of deep cleaning and maintenance across the historic interiors. This work sits alongside the careful, year-round monitoring and conservation that happens quietly behind the scenes, helping to prevent damage before it occurs.

In this film, members of the Preventative Conservation Team share the specialist tasks involved in caring for the house and collection.

Video Transcript

We are the Preventative Conservation Team. Throughout the year, we care continuously for the house and the collection. Our work is not only about conserving what is already damaged, but about preventing damage from occurring in the first place.

One of the most time-consuming jobs carried out by the conservation assistants is caring for the library. There are over 17,000 books, and every single one is taken off the shelf, dusted, and returned to exactly the same place.

The humidity within the house can change significantly, and dust can become cemented onto books, causing permanent damage if it is not managed. There is a careful balance between handling the books as little as possible and keeping them dust-free. It is a very satisfying task, particularly when the books are heavily dusted, as you can clearly see the difference the work makes.

Many of the clocks in the house are still working objects, some of them centuries old. Caring for them is about protecting their mechanisms by keeping them running smoothly — not winding them too much or too little. Each clock is different, and over time you come to understand their individual characteristics.

To protect the Great Chamber floor, wax is applied, allowed to dry, and then buffed. This process is repeated three or four times. This room sees thousands of visitors every year, with people spending time admiring the ceiling and the views from the windows. The floor itself is over 200 years old, so it requires very careful maintenance to withstand such heavy footfall.

Each room within the house has its own features and objects, some of which are more fragile than others. In certain spaces, there are limewood carvings that are extremely fine, detailed, and nearly 300 to 400 years old. In many rooms, cleaning is approached using a top-to-bottom methodology. Scaffolding or tall ladders are used so that work can begin at the highest point and move downwards, allowing dust to settle safely below.

The collection is regularly lent to galleries and museums around the world, enabling it to be seen and enjoyed by wider audiences. The ability to share works such as the Lucian Freud paintings is only possible because the collection is so carefully cared for at home.

For the coming season, the Veiled Vestal Virgin is being moved into the Sculpture Gallery. Every time a sculpture or artwork is moved, the process is methodical and based on patience and trust between colleagues. Everything is done slowly and carefully; there is no benefit in rushing when the priority is protection.

Specialist contractors are sometimes brought in, often people who are already familiar with the house and the way it operates. They work sympathetically with the historic interiors. The aim is always to preserve the house and its current state, both for now and for future generations.

As part of preventative care, traps are placed throughout the house to monitor for pests. This allows any issues to be identified early and addressed before they can cause damage to the collection.

Ultimately, everything we do is about caring for the house, the objects, and the collection it contains. Every visit helps to fund this work through the Chatsworth House Trust, a registered charity established to care for the house and its contents. Each ticket purchased directly supports ongoing conservation and preventative care.