LEICESTER ASSOCIATION

Just before the Covid pandemic the National Trust completed a 30 year internal restoration programme at Kedleston Hall near Derby. The Hall was built in 1760 for Lord Scarsdale and the architect was Robert Adam who not only designed the interiors of the hall but also all of the furniture within it.

Once the house was built the Scarsdale’s lived well but did not have enough extra capital to carry out any alterations to the house. Kedleston is therefore the most important and least altered 18th century show-palace in Britain.

The main building is basically a “Temple of the Arts” which was never intended to be a family home but was a lavish entertaining space purely to show off wealth, political standing and taste. The family lived in a spacious attached wing with a second wing housing the kitchen, servants quarters and other offices.

Whilst the “State Floor” had remained structurally unaltered and the rooms had retained almost all of their original treasures they had been redecorated over time; use and exposure from exposure had also led to some damage of furniture, delicate fabrics and works of art.

Since the mid 1980’s the National Trust has lovingly worked on restoring the rooms to Robert Adam’s original vision. Using the very latest conservation techniques each room has been returned to its 18th century ‘bling’. Original paint schemes have been reintroduced, new damask hung on the walls and precious gilt furniture and works of art have been restored. The final room to be restored was the State Apartment which contains a magnificent State Bed.

Unusually tours of the Hall are nothing new at Kedleston. Between 1766 and 1809 the housekeeper to the Curzon family showed selected visitors around the state floor on a regular basis. Indeed the visits were so popular that in 1769 a 28 page guidebook was published that covered the 18 main rooms. The National Trust owns an original copy which contains additional handwritten notes by the housekeeper.

Kedleston Hall has all of the usual visitor facilities and is open every Thursday to Tuesday, 11am to 4pm, until 29th October. There is also 332 hectares of parkland to explore.

The National Trust Leicester Association has now moved on to its summer programme of outings, visits and social events. Meetings with a speaker will re-commence in September.

For details of the NT Leicester Association please visit our web site at www.leicesternt.com or call 0116 2229133

Alan Tyler | Publicity Officer NT Leicester Association