Curious about Conservation?

Have you ever wondered, when you visit places like the Roman Baths, ‘how on earth do museums keep these old objects in such great condition?’ Well, in part, this is due to conservation. Conservation is one of those disciplines that always invites intrigue and curiosity – and quite rightly so!

Let’s take a closer look at conservation, what causes damage and what we do to preserve objects for the next 2,000 years.

A member of the Roman Baths team, wearing protective clothing, in the Great Bath cleaning the steps with a brush.
A conservation clean of the Great Bath happens every three months.

What can damage our collection?

There are 11 factors, called the Agents of Deterioration, that can threaten the places and collections we look after.

Square slabs layered on top of each other, used in the under-floor heating system in the West Baths, are crumbling and shedding an orange 'powder'
The pilae stacks in the West Baths have started to crumble
due to incorrect temperature and humidity conditions. 

1. Chemical

      ®  Acid rain damages sandstone

            ®  Look for areas on the Outer Terrace statues where the stone is powdery

2. Biological

      ®  Bird poo is a biological agent

            ®  The acid in bird poo can damage old stone

3. Physical

          ®  People wear down surfaces by walking over them for centuries

                ® Watch out for uneven surfaces around the Great Bath

    4. Fire

          ®  Fire causes catastrophic and irreversible damage

                ®  The Roman Baths have a rigorous salvage procedure in case of a fire

    5. Water

          ®  Flooding leaves its mark on the Roman monument

                ®  The River Avon floods and washes back into the East Baths leaving brown                         mud everywhere

    6. Theft or vandalism

          ®  Modern graffiti can be carved into old walls

                ®  Unwanted modern marks detract from the significance of the Roman                                monument

    7. Incorrect temperature

          ®  Objects react badly when stored in incorrect temperatures

                ®  Paint on objects can flake off

 8. Incorrect relative humidity

          ®  Damp air will cause rust on metal objects

                ®  Metal rods can rust inside statues causing weakness

    9. Pests

          ®  Bugs find things like soft wood really tasty

                ®  Stored furniture is vulnerable to hungry pests

    10. Light

          ®  Too much direct sunlight will fade delicate objects

                ®  The curtains in the Pump Room have faded

    11. Custodial neglect

          ®  Correct materials must be used to store museum objects

               ®  We use conservation grade materials like acid free tissue to pack delicate                           objects

A stone boss inside a wooden crate packed with conservation materials.
A stone boss packed in foam and blanked to protect it during transport.

Any of these ‘forces’ can be disastrous. Imagine flood water rushing through your own home and the devastation that would cause to your precious interiors and furniture. It’s the same at the Roman Baths, except our precious interiors and furnishings are nearly 2,000 years old!

What can we do to halt these harmful agents?

Firstly - Preventive Conservation

At the Roman Baths we put measures in place to counter the harmful impacts of these agents. We collectively call these measures ‘preventive conservation’.

For example, have you noticed the small devices that measure temperature and humidity dotted around the site?  These readings give us environmental data that we can use to create optimal conditions for specific collection items and the Roman monument.

If we get those conditions right, we slow down or prevent deterioration occurring.

A table of environmental sensors, gathered together before being calibrated by a specialist team.
Sensors are fine-tuned annually ready for another year of logging environment data.

Secondly - Remedial Conservation

What if we can’t prevent deterioration or something gets damaged from too much exposure to an agent of deterioration?  Remedial conservation is the answer.

Expert conservators use specialist tools and materials to conserve objects or parts of the Roman monument.

For example, special mortar can be used to repair small areas of Roman paving which came away through the natural process of wear and tear.

Conservators removing the hood of a long case clock in the Pump Room.
The Tompion Clock being readied for some remedial conservation.

Good old housekeeping

Most people dislike the appearance of dust in their home and it's the same at the Roman Baths. The particles in the dust can react with moisture in the air and discolour or permanently stick to historic surfaces. 

Another unwanted residue is the mineral build-up visible on the steps and lead lining of the Great Bath. We undertake a program of housekeeping, or maintenance, to remove these residues before they cause permanent damage.

A member of the Roman Baths team using a backpack vacuum to remove dust from the Roman monument.
Halfway through dusting the Gym - look at the difference on the floor!

Can you see any Conservation in Action when you visit?

Yes!  We often have remedial conservation happening throughout the Roman Baths site.

Perhaps you’ll see some specialist conservators cleaning the stacks of pilae (pillars for underfloor heating) in the West Baths or members of the Roman Baths team doing the regular maintenance clean of the Great Bath.

The Great Bath without water in it, exposing the lead lining and the steps.
The Great Bath is drained during the maintenance week
and the lead lining checked for damage.

Remedial and preventive conservation work hand in hand to preserve the Roman Baths. Whether dusting a section of Roman wall in front of visitors or deciphering some environmental data behind the scenes, we hope you agree it’s fascinating stuff!

Peta Henley

Conservation Manager

Comments

Post a Comment