Hidden Treasures of the National Trust by Anna Groves

It is based on a BBC television series, but the book always serves as a better reference. As with most of the Trust’s guides it is organised regionally with the visitor in mind: South West, London and South East, Central England and East Anglia, Northern England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. As historian Mary Beard says in her foreword to the book: ‘There are no better places than National Trust properties  for facing up to our history, to its successes and innovations, its errors and even its darker sides.’

The ‘hidden treasures’ refer to the conservationists as much as the landscape, properties and artefacts and the discoveries of new details or meanings. They are a very skilled bunch and  a lot of their work is certainly under-appreciated by laymen. I’m referring to myself here of course. However, I never doubt their passion.

​The book is well structured with themed sections within each of the features so that an overarching idea of the work of the Trust undertakes, with sub-sections entitled ‘Skills and Techniques’. For example, ‘The Secrets of Saving Textiles’, ‘Heritage and Rural Skills’, ‘Miniature Portrait of Lord Herbert’ for instance. Other chapters include ‘Restoring a Unique Interior’, which looks at the Shell Gallery that is housed in a sixteen-sided building in Devon. It tells the story of the development of an unusual art gallery that is made up from seashells, leaves, feathers and birds, and the intricate care needed to maintain it.  Other features include Reweaving a Specular Carpet, solving the mystery of  The Woman Behind the Statue, preserving writers’ desks, castle gates, grand dresses, fossils, staircases….as well as the issues of British weather and pest control. Fascinating stuff.

My favourite pieces are the Sea-Dog table in Hardwick Hall, a really unique design, the State Bed in Erddig in Wrexham with its wonderfully beautiful embroidery, and the homes of The Beatles that really capture the essence of early twentieth century northern England. However, the whole book is a stunning tribute to British heritage.

This is a well written and informative book with the beautiful colour photography really bringing the past to life. A solid hard backed book, perfect to leave on the coffee table for those who enjoy history and immersing themselves into our culture.  Highly recommended.