Will Richards, Deputy Chairman at Dreweatts, said, “Dreweatts are proud, once again, to be supporting Historic Houses and to be playing a part in recognising the importance of historic collections in our collective history and the dedication that it requires to secure them for future generations. The judges were hugely impressed with this year’s winner, Grimsthorpe, in particular, the discovery, careful restoration, and display of an important element of the collection – as well as the sheer variety, inherent interest, and beauty of the wider collection.”

We are delighted to present a grant of £4,500 to further improve interpretation and display of this marvellous collection.

Grimsthorpe Castle

Recent work on the collection at Grimsthorpe Castle, highlights the importance of ensuring that correct environments for display still allow them to tell new stories. It has centred around conserving and exhibiting a silk doublet and trunkhose dating from 1600 to 1605. These probably belonged to Robert Bertie, 13th Lord Willoughby de Eresby (later 1st Marquess of Lindsey) and may have been worn by him to the coronation of James I in 1603.

The provenance and extraordinary survival of this costume make it a rare and important historical text. The ensemble was previously displayed at the V&A in the 1990s and was included in Janet Arnold’s seminal work Patterns of Fashion.

However, when it is considered in the context of Grimsthorpe and the status of the Willoughby family in the late Tudor and early Jacobean period, it assumes additional historical resonance. With reference to other items in the Grimsthorpe collection (paintings, books, archival letters), this very personal item becomes a central tool in successfully interpreting the character and preoccupations of Robert Bertie, and informs our understanding of him as one of the most influential military leaders of his time. We have been able to reimagine elements of our collection in terms of martial inheritance and authority. 

The doublet was rediscovered in 2019 in poor condition and partially conserved, the treatment having been started and abandoned in the early 2000s. It required extensive but sympathetic conservation before it could be exhibited alongside the trunkhose. The treatment was expensive, but the team were awarded a grant towards the cost by the Pilgrim Trust. 

Once the doublet was conserved and stabilised, it was concluded that the friable costume could only safely be exhibited in optimum environmental conditions. It would require a bespoke display case which was far outside the budget. Fortunately, again they were awarded a generous grant by Tru Vue Acrylics and the Institute of Conservation. This allowed them to create two identical display cases, complete with UV acrylic lids and built-in environmental controls, in which to display safely both the doublet and the trunkhose. Although the costume was exhibited this summer for only eight weeks due to their fragile nature, the bespoke cases will be used for displaying other sensitive collection items in future exhibitions.

Subsidiary Prizes

The judging panel were so impressed with the shortlist for this award that they also wished to give honourable mentions to three runners-up. Special recognition was also given to:

Custodian

Diana Boston's care for her mother-in-law's international important collection of patchworks at The Manor, Hemingford Grey.

Exhibition

EDI work and collaborations with contemporary artists, The Rothschild Collection at Waddesdon Manor.

Curator

Kirsty Archer Thompson, Abbotsford, the Home of Sir Walter Scott for her online courses, imaginative interpretation, and more.

The Judging Panel

We asked five leading experts in the worlds of curation, collection and creation, to set out to find collections —of all shapes, sizes, and types. They were on the look-out, not for the ‘best’ collection, but rather for the most compelling story of custodianship. A special thanks goes to:

Julie Montagu, Viscountess Hinchingbrooke

Hatta Byng, Editor, House & Garden

Will Fisher, Jamb

Dr Nicholas Cullinan OBE, The British Museum

Will Richards, Deputy Chairman, Dreweatts

Recognising, responding, reimagining

All the collections in Historic Houses member places are unique, priceless, and inseparable from the individuals and families who have brought and kept them together. Each year our judges will choose a collection that best exemplifies the way that those who care for our independent heritage:

• Recognise and research the significance and stories of their artefacts;
• Respond to new imperatives and challenges, both social and technical;
• Reimagine the composition or presentation of the collection for a new generation.

We look forward to working with Historic Houses in 2025, exploring and recognising more collections!

www.historichouses.org

Film shown by permission of Historic Houses