Winter tours to take visitors behind the scenes at Petworth House

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Visitors will be able to see what goes on behind closed doors at Petworth House and Park this winter.

For the first time, visitors will be able to see aspects of the mansion in a whole new light as the House and Collections team carry out vital conservation work to the interiors and collection. Over the winter months when the days are darker the team carry out important checks to the interiors of Petworth and follow up on any conservation work in a season of lower natural light. The temperature within the mansion is also kept to a minimum to protect the art collection.

Janet Sinclair, house and collections manager, said: “In a mansion as large as Petworth, deep cleaning often involves using scaffolding to reach the highest corners, or even to just change a light bulb. Some of our statues take on the look of ghosts as we cover them in white sheeting for the winter to protect them from dust. Carpets are rolled away and the fragile and heavy historic curtain drapes are ‘rested‘ by lowering them once a year so that we can inspect for any unwelcome visitors! As you can imagine, there will be plenty for visitors to see.”