Behind the Scenes with Our Conservation Team
Behind the scenes with our conservation team
At The Novium, the objects that tell Chichester's story are often far more fragile than they look. A coin, a letter, a painted portrait or a piece of textile may carry traces of age that make careful handling essential. Our conservation team works to keep them safe while allowing the public to learn from them.
Condition checks before care
Each object is examined under soft, even light and, when needed, under magnification. The team records existing wear, old repairs and any active damage. This helps them decide what can be done and what should simply be left as stable evidence of the object's past.
- Light: kept low to reduce fading, embrittlement and surface damage.
- Humidity: monitored so paper, wood, metal and fabric do not swell or contract sharply.
- Handling: gloves, supports and clean work surfaces are used to control risk.
Methods that slow the passing of time
Cleaning is always cautious. Tiny brushes, cotton swabs and controlled micro-abrasion may be used, but only when it will improve the object's stability or readability. Where surfaces are flaking, consolidants are chosen to strengthen without changing the object's historical character.
- Documentation: photographs and written notes capture the object's condition.
- Treatment: weak areas are supported, contaminants reduced and structural losses filled where appropriate.
- Storage: objects are housed in acid-free boxes, tissue and padded mounts that keep movement to a minimum.
- Display: mounts are designed to support fragile items and limit vibration, touch and direct light.
A closer look at common materials
| Material | Typical risk | Conservation response |
|---|---|---|
| Paper documents | Yellowing, brittleness and ink corrosion | Mending with archival tissue, gentle flattening and controlled storage |
| Metalwork | Corrosion and surface loss | Cleaning under magnification and protective wax or barrier coatings |
| Textiles | Stress on threads and fibre deterioration | Padded support, limited light exposure and careful dust removal |
Why small decisions matter
Conservation is often invisible. If a treatment is working well, the object looks stable, and the story it carries continues to be seen. For The Novium, this kind of work is not about changing history, but about protecting the physical clues that allow Chichester's past to be studied, displayed and shared with care.
Quiet, patient work keeps fragile objects strong enough to be understood today and safely available to future generations.
The next time you pause at a display, you may notice not only the object, but the careful decisions that have helped it remain part of the collection.