Thursday 12th September - An afternoon at Deene Park
By kind permission of Mr and Mrs Robert Brudenell, The Counties Heritage Foundation is holding an afternoon event on Thursday 12th September at Deene Park to celebrate its 2024 successful Bursary Awards, supported by The Lamport Hall Preservation Trust, to MA conservation students from the University of Lincoln. The bursaries fund work-experience placements for selected students to be mentored at the National Trust conservation studios at Knole and Blickling.
This year, one of the students will spend three weeks at the National Trust textile conservation studio in Norfolk working on historic tapestries. Thus, it was appropriate for the charity to invite the celebrated textile historian, Annabel Westman FSA, to give an illustrated talk at Deene Park about her fascinating work, and to present the awards. Annabel is an independent textile historian, advising on original furnishing schemes in historic interiors.
For over 40 years she has extensively researched her subject advising many clients as well as advising on numerous textile restoration projects for the National Trust, English Heritage, Historic Royal Palaces, national museums and historic country houses in Britain, Europe and the USA. She is a trustee of the Stowe House Preservation Trust and is Director Emerita of The Attingham Trust.
Author of ‘Fringe Frog and Tassel’ Annabel will talk about the research, conservation and restoration of the Dunham Massey State Bed, with reference to the design and usage of the textiles and trimmings, and its important status within the history of the house.